VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s destiny is officially in their own hands.
With just two matches remaining in the 2017 MLS regular season, the ‘Caps remain atop the table in the Western Conference with 51 points. That’s three points more than second-place Sporting Kansas City, who have a game in hand, and four points more than Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC, who sit third and fourth respectively.
Those are the only three teams in the West who could still technically catch Vancouver, meaning the ‘Caps will at the very least host a playoff match in the Knockout Round.
But they have their sights set on more.
With a win on Sunday against San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver’s final home match of the regular season, they will secure a top-two finish and a bye to the Western Conference Semifinals. And with two consecutive wins to close out the season (they visit Portland Timbers in their regular season finale next Sunday, October 22), the ‘Caps would be the regular season Western Conference champions.
That’s regardless of any other results.
There are a myriad of other scenarios that could see Whitecaps FC finish in one of the top two spots, depending on the results of Sporting Kansas City, Portland Timbers, and Seattle Sounders FC. The ‘Caps, in fact, could even clinch the top spot in the West on Sunday.
The simplest scenario for that to happen is a Whitecaps FC win vs. San Jose coupled with a Sporting Kansas City loss vs. Houston Dynamo in one of their two meetings this week (they play Wednesday in Houston and Sunday in Kansas City).
Either way, there’s going to be a lot on the line Sunday afternoon at BC Place (kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT and limited tickets are still available).
Let the fun begin.
