SEATTLE, WA – They don’t get much bigger than this.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC descend upon CenturyLink Field on Saturday afternoon for a massive Cascadia derby with longtime rival Seattle Sounders FC.
KICKOFF: 1 p.m. PT | TV: TSN1 | RADIO: TSN 1040
Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
STORYLINES
Playoff push: Both teams are fighting desperately for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The ‘Caps currently sit seventh in the West, four points out of a playoff spot with five games to go. Seattle, meanwhile, trail Whitecaps FC by two points but have two games in hand. “We’re underdogs and we‘ve got a massive game on Saturday,” Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson said this week. “Our season is on Saturday against our rivals.”
Building momentum: The ‘Caps enter the weekend riding a high after a 3-1 road win over Columbus Crew SC followed by a dramatic 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City that clinched Vancouver’s first-ever CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final berth on Tuesday in Kansas. Both of those matches had lengthy weather delays – and there’s rain in the forecast on Saturday in Seattle. Just saying.
Hero and villain: Blas Perez was a central figure in Vancouver’s 2-1 win over Seattle earlier this year, prompting these comments from Sounders FC defender Zach Scott: “If there’s two things I do before my career is over, it’s make sure he never scores another goal - and beat Portland one more time.” Interestingly, Scott announced on Thursday that he will retire following this season. It’s not a guarantee by any means that these two play on Saturday, but if they do…
KEY MATCHUP
Matias Laba (M) vs. Nicolas Lodeiro (M): Since joining Seattle at the end of July, Lodeiro already has three goals and six assists in just seven appearances. Many credit him for almost singlehandedly turning Seattle’s season around. He’s the player who makes this team tick offensively – especially with Clint Dempsey’s absence due to an irregular heartbeat (Dempsey has returned to training but not yet been cleared to play). The Uruguayan attacking midfielder is averaging 89.43 touches per game, which is the second most in MLS, and has either scored or assisted a goal in six straight games. Can Laba and the ‘Caps find a way to shut him down? If so, there’s a good chance they come away with a result.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Whitecaps FC vs. Sounders FC in MLS: 6W-5L-4D
Whitecaps FC vs. Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field: 4W-2L-1D
The ‘Caps have won four straight MLS matches at CenturyLink Field dating back to Kekuta Manneh’s memorable hat-trick as a rookie in 2013. It’s remarkable, really.
Can they make it five on Saturday?
CASCADIA CUP STANDINGS
The Cascadia Cup can’t be won on Saturday, but it can be lost.
Seattle needs a win to have a shot at successfully defending the trophy. Otherwise, it will be a two-team race between Vancouver and Portland down the stretch. Either way, the Cascadia Cup won’t be awarded until Vancouver’s regular season finale vs. Portland on October 23 at BC Place.
The Cascadia Cup is a supporters-created trophy awarded annually to the team with the best head-to-head record in regular season matches between their Pacific Northwest rivals.
Although Seattle's supporters are currently in possession of the Cascadia Cup, the 'Caps remain the most successful club in competition history with five titles to their name.
Here are the 2016 standings with three games remaining:
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>D</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<p align="center">Portland Timbers</p> |
<p align="center">9</p> |
<p align="center">5</p> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">13</p> |
<p align="center">10</p> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p align="center">Vancouver Whitecaps FC</p> |
<p align="center">6</p> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">6</p> |
<p align="center">6</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">Seattle Sounders FC</p> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p align="center">4</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">7</p> |
<p align="center">10</p> |
<p align="center">-3</p> |
And here’s the remaining schedule:
- September 17: Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at CenturyLink Field
- October 2: Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC at BC Place
- October 23: Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers at BC Place
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