VANCOUVER, BC – After their midweek Champions League win, it’s back to MLS action this weekend for Carl Robinson’s ‘Caps as they get ready to host arch-rivals Seattle in the 2015 Cascadia Cup decider.
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Here are three storylines to get you set for the match.
CASCADIA DECIDER
There are going to be no meaningless games as the ‘Caps continue their quest for success into the business end of the regular season. But even in a schedule crammed-full of big matches, Saturday’s clash with Seattle is shaping up to be something special. The match could of course have a big impact on the MLS standings, with Whitecaps FC continuing their quest for the Supporters’ Shield while the Sounders battle for a playoff berth in the congested Western Conference.
But it’s bigger than that.
It’s a local derby; one that will decide which team gets Cascadia Cup bragging rights for another year. The home team are seeking to make history with a Cascadia Cup threepeat – something no club has done before. A win on Saturday would keep the Cup in Vancouver for a third straight year, while any other result would see Seattle lift the trophy for the first time since 2011.
SHOW ME THE MANNEH
Over the past few seasons, Kekuta Manneh has been the proverbial thorn in the Sounders’ sides. First came that hat-trick at CenturyLink Field, then last season the fleet-footed winger did it again with the first half strike that clinched the Cascadia Cup.
The Gambian might not have got on the scoresheet during the team’s most recent triumph - the comprehensive 3-0 win in Seattle on August 1- but he was a constant menace, and the ‘Caps will be hoping he can transfer his imperious away form to BC Place this Saturday.
YOUTH VS. EXPERIENCE
It would be lazy to break Saturday’s match down into a battle of youth vs. experience; nevertheless it’s a theme that refuses to go away as two teams with contrasting recruitment policies go head to head for Cascadia glory.
On the one hand you have Robinson’s ‘Caps who, with an average age of just 24.8, rank as the youngest overall team in MLS. On the other you have Saturday's visitors, who sit at the opposite end of the spectrum with an average age of 28.0.
Of course age is just a number, and Seattle’s Supporters’ Shield success last season is proof of what can be achieved with an experienced roster. But there’s something different about this year’s ‘Caps who aren’t just stocked with young players, but young players who are actively contributing to the team’s on field success.
Indeed, according to research from whitecapsfc.com's Farhan Devji; the ‘Caps are second in the league when it comes to goals scored by players in the 1990s while the Sounders prop up the bottom of the table with a solitary strike from a young gun this season.
The future certainly looks bright for the Blue and White, but on Saturday we’ll get to see if the present looks just as rosy too.
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