VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC continue their push for the playoffs on Saturday afternoon when they host FC Dallas at BC Place. Tickets: http://ow.ly/BZggd.
KICKOFF: 4 p.m. PT TV: TSN2 RADIO: TSN 1040 MOBILE: bell.ca/mobiletvONLINE: TSN GO
Here are three storylines to watch.
PLAYOFF PUSH
Whitecaps FC hit the 40-point mark last weekend with a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Real Salt Lake. That result, combined with Portland’s loss to Toronto FC, moved Vancouver back into the fifth and final playoff position in the Western Conference.
The ‘Caps, who now control their own playoff destiny, are one point up on Portland with four matches remaining. Their magic number is 12, meaning any combination of points earned by the ‘Caps and dropped by the Timbers will see the Blue and White quality for the postseason.
Vancouver’s remaining opponents are FC Dallas, Seattle Sounders FC, San Jose Earthquakes, and Colorado Rapids. Portland, meanwhile, has San Jose twice, Real Salt Lake, and FC Dallas.
THE MORALES SHOW
After missing a first-half penalty, Whitecaps FC captain Pedro Morales bounced back with a second-half brace to lead the Blue and White to victory last weekend vs. RSL.
Morales now has 10 goals and 10 assists, which are both team-highs, making him the first Whitecaps FC player to reach double digits in both categories in a single MLS season.
Will Morales add to those totals on Saturday? If so, that would bode well for the ‘Caps, who have posted an 8W-1L-4D record when the skipper records a goal or assist this season.
It’s been a long season for Morales, who has played about 15 months straight dating back to the 2013-14 La Liga campaign, but as head coach Carl Robinson put it, the Chilean is “raring to go” this weekend.
“I know I’ve had a long season, but I feel good,” Morales told reporters in English on Friday. “My legs are good. Every game is different. I want to play here and forget my situation regarding fatigue … it’s a massive game for us.”
STOPPING PEREZ
One player the ‘Caps will have to contain on Saturday is striker Blas Perez, who leads FC Dallas with 10 goals and six assists.
The Panamanian is currently enjoying his best run of the season, scoring four goals in his last three appearances. That included a brace against Whitecaps FC last month in Texas. He also found the back of the net against Whitecaps FC in a 2-2 draw back in July.
So how do the ‘Caps shut him down?
“We have to be right on our game,” Robinson told reporters. “He’s a terrific player. He caused problems for us in the two games we played. Can we stop it at the source is the first thing? Can we stop it then if it comes to him? He won them the game a few weeks ago and we have to make sure he doesn’t win them the game this week.”
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