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On Saturday, the Vancouver Whitecaps will travel to Century Link Field to face another 0-2 team, the Seattle Sounders. While there should be concern that the Whitecaps could begin the season 0-3, a quick cure to an early season slump may be found in defeating a Cascadia rival, pushing them to 0-3 to start, and taking an early lead in the Cascadia Cup standings. Of course, it is possible that the Whitecaps play a conservative match to ensure that they obtain, at the very least, their first point of the 2016 Major League Soccer campaign. However, that could prove to be a recipe for disaster as playing for a draw is a dangerous strategy. One false move and a draw turns into a loss.
Match Information
Where: Century Link Field in Seattle
When: 7:00 pm on Saturday
Where to watch/listen: TSN 1 (TV), Team 1040 (radio)
Cascadia Cup
This will be the first match in the annual Cascadia Cup between Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders, and Portland Timbers. The Sounders are the defending champions and will be looking to get out to a quick lead in repeating as champions. While the Whitecaps have the most Cascadia Cups with 5, since joining MLS, Seattle and Vancouver have 2 wins each while Portland has 1. With the ‘race to 3 (since joining MLS)’ and MLS Cup champion Portland looking to match Seattle and Vancouver with 2 MLS Cascadia Cup titles, it should be a great tournament this season.
Stories to Watch
While Christian Bolanos will be back from serving his one-game suspension, the Vancouver Whitecaps will be without two players who have started this season. Of course, Jordan Smith will be serving his suspension for his red card in last week’s match against Sporting Kansas City, however, Kianz Froese will also miss the match due to supplementary discipline from the MLS Disciplinary Committee. Kianz Froese’s absence might mean that we see new arrival Andrew Jacobson crack the lineup. Or, maybe we see a more offensive lineup with the Whitecaps playing with a single defensive midfielder in Matias Laba.
Prediction?
Make sure to participate in our season-long ‘Guess the Starting XI and Final Score’ contest here.
Let us know your thoughts on the upcoming match? You attending in-person? Think the Whitecaps will pull out the victory? Players you will be watching on Saturday?