- Vancouver are undefeated at home, with a 6-0-4 record
- Seattle are unbeaten against the ‘Caps going 3-0-3
- MLS leading goalscorer Camilo has 10 goals for the Whitecaps
This is it guys, a huge Cascadia Cup clash is tabled for Saturday night as the Vancouver Whitecaps host the Seattle Sounders at BC Place on Saturday evening.
You can watch the game live on NBC Sports Network, 11pm ET, as these arch rivals face off for bragging rights in one of Major League Soccer’s largest rivalries.
Both teams are in fine form, with Vancouver defeating D.C. United 1-0 on the road before drawing 1-1 with Sporting Kansas City last time out. While Seattle also beat D.C. as Obafemi Martins scored twice to down United on Wednesday night at CenturyLink Field.
Vancouver are still searching for their first-ever win against Seattle in MLS play, with the Sounders undefeated in six contests between the two teams. But ‘Caps coach Martin Rennie must be confident heading into this game, after his side seem to have fixed their jinx on the road.
The Whitecaps have had a terrible time away from BC Place since joining MLS, but they have lost just once in their last five away games. Bad news. That was against Seattle, in a pulsating 3-2 defeat which saw Vancouver leading 2-1 but the Sounders rally to score two late goals.
However Rennie’s team are 5-1-2 in their last eight games and the Scotsman is their improving home form is helping with confidence heading into this huge clash. “In the first year, the team didn’t win on the road, but last year we won I think three games, we’ve now won at least two so far this season,” said Rennie. “We need to improve on that if we want to be right up there in the table.”
Perhaps the improved form on the road has something to do with Vancouver’s intense table tennis tournaments whilst traveling?
Anyway, Vancouver will be missing winger Russell Teibert, who has been a revelation in recent weeks. He is away with Canada on Gold Cup duty. While defender Andy O’Brien could make a return but is listed as questionable.
As for Seattle, it has been a strange season for Sigi Schmid’s men, who are up and down like a yo-yo. Just when it seems as if they’ve turned the corner, Seattle flounder. That was the case against Real Salt Lake in a 2-0 defeat earlier this month. But the team from the Emerald City are hoping for better luck on the road this time out.
Osvaldo Alonso and Steve Zakuani are still missing for Seattle, while Honduran international Mario Martinez is off the Sounders roster and is unlikely to return.
As for the rivalry, these old foes go back quite some time if you open up the history books. During their days in the NASL and United Soccer League First Division they clashed often, with the Sounders just coming coming out on top all-time with a record of 57-42-18.
In terms of the 2013 Cascadia Cup, the Whitecaps are currently in last place with one point, while Portland are second with two points, and Seattle first with four points. A win for the ‘Caps would take them to the top of the standings. That seems like extra incentive for Vancouver, not that they need any.
OTHER NOTES: There could be as many as seven former EPL players on the pitch, with Lee Young-Pyo, Nigel Reo-Coker, Kenny Miller, Andy O’Brien, Obafemi Martins, Eddie Johnson and Djimi Traore all expected to be included in the match day squads.