Preview: Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer clash between Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

For the second time this month, the Seattle Sounders will face a Cascadia Cup rival as they host the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS action on Saturday at Lumen Field.

Neither side managed to find the back of the net in their midweek encounters, as the Rave Green lost 2-0 at Real Salt Lake, while Vancouver were beaten 1-0 by the Colorado Rapids.

Match preview
© Reuters

The joy of winning has been rare for the club from the Emerald City in 2024, with Seattle claiming just three triumphs domestically this season.

That equals their fewest victories ever after 13 MLS encounters under manager Brian Schmetzer, with the previous one occurring in 2018.

In their five MLS matches played at Lumen Field this year, the Sounders have just a single triumph, but have posted three clean sheets.

On the other hand, they have not scored in back-to-back league contests at home but have not gone goalless in three straight domestic fixtures in Seattle since 2016.

Seattle have only lost once all year in MLS when scoring the opening goal but have collected just one triumph when the opposite has occurred.

They have conceded in five of their last six domestic fixtures while giving up 16 goals this year, half as many as they allowed in the entire 2023 regular season.

A red card and penalty kick against Vancouver late in the opening half on Wednesday completely changed the complexion of that match, as the Whitecaps extended their winless run in this competition to three matches.

Vanni Sartini’s men have yet to find the back of the net in MLS play this month, dropping from second to seventh in the Western Conference over their three-game winless slide.

Another defeat this weekend would mark the first time the Caps lose three successive MLS contests since August-September 2022 (three).

Meanwhile, they are in danger of losing three successive away matches in this competition for the first time since being defeated in their final three regular-season fixtures as the visitors in 2022.

Vancouver have points in each of their last four games in which they have scored first, losing only once in MLS when doing so this year (2-1 versus Real Salt Lake).

Their 2-0 victory over Seattle in April was their first triumph at Lumen Field since 2016 (2-1) and also the first time they scored an away goal against them since 2021.

Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer form:

Seattle Sounders form (all competitions):

Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer form:

Vancouver Whitecaps form (all competitions):

Alex Roldan was an unused substitute for Seattle on Wednesday after suffering cramps in their victory over the Portland Timbers last weekend (2-1), Pedro de la Vega sat out again with a hamstring strain and Josh Atencio did not play for that same reason.

Nouhou Tolo was unavailable with a yellow card suspension, while Yeimar Gomez Andrade was on the sidelines because of a thigh injury.

Nathan did not feature again this week as he is struggling to recover from a quad issue, while Braudilio Rodrigues sat out due to a sore hamstring.

Bjorn Inge Utvik will have to sit this one out for the Whitecaps following his straight red card for a handball against the Rapids.

Damir Kreilach was unavailable for Vancouver on Wednesday due to an ankle strain, while Sam Adekugbe remains sidelined with a calf injury.

Javain Brown made his first MLS start since March 23, while Levonte Johnson made his first appearance in league play since their 3-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Galaxy in April.

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Ragen, Baker, Tolo; Paulo, Leyva; C. Roldan, Rusnak, Chu; Morris

Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Blackmon, Veselinovic, Laborda; Raposo, Schopf, Cubas, Martins; Gauld, White, Picault

We say: Seattle Sounders 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Both sides are coming off difficult defeats in midweek, while neither have been consistent in the attacking third of late, which is why we project a tight match with a few chances but perhaps no one being able to break away.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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