Seattle Sounders FC travel to BC Place to take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the first Cascadia Cup match-up of 2017.
The Cascadia Cup is back. This Easter weekend brings us the first match in the annual fan-driven competition involving the Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders, and Portland Timbers.
It’s the 2017 Cascadia Cup champions hosting the 2017 MLS Cup champions as the Sounders make the short drive up the I-5 to BC Place. Neither side will be happy with their position in the table at the moment, and a rivalry match is a great opportunity to make a statement.
Vancouver Whitecaps (1-1-3, 4 pts, 10th in the West)
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks for the Whitecaps. A thrilling comeback win against LA Galaxy, a heartbreaking loss to Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal, and a 3-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake in the snow have given coach Carl Robinson plenty to think about.
Last week’s experimental 3-5-2 line-up will surely be shelved. Robinson will likely return to the line-up that scored four goals against LA Galaxy and kept the Tigres match close for an hour. With Brek Shea and Erik Hurtado both injured, Robinson’s offensive options are limited once you get past Fredy Montero, and so the wide players will be expected to contribute up front.
The season has been a roller-coaster so far for Vancouver, but with the CCL run over, the ‘Caps need to start getting some points. After Friday comes a month-long, four match road trip. With visits to Portland, Montreal, Colorado, and Houston before the next home game. The Whitecaps need to win this one.
Vancouver Whitecaps Projected Line-up
Seattle Sounders (1-3-1, 6 pts, 7th in the West)
Last year’s MLS Cup champions have started the season off the pace, struggling to turn draws into wins. Like Vancouver, Seattle have only recorded one win so far this season. However, they have also only lost once, an opening day defeat in Houston. Their other three matches ended in stalemates, including last week when the Sounders conceded a 90th minute equalizer in San Jose.
Defensively, Seattle have looked solid over the last couple of matches, despite injury to Roman Torres against San Jose. The Sounders will fancy their chances of keeping Vancouver, who have been blanked three times this season, off the scoresheet
Now they just need the forward line to start delivering. Nicolás Lodeiro will be hoping to build on the fantastic goal he scored last week. If Lodeiro, Dempsey, and Morris all bring their shooting boots, it could get ugly for an inconsistent Whitecaps defense.
Seattle Sounders Projected Line-up
Score Prediction
Seattle may be the better side on paper, but form tends to go out the window in these matches. So does defending.
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How to Watch
Kickoff:Friday, 7pm PT (10 pm ET)
Canada: TSN
United States: MLS Live
Whitecaps or Sounders? Leave us your predictions below.