Decision Day Drama: Vancouver Whitecaps ready to put everything on the table ahead of crucial matchup with the Seattle Sounders to close out 2021 season
The Vancouver Whitecaps compete towards the Seattle Sounders at BC Place on Sunday. Right here is our preview earlier than that.
All of it boils all the way down to the day of the choice.
204 days and 33 video games after the beginning of the season, the Vancouver Whitecaps will play their thirty fourth of 34 video games on this MLS 2021 marketing campaign on Sunday after they face the Seattle Sounders at BC Place.
And what a journey it was simply to get so far. A sizzling begin, an early summer time swoon, a couple of midsummer strikes, a sacked head coach and a stunning provide later, the ‘Caps are coming into one of many 7 praised playoffs of the Western Convention this last sport day, a place they’ll end Day, offered every little thing goes its approach.
After sitting close to the decrease finish of the West for many of the first half of the marketing campaign, the “Caps” took off strongly within the second half, scooping 31 of their 48 factors within the final 15 video games (scoring simply 17). of their first 18 video games), permitting them to appreciate a seemingly distant dream.
For them to enter Determination Day in charge of their destiny, it is wild, nevertheless it’s actual – if the ‘Caps get at the very least one tie on Sunday, they assure their return to the for the primary time since 2017 (and in some.) Low season instances, even a loss could be sufficient).
However these have been the ‘caps these days. From again to entrance, led by interim head coach Vanni Sartini, they’re all pulling collectively in the mean time, not solely getting outcomes, but in addition enjoying fairly respectable soccer, entertaining followers and impartial observers alike with their new type of play.
After a couple of lean years, soccer is again in Vancouver, and so they can verify that on Sunday, which is able to enable them to return to a spot among the many high canine within the MLS, a spot they have not occupied for a lot too lengthy.
On the similar time, nevertheless, it’s not that they’ll attain the playoffs and that’s the reason they must handle enterprise on Sunday.
Sure, they simply want a draw, however they occur to satisfy the second finest crew within the MLS this season, the Seattle Sounders, a crew that “have not crushed the caps since 2017 which makes them kind of a bogey crew” . .
The excellent news, nevertheless, is that they are going to be supported by greater than 22,000 followers at BC Place for that sport towards the Sounders on Sunday, which would be the largest house crowd the “Caps” have seen because the pandemic.
Given the significance of this sport, followers might be popping out in droves, particularly as there isn’t a capability restrict at sporting occasions in British Columbia, and we hope this can provide a lift that the “Caps must make one thing of this” sport.
On condition that the Caps have been nearly untouchable since their return to BC Place earlier this 12 months, that is excellent news for Vancouver, and so they’ll be wanting to make use of this to sing their new victory anthem, Stand By Me to sing. , on the finish of the sport.
So whereas they’re going to throw Seattle’s finest at them because the Sounders attempt their 1st spectacular effort within the West to make this sport a sport value watching.
Preserving an Eye on BTSVancity Participant: Maxime Crepeau
Crepeau in motion for the ‘Caps’ earlier this 12 months at BC Place (Keveren Guillou)
And in a sport to observe, there are at all times gamers to be careful for, and for the caps, there will not be a greater participant on this sport than Crepeau, who is among the finest all season MLS goalkeeper has been lengthy and desires to show it once more right here.
Contemplating the ‘Caps solely want a tie, it means they’re positive of that end result if they do not concede any expertise that assist make this occur.
Plus, with the Canadian nationwide crew’s subsequent camp simply across the nook, Crepeau can have added motivation to provide him one final nice efficiency till then, as he is in the course of a battle for Canada’s no 1 goalkeeper for some main World Cup qualifiers this week.
So all in all, there are many causes for Crepeau to face up on this one, and if you see how good he has been for the Caps, arguably their MVP, all season, he has what it takes to do all of it present this consideration.
Storylines:
In any other case, listed below are another issues to bear in mind on this sport.
Stand by Me:
And to start out with, it is value noting how robust the ‘Caps have been on BC Place this 12 months as they leap into this sport after successful 7 out of 8 video games they’ve performed since they returned to the constructing, which is fairly good is.
Be it the feeling of house followers, the diminished journeys, the acquainted narrowness of the garden or the prospect of singing “Stand By Me” after victories, all collectively end in an ideal storm of “Caps house dominance, one you’ll want to sustain on this sport .
There aren’t many groups in MLS proper now which have made their house floor a much bigger fortress than the ‘Caps, and so they’ll wish to proceed down that path on Sunday for an vital end result.
Housebreaking in Seattle:
However whereas optimism is excessive within the land of the ‘Caps forward of this sport, it’s value noting what sort of story they are going to face on Sunday as they intention to get a 13 sport winless run towards the Sounders in official competitors.
After their final win towards Seattle, gained over 4 and a half years in the past at BC Place in early 2017, it was one-way site visitors from their neighbors who drew the Caps 9 instances in these 13 video games within the different 4 video games.
Whereas a tie is an efficient end result, it will be fairly large if the ‘Caps may take a win, particularly contemplating they may face the Sounders within the playoffs, which is one motive they wish to do away with this psychological one Hurdle beforehand.
Do not forget the Cascadia Cup:
Whereas it could appear to be an afterthought, given all that’s at stake on this sport, it is vital to do not forget that the Cascadia Cup, the trophy that got here between the Sounders, the Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers (and their supporters) might be distributed on Sunday, it doesn’t matter what.
If there isn’t a miracle, the Seattle trophy might be as a result of, though they’re tied with Portland by 6 factors, they’ve a superior purpose distinction to their rivals and are eradicated from the race.
However that does not imply it is over but because the ‘Caps have a really outward likelihood of successful it as a result of whereas they’re at the moment in final place with 3 factors, they’d additionally get into the 3-way with a win. Titles and in the event that they in some way win by 4 or extra objectives they might overtake each groups within the race.
It is an enormous problem for them, after all, particularly given their historical past towards Seattle, however that is MLS so by no means say by no means.
Deliberate XIs:
Vancouver Whitecaps:
Recording: 12W-9L-12D (48 PTS)
Head coach: Vanni Sartini
Seattle Sounder:
Report: 17W-8L-8D (59 PTS)
Head coach: Brian Schmetzer
Encounters 2021:
Seattle Sounders 2-2 Vancouver Whitecaps
Seattle Sounders 4-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
I am wanting ahead to:
So general, this sport guarantees to be thrilling on so many fronts that it is value conserving a detailed eye on this Sunday.
With a lot at stake, each groups will wish to fly, particularly within the case of the ‘Caps who’re so near their purpose however do not wish to throw away all their arduous work proper on the end line.
Due to this, every little thing is ready to allow them to get their job achieved and prolong their season realizing that they’ve their house followers behind them.
They’re in charge of their very own future and have tried so arduous to make it occur that they now wish to take full benefit of it and convey them to the promised land for the primary time in 4 years.
Up subsequent: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Seattle Sounders, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 at 3:00 PM PDT, 6:00 PM EDT (BC Place, Vancouver)
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