Sprinting to the End: Vancouver Whitecaps ready to begin biggest 5-game stretch of their 2021 season with crucial away game vs Portland Timbers
The Vancouver Whitecaps will face their rivals Portland Timbers in a giant sport for each groups’ playoff hopes on Wednesday. Here is our sneak peek earlier than that all-important Cascadia Cup sport.
The final push is now forward of us.
With solely 5 video games remaining of their 2021 MLS common season, the Vancouver Whitecaps need to profit from what’s left of them right here on this marketing campaign as they proceed their efforts to get again into the playoffs for the primary time since 2017 .
As they face their longtime rivals the Portland Timbers in Portland on Wednesday, the Caps are at the moment simply 1 level behind seventh and last playoff spot within the Western Convention, which means a win on this sport is lots doable for Vanni Sartini’s aspect.
After scoring factors in 17 of their final 20 video games, they’re one of many hottest groups in MLS recently pushing for his or her final objective.
Additionally, with Portland solely 6 factors forward of the ‘Caps’ in fourth place, the’ Caps may lower that deficit in half with a win right here and permit them to perhaps even play a playoff sport.
However whereas it could be good to dream about, the vital factor is that the ‘caps do not get distracted from all the chances, as a result of the’ caps should at the very least make the playoffs, and for that they want a degree from this, if not all, 3 as a loss at Portland may show deadly to their total playoff hopes.
With all of their potential playoff rivals in motion on Wednesday as properly, the ‘Caps cannot afford to lose floor as a result of if not they’re going to additionally hand over the management they at the moment have over their very own destiny to the Postseason what would serve them finest in the event that they saved them.
To do this, nevertheless, the ‘Caps must face the Timbers with a fairly exhausted roster because the harm virus hit them fairly laborious right here simply when it appeared like they have been about to get properly once more.
Due to this, it appears to be like like they are going to be with out Erik Godoy, Ranko Veselinovic, Bruno Gaspar, Andy Rose and Tosaint Ricketts on Wednesday who might be on the sidelines alongside Caio Alexandre (foot) and Pedro Vite (visa) on this essential sport will stand.
Nonetheless, the excellent news is that the ‘Caps seem unimpressed by all of those absences. Whereas the ‘Caps sucks to be so understaffed, this is not the primary time they’ve regarded into one thing like this recently, which suggests they’re able to tackle the problem.
Make no mistake, it is a robust problem with this Portland group. Having gained 4 of their final 5 video games, the Timbers are additionally certainly one of solely 3 groups to have crushed the Caps in these final 20 video games, making them a formidable opponent for his or her company.
After their final win at Portland in 2018, the ‘Caps additionally have to discover a technique to get a end in a constructing they have not handled too kindly lately, which solely provides to that process.
However seeing their type recently this group of ‘captains’ seems like there’s nothing they can not deal with in the intervening time and they’re going to attempt to show it on Wednesday once they attempt to get one monumental victory within the total context of their season.
It is not going to be straightforward, but when we have discovered something about this Caps group recently it’s that they really feel like a problem and they’re going to attempt to show it once more on this one.
Whitecaps captain Russell Teibert celebrates his objective towards Sporting Kansas Metropolis (Keveren Guillou) this weekend
BTSVancity participant in focus: Marcus Godinho
In any other case, one participant we imagine might be central to this endeavor might be certainly one of ‘Caps’ newest signings, Marcus Godinho, who may very properly be near get his first begin in his MLS To make a profession on this sport.
After 2 stable appearances from the bench within the final 2 video games of the ‘Caps’, it looks like he might lastly get an opportunity to show that what he has proven in his brief time on the pitch performs an even bigger function might be transmitted what’s thrilling monitor.
Godinho is barely 24 years outdated and desires to show that subsequent 12 months is value staying as he may nonetheless grow to be an vital long-term piece for the ‘Caps – he is adequate to stick with the group for the long run.
Storylines:
Elsewhere, listed here are some storylines to bear in mind earlier than this one.
Cascadia desires of life help:
And to start out with, it is value noting that the ‘Caps’ on this sport are usually not solely battling for supremacy within the MLS, but additionally for native slogan rights, as this sport would be the latest version of the Cascadia Cup, the supporter-run competitors between Vancouver , Portland and Seattle which takes place by video games with these 3 groups.
Portland and Seattle at the moment prime the desk for the 2021 version with 6 factors every, whereas Vancouver is in final place with no factors.
Contemplating the ‘Caps solely have 2 video games left towards their Cascadia enemies, if they need an opportunity they will need to have a report seventh crown to win these two video games, beginning with that conflict in Portland.
After sharing the primary two video games with Portland this 12 months, successful 1-0 within the first sport earlier than dropping 1-0 within the second (sadly for the ‘Caps, solely dropping the Cascadia Cup race counted) , the ‘Caps’ have proven that he can sustain with this Timbers website this 12 months, and can show it once more this 12 months.
Protection wins title:
Second, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if the Caps can preserve the great defensive type they lately confirmed as they solely allowed greater than 1 objective of their final 13 MLS video games, which may be very spectacular.
Due to that, they have been in a position to decide 25 out of 39 doable factors in that interval, which makes them one of many prime groups in MLS, all because of the enhancements they’ve made on the defensive.
So if they will sustain on this sport and discover a little bit of an offensive life within the meantime, you have to estimate their probabilities on Wednesday and assist them take a step in direction of the playoffs.
Because the saying goes, objectives win video games, however protection wins championships. Whereas the “Caps will want a few of the former to win this sport, it’ll solely improve their probabilities in the event that they have been good on the latter.” to have the ability to obtain a victory on this one.
Time to reverse highway issues?
However on the similar time one factor that does not work in favor of the ‘Caps’ on this sport is their away type, as they’ve solely entered this sport twice of their final 20 away video games since final 12 months.
That does not imply they’ve essentially been that dangerous on the highway too, having scored factors in 8 of their final 9 away video games, however they’ve struggled to get wins, one thing they should discover a technique to get forward of to alter this.
There are not any dangerous roads in MLS, however a highway win can all the time do nice issues in your pursuit, and the ‘Caps’ may see firsthand how a lot it does if they can win this sport and helps reverse their current highway issues.
Deliberate XIs:
Vancouver Whitecaps:
Recording: 10W-9L-10D (40 PTS)
Head coach: Vanni Sartini
Portland woods:
File: 14W-11L-4D (46 PTS)
Head coach: Gio Savarese
Encounters 2021:
Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 Portland Timbers
Vancouver Whitecaps 0-1 Portland Timbers
I am trying ahead to:
With all of that in thoughts, there’s a lot to count on on this sport for good cause because it may very properly be one of many video games to observe in MLS on Wednesday night time.
In a conflict between two long-time rivals who’ve each regional pleasure and playoff influence, this may solely add extra drama to a sport that should not be uncared for and make it an expertise value watching.
It is necessary for the ‘Caps to deliver the suitable mindset into this sport that may enable them to not get too overwhelmed by all of the feelings that might manifest in the sort of sport and convey them to victory .
It will not be straightforward, but when they will hold their earlier mentality and do their finest, you’ll absolutely respect their probabilities and assist them proceed their stunning foray into the postseason.
Up subsequent: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Portland Timbers, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. PDT, 10:00 p.m. EDT (Windfall Park, Portland)
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