Vancouver Whitecaps hope to use fifth consecutive win to claim playoff spot | National Sports
VANCOUVER – After flirting with a playoff spot in Main League Soccer, the Vancouver Whitecaps are hoping for a extra lasting relationship as they try and win a franchise file recreation in opposition to the Portland Timbers for the fifth straight Friday evening.
The Whitecaps (7-7-8) go into play at BC Place Stadium one level earlier than a playoff spot. Each Portland (9-10-3) and Actual Salt Lake (8-8-6) have 30 factors.
The Whitecaps had been about 25 minutes above the playoff line after beating Actual Salt Lake 4-1 on August 29, then 45 minutes after beating Austin FC 2-1 final week.
A victory would leap them over the Timbers.
“If we win, we’ll be within the playoffs,” stated interim head coach Vanni Santini. “That may be a nice motivation. The worth is there.
“We’ve to method the sport as if it had been already a playoff run. Each recreation counts like a ultimate.”
If the Whitecaps wanted some further incentive, the sport counts in the direction of the Cascadia Cup, a collection between Vancouver, Portland and Seattle. It’s the first Cascadia recreation performed at BC Place since Could 10, 2019.
“There’s lots at stake, the playoffs, the rivalry, the Cascadia Cup,” stated Santini, who took over following the sacking of Marc Dos Santos on August twenty seventh.
“I haven’t got to extend the strain. We’ve to concentrate on the duty and actually do our job.”
Vancouver already runs an MLS franchise file of 10 video games and not using a loss (5-0-5). The Whitecaps are additionally aiming for a fifth straight win within the MLS franchise.
The final time the Whitecaps gained 4 straight MLS video games was between March 14th and April 4th, 2015.
“We’ve had good outcomes and can attempt to hold them going for so long as attainable,” stated midfielder Ryan Gauld, who has scored two objectives and two assists within the six video games he has performed since his tenure, whereas Vancouver moved from Portuguese on the finish of July Membership SC Farense.
“We will not give it some thought a lot. The group may be very assured nevertheless it’s simply one other recreation. We’ve to enter the sport with the identical mindset.”
Heart-back Florian Jungwirth stated the Whitecaps could not have a replay from final week as they trailed Austin FC 1-0 at halftime earlier than scoring two objectives within the second half.
“We’ve to start out with depth,” stated Jungwirth. “No disrespect to Austin, however Portland is one other high quality group. We will not afford a primary half like this as a result of they will punish us.”
The season was two very completely different chapters for the Whitecaps. Resulting from COVID-19 restrictions, they performed their first eight “dwelling video games” in Sandy, Utah earlier than returning to Vancouver on August 21. Since then, the Whitecaps have solely misplaced as soon as in 13 video games. Veteran Russell Teibert stated the undefeated streak was enjoyable.
“Issues are at all times good while you win and we’re heading in the right direction proper now,” stated the Niagara Falls, Ontario native who has labored his means by means of the Whitecaps residency program.
“We simply take it day after day, simply come to work and benefit from the ambiance. The ambiance right here is sweet.”
The Timbers play their fifth road recreation in a row. They arrive to Vancouver after beating Houston and Seattle 2-0 after shedding to Austin FC and Sporting Kansas Metropolis.
Striker Yimmi Chara stated it was essential for the Timbers to get again on observe.
“We had powerful moments earlier than these two wins, that gave us a giant plus,” stated the designated participant from Cali, Colombia. “There are nonetheless loads of video games forward of us. We’ve to organize optimally and play in opposition to the remainder of the groups with the identical mentality as we did within the final two victories.”
PORTLAND WOOD (9-10-3) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (7-7-8)
BC Place, Friday, 7 p.m. PT
INJURY REPORT: The whitecaps are with out defenders Cristian Gutierrez (left thigh sprain) and Jake Nerwinski (proper knee sprain) and midfielder Caio Alexandre (left foot fracture). Midfielder Andy Rose (proper Achilles tendon tendinopathy) and defender Ranko Vesolinovic (proper groin damage) are listed as questionable.
ON SERVICE: Three whitecaps return with their nationwide groups from the worldwide recreation, who’re preventing for locations on the 2022 World Cup. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and striker Lucas Cavallini had been a part of the Canadian facet who beat El Salvador 3-0 in Toronto on Wednesday, whereas defender Javain Brown was a part of the Jamaican squad, which hit Costa Rica 1-1.
RIDING THE WAVE: The Whitecaps have amassed 20 factors from a 5-0-5 file of their final 10 video games. Solely New England Revolution with 25 factors and Colorado Rapids with 21 factors scored extra factors throughout this era.
This report from The Canadian Press was first revealed on September 9, 2021.
The Canadian press. All rights reserved.
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