Seattle Sounders will be looking to consolidate second place in the MLS Western Conference when they welcome Vancouver Whitecaps to Lumen Field on Saturday night.
The two teams clinched an MLS Cup playoff spot on Wednesday, with Seattle snatching all three points late on against Los Angeles Galaxy as Vancouver cruised to victory against St Louis City.
Match preview
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Following a disappointing 11th-placed finish last year, Seattle Sounders have secured their place in the MLS Cup playoffs with two games to spare this time around after beating LA Galaxy 2-1 on home soil.
Jordan Morris marked his return from paternity leave with a bullet header just nine minutes in to open the scoring, before Douglas Costa equalised nine minutes after the break, but the Rave Green snatched all three points in dramatic fashion when Cristian Roldan volleyed home a 96th-minute winner.
Brian Schmetzer does not want his side to rest on their laurels as they have two games left to try to claim six more points and capture home advantage in the first round of the post-season playoff.
Seattle's success over LA Galaxy ended a three-game winless run on home soil, and they will be looking to claim back-to-back victories at Lumen Field for the first time since April when they welcome Vancouver to Washington on Sunday.
The Rave Green will fancy their chances of claiming all three points this weekend as they have won their last two home meetings against the Whitecaps by an aggregate score of 8-1, including a thumping 4-0 victory in June last year.
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Like Seattle, Vancouver clinched their place in the MLS Cup playoffs with two fixtures to spare after securing a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Western Conference champions St Louis City on Wednesday.
The Whitecaps had to wait until the 58th minute to break the deadlock against a much-changed St Louis side when Brian White burst through on goal and finished with a deft chip, his 15th goal of the campaign, before strikes from Sebastian Berhalter and Richie Laryea sealed the win in front of a jubilant crowd at BC Place.
Sitting fifth in the Western Conference, Vanni Sartini's side are still in with a chance of securing a top-four finish and home advantage in the post-season playoffs, and victory on Sunday would see them climb above second-placed Seattle on goal difference.
Only St Louis (62) have scored more goals in this year's Western Conference than Vancouver (54) who enter Sunday's contest having found the net in each of their last nine games as well as each of their last seven away from home.
However, the Whitecaps have only won two of their last 18 meetings with Seattle, while they last claimed maximum points at Lumen Field in March 2016 when two converted penalties from Pedro Morales secured a 2-1 victory.
Team News
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Seattle midfielder Sota Kitahara is ruled out with a thigh strain, while Raul Ruidiaz will be assessed ahead of kickoff after missing the last three MLS matches with a back problem; Cody Baker (concussion) is also doubtful.
Schmetzer may consider freshening up his side in a few positions with experienced playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro pushing to start ahead of either Joao Paulo or Albert Rusnak, while Heber and Fredy Montero are in contention to lead the line if Morris is moved out to either flank.
As for Vancouver, Andres Cubas is expected to miss out after being forced off with a right shoulder injury against St Louis, while Sunday's game will likely come too soon for defender Luis Martins (calf) and goalkeeper Thomas Hasal (knee).
The expected absence of Cubas is set to see either Berhalter or Pedro Vite slot into centre-midfield alongside Alessandro Schopf and Ali Ahmed.
Ryan Gauld and White have contributed with 26 goals and 17 assists combined for the Whitecaps this season and they are expected to continue their partnership in the final third.
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Nouhou; Rusnak, Vargas; C. Roldan, Lodeiro, Chu; Morris
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Brown, Veselinovic, Blackmon; Raposo, Ahmed, Berhalter, Schopf, Laryea; Gauld, White
We say: Seattle Sounders 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
At least three or more goals have been scored in seven of the last 10 meetings between these two teams and plenty of goalmouth action at both ends of the pitch is to be expected on Sunday.
Vancouver have won two of their last three encounters with Seattle, but we believe that the Rave Green will do enough to claim maximum points on home soil.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
