Whitecaps FC-Sounders Preview
Vancouver Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson has compared his club's trip to CenturyLink Field to some of the soccer world's most hallowed grounds while insisting that his team will be the underdog.
He may be correct, but the Seattle Sounders haven't beaten the Whitecaps in their last four matchups.
The Cascadia Cup is on the line Friday night when the Sounders look to put a dent in Vancouver's playoff hopes.
Vancouver (10-8-13) must win to lift the Cascadia Cup, which is awarded to the team that fares the best in matchups between the Whitecaps, Sounders and Portland. Seattle (19-9-3) captures the Cup with a victory or a draw.
There is more on the line than just that. Seattle is tied with Los Angeles in the race for the Supporters' Shield while Vancouver trails the fifth-place Timbers by two points for the Western Conference's final playoff spot.
Robinson, a native of Wales, has hearkened on his European background to motivate his team for its lone visit to Seattle.
"If you play in England, you want to go play at Old Trafford, if you play in Spain, you want to play in Real Madrid and if you play in Germany, you want to play at Bayern Munich," Robinson said. "So we're playing in front of fifty-odd thousand, fantastic support, fantastic stadium, fantastic team. They're competing with L.A. most years for the Supporters' Shield."
The Whitecaps have posted a win and a draw in two meetings this year and are 3-0-1 in the last four.
Seattle is 4-0-1 in its last five at home while Vancouver is 0-4-5 in its previous nine on the road.
The Sounders have totaled eight goals in consecutive victories and are eager to move three points ahead of the Galaxy, who visit FC Dallas on Sunday. Seattle and Los Angeles then meet for their final two games.
"It's going to be a big crowd," coach Sigi Schmid told the Sounders' official website. "It's got Cascadia Cup implications. It allows us to stay in first place. We can put pressure on the Galaxy."
Seattle's attack is led by Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey, who have combined for 31 goals. The Sounders will be without defender DeAndre Yedlin, who is with the United States national team.
Vancouver's Darren Mattocks is with Jamaica while Sebastian Fernandez is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Those players have combined for 11 goals, with Fernandez scoring twice in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Dallas.
The absences could result in a start for Kekuta Manneh, who had a hat trick in Vancouver's last trip to Seattle, a 4-1 rout Oct. 9, 2013.
"It was a great feeling coming out of there, having the three points and being able to score three goals in that game so it was fantastic," Manneh said. "Hopefully we can do the same thing."
A trio of injured Sounders could return in Zach Scott (ankle), Leo Gonzalez (hamstring) and Gonzalo Pineda (ankle).
"I think they're all right there, either ready to start or definitely in the 18," Schmid said.
Whitecaps midfielder Mauro Rosales will play at Seattle for the first time since he spent 2011-13 with the Sounders.