Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
2017 MLS Regular Season - Week 30
CenturyLink Field – Seattle, Wash.
Wednesday, September 27 – 10:30 pm ET
WATCH: MLS LIVE in USA; TSN in Canada
There will be plenty on the line when the first-place Whitecaps, unbeaten in their last seven, travel to face rivals Seattle in a match that could see the 'Caps clinch a playoff berth and solidify their current No. 1 seeding placement in the West. But the defending champion Sounders, who are winless in five, will still have aspirations for the top spot and will be hoping to take advantage and reduce the four-point gap separating them in the standings.
As if the playoff implications weren't enough, both teams also need a win at all costs to stay in alive in the race for the 2017 Cascadia Cup. In fact, a draw would give the idle Portland Timbers the trophy.
And as a subtext to all that is the return of Sounders legend Fredy Montero, who will be stepping on the CenturyLink Field turf for the first time since leaving the club in 2012. The all-time leading scorer in Seattle history (Clint Dempsey needs two goals to tie him) already has three goals against his former team in the two matches played earlier this season. The Colombian forward, who is on a run of seven goals in his last eight starts, could set a new MLS career-high with one more goal.
"I hope they [Seattle fans] will receive him well, I think they will," Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted said. "Fredy was a big part of the Sounders and deserves a good welcome."
Although the Sounders have only lost once at home under head coach Brian Schmetzer, the Whitecaps have also won on four of their last five visits to Seattle.
"Don't get burned on the counterattack," Schmetzer said when asked about the key to facing the Whitecaps.
Seattle Sounders
- Suspended:None
- Suspended after next caution:None
- International Duty:None
- On Loan:None
- Injury Report: OUT — DF/MF Brad Evans (lower back pain), FW Jordan Morris (right hamstring strain), MF Calum Mallace (left quad strain)
Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1, left to right): Stefan Frei — Nouhou Tolo, Chad Marshall, Roman Torres, Kelvin Leerdam — Ozzie Alonso, Cristian Roldan — Joevin Jones, Clint Dempsey, Nicolas Lodeiro — Will Bruin
Vancouver Whitecaps
- Suspended:None
- Suspended after next caution: MF Tony Tchani
- International Duty:None
- On Loan: DF Sam Adekugbe (IFK Goteborg / Sweden), MF Deybi Flores (CD Motagua / Honduras), FW Kyle Greig (FC Cincinnati / USL), MF Ben McKendry (FC Edmonton / NASL), GK Spencer Richey (Whitecaps FC 2 / USL)
- Injury Report: OUT – DF David Edgar (PCL, MCL tear), MF Matias Laba (torn ACL); QUESTIONABLE – MF Christian Bolanos (left knee contusion)
Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): David Ousted — Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey — Aly Ghazal, Tony Tchani — Bernie Ibini, Yordy Reyna, Brek Shea — Fredy Montero
All-Time Series
Vancouver, who have a winning record at CenturyLink Field, also have the upper hand in the two previous matches played this year, both at BC Place: a 2-1 win on April 14 and a 1-1 draw on August 23.
- Overall: Seattle 7W-7L-5D (26 GF, 26 GA) … Vancouver 7W-7L-5D (26 GF, 26 GA)
- At Seattle: Seattle 3W-4L-1D (10 GF, 14 GA) … Vancouver 4W-3L-1D (14 GF, 10 GA)
Officials
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Peter Manikowski, Mike Kampmeinert
4th Official: Baboucarr Jallow
Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Allen Chapman
