Vancouver Whitecaps FC (No. 8) face Portland Timbers (No. 9) in Wednesday night's Western Conference Wild Card match, determining who meets LAFC (No. 1) for a Round One Best-of-3 Series in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
How to watch & stream
- Apple TV - Free
- TSN/RDS
When
- Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 10:30 pm ET/7:30 pm PT
Where
- Providence Park | Portland, Oregon
If a Wild Card match is tied after regulation time (90 minutes), no extra time will be played. There will immediately be a penalty kick shootout to determine the winner.
The winner's Round One Best-of-3 Series starts Sunday night at LAFC's BMO Stadium (9:45 pm ET | Apple TV - Free; FS1, FOX Deportes, TSN, RDS). They'll then return home on Nov. 3 and, if necessary, contest a third match away on Nov. 8.
- Seed: Western Conference No. 8
- Regular season: 47 points (13W-13L-8D)
Vancouver are stumbling into the playoffs, failing to win in their last seven league games (0W-5L-2D). While Vanni Sartini's team completed a Canadian Championship three-peat during that stretch, they're trending in the wrong direction.
Perhaps Brian White or Ryan Gauld draw a line in the sand; they've combined for 25g/17a this season. Whitecaps fans are also craving a breakout game from DP midfielder Stuart Armstrong, who's managed just six appearances (123 minutes) since signing in early September.
Due to a scheduling conflict at Vancouver's BC Place, the match will be held at Portland's Providence Park.
- Seed: Western Conference No. 9
- Regular season: 47 points (12W-11L-11D)
Portland are fresh off claiming the Cascadia Cup, with Antony's 68th-minute equalizer earning a 1-1 Decision Day draw at Seattle Sounders FC. However, they enter the playoffs with one win in their last seven matches (1W-2L-4D).
As head coach Phil Neville has acknowledged, the Timbers "live and die by" their DP-heavy attack. That includes Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Evander (15g/19a), as well as forwards Jonathan RodrÃguez (16g/9a) and Felipe Mora (14g/6a).
The sticking point? While Portland's 65 goals scored were fifth-most in MLS this season, their defense can get exposed (56 goals against). That's regardless of whether Maxime Crépeau or James Pantemis starts at goalkeeper.
