Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 15
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
CenturyLink Field – Seattle
October 3 – 10:00 PM ET

TV: TSN 1/4

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: JoeTV

Winners of three out of their last four games, the Seattle Sounders are looking to keep their spot atop the Western Conference when they face the Vancouver Whitecaps in a Cascadia clash Saturday night at CenturyLink Field. 

The Sounders (7W-3L-3D) are coming off a decisive 3-1 road win over the LA Galaxy, while the Whitecaps (5W-9L-0D) fell to the Portland Timbers in a "home" game at Providence Park, their second consecutive defeat.

The teams are meeting for the second time this season in league play. Jordan Morris had a goal, an assist and drew a penalty converted by Nico Lodeiro in a 3-0 victory at the MLS is Back Tournament. 

Seattle Sounders

It was a complete performance for the Sounders, who cruised to a 3-1 win over the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park Sunday night. Cristian Roldan scored a brace and Morris added a goal and an assist as Seattle rebounded from a stinging loss to the Timbers.

On Monday, the Sounders welcomed back center back Roman Torres in a trade with Inter Miami CF. The Panamanian veteran played five years in Seattle, winning a pair of MLS Cups and three Western Conference titles. 

“Román is a good, veteran player who we know well and believe will provide a nice compliment to the existing group,” Sounders general manager & president of soccer Garth Lagerwey said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming him back to the club as we prepare for the final stretch of the 2020 season.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Danny Leyva (M) - left foot fracture
  • OUT: Joevin Jones (M) - right high ankle sprain
  • OUT: Trey Muse (GK) - concussion
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Vancouver Whitecaps

The performance was better, but the result was the same as the Whitecaps dropped a second straight game after losing to the Timbers at Providence Park Sunday. 

On Monday, the club acquired goalkeeper Evan Bush in a trade with the Montreal Impact, while revealing Thomas Hasal is expected to miss an indefinite period of time with a left tibia stress fracture and concussion.

“Due to the uncertainty around our goalkeeper position, this is a move we needed to make,” Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement. "Max Crepeau is still a few weeks away from returning to full training and Thomas Hasal is out indefinitely. We explored a number of possibilities and Evan Bush is an experienced professional who will provide us another strong option in net along with Bryan Meredith.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Maxime Crépeau (GK) - fractured left thumb
  • OUT: Cristián Gutiérrez (D) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Russell Teibert (M) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Thomas Hasal (GK) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution:  Lucas Cavallini (F)
• International duty:  None

Series Matchup at Sounders

• Sounders: 1 win, 4 goals
• Whitecaps: 1 win, 3 goals
• 1 draws

Officials

• Referee: Timothy Ford
• Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Brian Dunn
• 4th Official: Farhad Dadkho
• VAR: Armando Villarreal