Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 21
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC
Providence Park – Portland
October 27 – 10:00 PM ET

TV: TSN 1//3/4/5

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: JOEtv, Amazon Prime Video [SEA region only]

Winners of three of their last four, the Vancouver Whitecaps are hoping to continue to push up the Western Conference table when they take on a Seattle Sounders side looking to go back on top of the standings Tuesday night at Providence Park. 

The Whitecaps (8W-12L-0D) rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night at Providence Park to move into seventh place in the West, though level on points with the eighth-place Quakes, while the Sounders (9W-4L-5D) leveled in second-half stoppage time to earn a 1-1 home draw with the Portland Timbers Thursday night. Seattle are level with the Timbers in second, one point behind leaders Sporting KC. 

This is the third meeting this season, with the Sounders scoring three goals in a pair of wins, the first a 3-0 triumph at the MLS is Back Tournament in July and the second. 3-1 victory at CenturyLink Field Oct. 3. 

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

The Whitecaps erased a halftime deficit to score twice in the second half for an emotional 2-1 win over the Quakes. Ali Adnan equalized on a sensational free kick, Tosaint Ricketts netted the winner six minutes later and Marc dos Santos fell to his knees pumping his fists at the final whistle. 

Dos Santos warned, though, after the game it's not time to celebrate. 

"The mindset, the belief, the mentality, the fighting to get in to be in the top eight is always there," Dos Santos said on his postgame video call. "We're going to push and try and have this team pushing to the end because we want to stay here. Although we miss our families, we want to stay here after the regular season to play in the playoffs.

"I don't want to celebrate something that is so far from being accomplished," he added. "We're still very far. Sometimes there's this X amount of points that looks so close but so far. Was it a step forward and very important? Yes. ...There's an improvement in the middle of a lot of adversity. Nobody here put their heads down. We're maximizing the group, everybody is pushing, everybody is working hard — staff, players. And the margin for progression for this club is very big. So these are all steps that allow the club to grow."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Maxime Crépeau (GK) - fractured left thumb
  • OUT: David Milinković (M) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Thomas Hasal (GK) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution:  Michael Baldisimo (M)
• International duty:  None

Seattle Sounders FC

The Sounders conceded early, struggled in the attacking third for most of the game, but were thrilled to snatch a point from a losing position thanks to Will Bruin's stoppage-time equalizer Thursday night at CenturyLink Field. It was Bruin's first goal since an ACL injury prematurely ended his 2019 season. 

“It was good for Will, it's good for the team," Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer said after the match. "Seattle Sounders never give up. That’s one of the trademarks that makes us a championship team. Will embodies all of those things. He doesn't give up, he trains hard, he works hard. And for him to score for the team, to snatch a point at the end there, it's something you can actually build momentum on both individually for Will and for the squad.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Joevin Jones (M) - right high ankle sprain
  • OUT: Brad Smith (D) - right hamstring strain
  • OUT: Trey Muse (GK) - concussion
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Joao Paulo (M)
• International duty:  None

Series Matchup at Whitecaps

• Whitecaps: 3 wins, 13 goals
• Sounders: 5 wins, 18 goals
• 5 draws

Officials

• Referee: Fotis Bazakos
• Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Jeremy Hanson
• 4th Official: Michael Radchuk
• VAR: Jon Freemon