Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Real Salt Lake | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 17
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Real Salt Lake
Providence Park – Portland
October 10 – 10:00 PM ET

TV: TSN 1/4

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: KMYU

The Vancouver Whitecaps and Real Salt Lake are looking to snap winless streak and claim three massive points when the Western Conference sides square off at Providence Park Saturday. 

The Whitecaps (5W-11L-0D) are coming off a 3-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes, their fourth consecutive defeat, while Real Salt Lake (4W-6L-6D) fell to surging Seattle 2-1, extending a winless streak to three games. 

This is the second meeting this season, with the 'Caps claiming a 2-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium Sept. 19. Lucas Cavallini scored the winner six minutes from time against 10-man RSL. 

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

The Whitecaps conceded three goals after halftime and finished with nine men in a 3-0 loss to the Earthquakes Wednesday night. Vancouver have been outscored 13-1 in their current four-match losing streak which came on the heels of consecutive wins. They'll head into this matchup against RSL without suspended Andy Rose or Erik Godoy, who were both sent off in the second half Wednesday night. 

"What I told the guys is we have eight games left and in the eight games we have to try and play in this way," Marc dos Santos said referring to the first half against San Jose. "Who's ready and who's able to play in this way is going to play for the Whitecaps. Who cannot follow this rhythm and who cannot follow closing down what's in front of them won't. I don't want to be a team that spends all half, or spends a game in our defensive third. I don't want to be about that."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Maxime Crépeau (GK) - fractured left thumb
  • OUT: Cristián Gutiérrez (D) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Thomas Hasal (GK) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: Andy Rose (M)
• Suspended after next caution:  Michael Baldisimo (M)
• International duty:  Jasser Khmiri (D)

Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake didn't put one shot on target in a 2-1 loss to the Sounders Wednesday night at CenturyLink Field. Their lone goal was the result of a Nouhou own goal. They've scored two goals in this current three-match winless streak, but Freddy Juarez was optimistic about the new 5-3-2 formation deployed against the Sounders.  

"We’re all competitive and the team has been professional for a long time. I won’t panic and they won’t either," Juarez said after the match. "We came to Seattle and won the possession battle and kept ourselves in the game with a different formation that we probably won’t get a lot of credit for doing. But we came in tonight and put ourselves in a position to collect a point. But it wasn’t good enough. We can’t panic and now we’re onto Vancouver. We made the decision to rest some players to prepare for Vancouver."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Everton Luiz (M) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Giuseppe Rossi (F) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Chris Garcia (F) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Nedum Onuoha (M) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Kyle Beckerman (M), Corey Baird (F)
• International duty:  Albert Rusnak (M)

Series Matchup at Whitecaps

• Whitecaps: 8 wins, 21 goals
• Real Salt Lake: 2 wins, 8 goals
• 1 draw

Officials

• Referee: Silviu Petrescu
• Assistant Referees: Mike Rottersman, Jeffrey Swartzel
• 4th Official: Farhad Dadkho
• VAR: David Gantar