There’s a lot on the line this weekend as the Sounders return to CenturyLink Field.
With a full-stadium crowd looking on, the club can claim its first trophy of 2015, as a win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC would clinch the Cascadia Cup for Seattle. However, the fun doesn’t stop on Saturday.The Rave Green will head north just four days later to face the ‘Caps in the teams’ opening 2015-2016 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage match on Wednesday at BC Place.
To preview this weekend’s tilt, SoundersFC.com spoke with Luke Wileman, who covers soccer nationally in Canada for TSN.
Dangerman
Octavio Rivero started the season very well and scored a few goals in his first starts in Major League Soccer. He hasn’t been able to find the back of the net as of late but he did get back on the score sheet over the weekend after converting a penalty against San Jose. He now has eight goals for the season. One of the things about the Whitecaps, especially over the last few weeks, is that they have been able to find goals from different places, even when Rivero wasn’t scoring.
Last weekend, Mauro Rosales had his first since joining the ‘Caps and the weekend before in Portland, Matias Laba got his first for Vancouver. Kendall Watson scored his first of the season too and was the teams first goal off a corner this season.
While Rivero isn’t scoring, they have found goals from other players and that’s been a good thing for them.
Rosales Out
It’s a big loss for the Whitecaps not having Mauro Rosales available because he’s been a key part for them over the last few weeks. They have been without their captain (Pedro Morales) and he came off the bench in the late stages of the last match. In Morales’ absence, Rosales has really stepped up both on and off the pitch. Since he has arrived last September, he has been a massive boost for the team. It’ll be disappointing for him to not be with the team, especially as they travel to Seattle to face his former club.
They do have Pedro Morales available again. It’s likely he will get the start after missing the last few games with an injury. They have also relied on Nicolas Mezquida who made his first back-to-back start of the season in the last two matches and looks good in the No.10 role.
Cristian Techera could be a direct replacement for Rosales now that he’s available following his suspension.
Gold Cup Glory
Darrin Mattocks is a player who would like to score on a more regular basis for the Whitecaps and has found his time in the first team starting XI to be limited due to the formation Carl Robinson plays. Typically, if Octavio River is fit, he’s the man to start games as the lone striker.
There’s no doubt Mattocks is a player who thrives when he’s in a confident mood and fine form and he’s back from a spell at the Gold Cup where he scored against Mexico in the final and had a goal against the United States in the semifinal. Mattocks will be an extremely valuable piece for the ‘Caps over the next few weeks. They have eight games in August and it’s a busy month.
I don’t see him in the starting XI this weekend, but certainly they will need him over the coming games with MLS action, Canadian Championship matches against Montreal, and SCCL matches against the Sounders.
Familiar Foes
It’s about managing expectations and managing a squad right now, especially for the Whitecaps. There’s no doubt that the most important thing for them right now is to pick as many points up in the Western Conference because it’s so tight right now. Every point counts.
Their first goal is to get a home playoff date for the first time. With the team facing the Sounders twice in four days, I expect a very different line up between the two matches. Robinson has a fairly deep squad and I expect to see that tested over the course of the next few weeks with so many games to be played.
The Whitecaps have done well in their last few visits to CenturyLink Field. Kekuta Manneh loves playing there and has found success. The Whitecaps will also be out for revenge after a disappointing 2-0 loss at BC Place earlier this season.
I certainly think from a Whitecaps point of view, success in MLS is their priority. That will mean that you see the team’s fullest strength squad this weekend and not later next week in SCCL play.
