Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
MLS Regular Season
Saturday, July 5; 7 pm PT; BC Place; Vancouver, BC
TV/Radio: JOEtv (locally, KZJO channel 22/cable 10); ROOT Sports (regionally); KIRO Radio 97.3 FM; THIS TV (KOMO2, Spanish); ESPN Deportes Radio, 1490 AM (Spanish)
Vancouver’s Record: The Whitecaps are fifth in the Western Conference at 5-3-7 (22 points), including a 3-1-3 record at BC Place.
Head-To-Head: Sounders FC got a late PK goal from Gonzalo Pineda to finish with a 2-2 draw against the Whitecaps at BC Place on May 24. The final meeting of the regular season between the two Cascadia rivals comes on October 10 at CenturyLink Field.
All-Time Series: In nine MLS matches, Seattle leads Vancouver at 3-2-4 since the Whitecaps joined the league in 2011. Dating back to the North American Soccer League in 1974 and including stints in the USL and MLS, Seattle leads the all-time series 63-48-22.
Injury Report: Sounders FC – OUT: D Damion Lowe (Hip Surgery); F Kevin Parsemain (ACL Tear); D Dylan Remick (L Adductor Strain); M Andy Rose (L Knee Surgery); D Djimi Traore (R Adductor Strain). QUESTIONABLE: None. Vancouver Whitecaps FC – OUT: F Caleb Clarke (R Quadirceps); D Jay DeMerit (L Ankle). QUESTIONABLE: None.
Key Player: Erik Hurtado was hot going into the World Cup break with goals in four straight games. He hasn’t scored in his last two matches, and nor has Vancouver, but is a scoring threat up top with his quick trigger and his darting runs to get behind the defense on balls from Pedro Morales. Hurtado has four goals and two assists on the season.
Notes: Both teams will have their internationals eligible after World Cup duty, though Seattle’s, at least, are not expected to feature in the match. Clint Dempsey and DeAndre Yedlin helped the U.S. reach the Round of 16 while Vancouver’s Steven Beitashour and Iran were knocked out in the Group Stage with an 0-2-1 record. … Seattle will be playing without midfielders Gonzalo Pineda and Osvaldo Alonso, both suspended for yellow card accumulation. … Vancouver leads the Cascadia Cup standings with four points (1-0-1), with Seattle second with two points (0-0-2) and Portland third with one point (0-1-1). … Seattle’s 11-3-2 record puts it 10 points clear of the next best team in MLS, but also 10 points clear of its best ever start in MLS in 2009 (6-3-7) and 2012 (7-5-4).
