The Seattle Sounders host Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC this weekend in a Western Conference battle. Here is everything you need to know heading into the match.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 1 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
HOW TO WATCH AND LISTEN: You can find the match on JOEtv, Univision-Seattle, ROOT Sports (outside Seattle), KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM. A full list of Sounders FC Pub Partners is listed here.
RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders (9-13-5, 32 points, ninth in Western Conference), Whitecaps (9-13-7, 34 points, seventh in Western Conference).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 5-6-4 against the Whitecaps in MLS all time. This is the second of three meetings between the teams this season.
LAST MEETING: The Sounders lost 2-1 on March 19 in Seattle. Vancouver’s Pedro Morales scored twice on two penalty kicks in the 10th and 74th minutes, while Seattle’s Andreas Ivanschitz found the back of the net in the 52nd.
TRENDING UP: The Sounders are 3-1-3 in their last seven matches, with a loss in Portland two weeks ago the only blemish in that span as the team makes a race for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
TRENDING DOWN: The Whitecaps won 3-1 at Columbus on Saturday, but it was just their first win in their last nine matches (1-5-3).
MANNEH DOWN: Vancouver lost Kekuta Manneh in mid-July when he underwent right foot surgery. He is still tied for second with Christian Bolanos on the Whitecaps' goalscoring list this season, while Morales leads the team with six.
CCL AMBITION: Vancouver is looking to reach the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time in club history. The Whitecaps can reach the knockout round with a win on Tuesday at Sporting Kansas City or in their group finale against Trinidad and Tobago’s Central FC on Sept. 28 at BC Place.
O, CAPTAIN!: Sounders captain Brad Evans is expected to return this week after missing last Saturday’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes with lower back pain. His absence forced interim head coach Brian Schmetzer to alter his lineup slightly, most notably with the normally central Cristian Roldan playing on the right flank.
TORRES’ RETURN: Sounders center back Roman Torres returned to the starting lineup last week against the Earthquakes for the first time in nearly a year after tearing his ACL, coincidentally, in San Jose. “Torres was pretty good,” Schmetzer said on Monday. “There’s a little bit of rust to shake off, but it’s been a full calendar year…I think for his first few matches, I give him high marks.”
FOUL PLAY: The Whitecaps are second in MLS in fouls committed this year with 410, behind only D.C. United (431). The Sounders, conversely, are second-to-last, having committed just 279.
