Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. CF Montreal Prediction, Preview and Odds -5/8/21
Vancouver Whitecaps at CF Montreal
Vancouver has started its MLS campaign 1-1-1 on 4 points with a 0 goal difference. The Whitecaps opened their MLS season with a 1-0 victory at home over the Portland Timbers and have followed that with a 2-2 draw on the road against Toronto and a 1-0 loss at home to Colorado. Vancouver sits 9th in the Western Conference table of the MLS, tied on points with FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo but behind in the table on goal difference.
CF Montreal is 1-2-0 on five points with a +2 goal difference after the first three matches of their MLS campaign. Montreal is fourth in the Eastern Conference table tied on points with 3rd place Orlando City and two points adrift of the first-place New England Revolution. Montreal opened its regular season with a 4-2 victory at home over Toronto and has followed that with two consecutive draws that included a 2-2 on the road against Nashville and a 0-0 at home against the Columbus Crew
Vancouver Must Find a way to score
Through the first three matches of the MLS regular-season, Vancouver is scoring an average of 1.00 goals-per-game and will not win many matches scoring that number of goals. Vancouver has been held scoreless in one of three matches. The Whitecaps have taken just 23 shots with only 12 on target and have an 84.1% passing accuracy. Vancouver has committed 35 fouls and has been issued four yellow cards.
Cristian Dajome, Lucas Cavallini and Andy Rose have each scored one goal for Vancouver. Crisitan Gutierrez has the only two assists thus far for the Whitecaps. Vancouver has two wins, two losses and one draw over the last five matches played in the MLS dating back to last season. Ali Adnan and Leonard Owusu are both out as Adnan is out for personal reasons and Owusu is nursing an injured hamstring.
Montreal Back Line Starting to Improve
CF Montreal allowed two goals in each of its first two matches played this season but the back line and keeper came up big at home last time out against the defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew holding the Crew scoreless in a nil-nil draw to share the spoils. Montreal has taken 41 shots and has put 12 on target. Montreal's passing accuracy is 87.1%.
CF Montreal has two wins, one loss and two draws over its last five matches played including one match in the CONCACAF Champions League against Olimpia. Montreal has committed 41 fouls and has been issued four yellow cards. Mason Toye is the leading goal scorer for Montreal with 2, while four other players for the club have scored one goal each. Six players for Montreal have each had one assist through the first three matches of the MLS regular season.
Side: CF Montreal +130
The Vancouver Whitecaps have had two wins and CF Montreal has three victories in the last five matches played between the two MLS clubs. The most recent match played in September of 2020, ended with Vancouver winning on his homepage 3-1. However this season, CF Montreal is off to a solid start at 1-2-0 and in its only road match battled to a 2-2 draw against Nashville. Vancouver has one win and one loss on its home pitch but most recently was shutout at home by the Colorado Rapids.
Total: Under 3
In two of the first three matches played this season by Vancouver the total has finished under the 2.5-goal threshold and both matches were on Vancouver's home pitch. CF Montreal is coming off a 0-0 draw at home with the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew and its backline and keeper will keep the below average Vancouver attack from taking any open shots on goal.