Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Seattle Sounders Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 11/7/21
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Seattle Sounders Vancouver Whitecaps will clinch a postseason berth with a victory on Saturday against Seattle and has the possibility of reaching the postseason with a draw or loss. Vancouver is sixth in the Western Conference with a record of 12-12-9 with 48 points and a 0 goal difference. The Whitecaps battled to a 1-1 draw on the road against LAFC on Tuesday, keeping them alive for a postseason berth. Vancouver will play without Caio Alexandre and Tosaint Ricketts.
Seattle sounders is first in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 17-8-8, 59 points and a +20 goal difference. Seattle is only one point ahead of both Sporting Kansas City and the Colorado Rapids and could conceivably finish as low as third with a draw or loss on Saturday. Seattle was held to a 1-1 draw at home by the LA Galaxy on Monday. Scoring Seattle's only goal in the 51st minute was Raul Ruidiaz, who returned after missing several matches with a hamstring strain. Seattle will play without Jordy Delem and Will Bruin, while Ruidiaz and Jimmy Medranda are both questionable.
Whitecaps Alive for a postseason berth
If the MLS regular season ended today, Vancouver would play in the postseason as the Whitecaps are currently sixth in the Western Conference and the top 7 reach the playoffs. However, with one match left only a victory will guarantee Vancouver's participation in the postseason and a draw or loss means Vancouver will need help from others. Vancouver is unbeaten in four consecutive matches dating back to a 4-1 loss to the Sounders on October 9.
Throughout the season, Vancouver has played much better at home as the Whitecaps are unbeaten in five of their last six played on their home pitch. The leading goal scorer for Vancouver is Brian White with 12 and Cristian Dajome is a close second with 10. Deiber Caicedo and Ryan Gauld have five assists apiece to lead the Whitecaps. Maxime Crepeau has appeared in 26 of Vancouver's 33 matches and has allowed only 28 goals.
Seattle needs a victory to clinch first in the West
Seattle enters the final match of the regular season with a one-point lead over both Sporting Kansas City and Colorado and a victory on the road Saturday will clinch first place. Seattle has struggled down the stretch losing three of the last five with two draws. Part of those struggles were due to leading goal scorer Raul Ruidiaz being sidelined with a hamstring strain but Ruidiaz returned and scored the tying goal against the LA Galaxy to secure one point for Seattle on Monday.
Seattle, when playing on the road, has been defeated in two of its last three matches. This season Raul Ruidiaz has 17 goals to lead Seattle, while Cristian Roldan and Fredy Montero have each scored 6. Joao Paulo is the leader in assists for Seattle with 8. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei has appeared in 16 of 33 matches and allowed only 14 goals.
Pick: Seattle Sounders +140
In two matches this season between Vancouver and Seattle, the Sounders have one win and one and ended in a 2-2 draw. Seattle easily disposed of Vancouver in the most recent match between the two on October 9 with a 4-1 rout at home but will face a tougher job on the road Saturday. Seattle's most dangerous goal scorer Raul Ruidiaz, who has scored 17 goals and scored Seattle's only goal in a 1-1 with LA Galaxy last time out, will be on the pitch to help lead the Sounders to a victory on the road and clinch the MLS Western Conference regular-season title.
Total: Over
In the first meeting between these two early in the regular season a total of 4 goals were scored and in the second the two combined to score five goals. The total has exceeded the 2.5 goals per match threshold in seven of Seattle's last nine matches and in five of Vancouver's last 7. Seattle has scored the eighth-most goals in the MLS this season. Promotional Summary: The Vancouver Whitecaps look to clinch a postseason berth with a victory at home on Saturday but face a tough battle against the MLS Western Conference-leading Seattle Sounders.