Vanni Sartini hopes a fast turnaround may assist the Vancouver Whitecaps halt their skid as they go to their Cascadia Cup rivals, the Seattle Sounders, on the again of two straight losses.
Vancouver sit seventh within the Western Convention with 18 factors from 12 video games in 2024, although they’ve slipped down the standings by solely taking two factors from the final 12 out there.
They adopted up a 3-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC by taking place 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, enjoying half of that sport with 10 males after Bjorn Utvik’s sending-off.
The Whitecaps have little time to stew on that end result earlier than Saturday’s derby conflict, however Sartini hopes that might be a optimistic factor.
“It’s actually laborious while you don’t contact the ball in any respect and are down on the rating, so what we did was actually good – till the tip everybody was operating and giving 100 per cent,” he mentioned.
“I’m nonetheless a little bit bummed that we didn’t rating to make it 1-1, which we totally deserved.
“However we’ve got time and different video games, so we are able to instantly rating factors. We have to get again on the plus aspect on Sunday.”
Seattle, in the meantime, sit tenth within the West with 13 factors from 13 matches, having seen their revival halted by a 2-0 defeat at Actual Salt Lake in midweek.
Boss Brian Schmetzer was left to rue primary defensive errors after that loss, saying: “Within the first half, we allow them to out – one mistake.
“Might we’ve got performed a little bit bit higher? Positive. We confirmed some glimpses in assault, after which we fell asleep. It was two performs that killed us. We now have to personal it.”
Got here up brief. #RSLvSEA Recap https://t.co/OytjY4IrmB pic.twitter.com/uAioofkIlw
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) Might 16, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Raul Ruidiaz
Ruidiaz has scored eight objectives in 11 profession regular-season matches in opposition to the Whitecaps, one in all 4 groups he’s scored eight or extra objectives in opposition to in MLS.
Solely three different gamers have scored eight or extra objectives in opposition to one opponent since Ruidiaz debuted in MLS in July 2018.
Vancouver Whitecaps – Levonte Johnson
Vancouver have been shut out in back-to-back video games in opposition to Los Angeles and the Rapids since their 2-1 Canadian Championship win over Cavalry earlier this month.
Speedy winger Johnson scored twice in that sport and shall be determined to get an opportunity right here.
MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN
The Whitecaps have gained three of their final 5 conferences with Seattle (one draw, one defeat) after successful simply two of the earlier 22, together with going 15 straight with no victory previous to this run.
Seattle have managed only one win in 5 house matches this season (three attracts, one defeat) with their six house factors tied for the fewest of any Western Convention workforce.
Nonetheless, the Whitecaps have did not web in three straight regular-season matches for the primary time since August 2020, so Seattle are favourites to assert the bragging rights.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 50.1%
Vancouver Whitecaps – 22.3%
Draw – 27.6%