The Seattle Sounders are traveling to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps this Saturday (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM) in their second of three meetings this season. Here are three matchups to watch:
Léo Chú vs. Ryan Raposo
Léo Chú continues to serve as one of the main contributors in offensive build-ups for the Sounders squad. After supporting Albert Rusnák to his lone goal of the night in the team’s home victory on Saturday, Chú is now up to eight assists so far this season. He’ll likely go up against Ryan Raposo, who is positioned on the right wing either in the midfield or as a fullback, depending on the Whitecaps formation. Raposo tallied two goals and three assists for the Whitecaps last season while also being honored with the Toyota Best Young Canadian Player Award at the 2022 Canadian Championship after supporting the Whitecaps to a national title.
Nouhou vs. Ryan Gauld
Nouhou has remained a consistent starter for the Sounders backline this season after showcasing his ability to shutdown opponents in the attack while also dribbling up the pitch to take on players 1v1. He’ll likely battle it out with Ryan Gauld, one of Vancouver’s go-to players in the attack. So far this season, he’s tallied four goals and three assists for the Whitecaps.
Albert Rusnák vs. Andrés Cubas
Albert Rusnák’s goal in the 67th minute eliminated the Sounders scoring drought and brought the team three points to close out the weekend. As he continues to play in the No. 10 role on the team, he’s been able to play a bigger role in offensive moments for the Rave Green, hence his game-winning goal from Saturday night against the Dynamo. Rusnák will likely go head-to-head against defensive midfielder Andrés Cubas. Cubas’ dominant defense is showcased through his stats, as he’s recorded a total of 34 interceptions so far this season for the Whitecaps.
