Whitecaps atop Cascadia Cup standings as part of strong start to season

Sounders FC clashes with rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday in its second Cascadia Cup fixture of the season. In its first Cascadia match, Seattle earned three points with a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on April 26.

Thanks to a scoreless draw between Vancouver and Portland on May 2, another win for the Rave Green would put them in first place of the Cascadia Cup standings, with a game in-hand against both opponents. Seattle is aiming to win the regional competition for the first time since 2011.

Whitecaps FC is currently in first place with four points (1-0-1) as a result of its 2-1 victory over Portland in the first month of the season. Robert Earnshaw scored the game-winner for Vancouver in second-half stoppage time, as the home side earned three points despite the Timbers owning 66 percent of possession and creating more goal-scoring opportunities.

That result was part of a four-game winning streak for the Whitecaps, who sit atop the Supporters’ Shield standings with 20 points (6-3-2) from their first 11 matches.

Saturday’s matchup with Vancouver is the first of two games the Sounders will play at BC Place this year. Whitecaps FC comes to CenturyLink Field in August before hosting Seattle again on September 19 in a game that could decide this year’s Cascadia Cup.

2015 Cascadia Cup Standings