The Seattle Sounders are taking on the rival Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 1 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised in English on JOEtv and YouTube TV, and in Spanish on Univision-Seattle.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air in English on 950 KJR AM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
2018 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 4-9-5 (17 points, 10th West), Whitecaps: 7-8-5 (26 points, 8th West).
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: DDWLD, Vancouver: LWLLW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 8-7-5 all time against the Whitecaps, including a 4-4-1 record at home.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders defeated the Whitecaps 2-0 on aggregate in the 2017 Western Conference Semifinals. After a scoreless draw at BC Place in Leg One, Clint Dempsey recorded a second-half brace in Leg Two at CenturyLink Field to send Seattle to the Western Conference Championship.
PREVIOUS REGULAR-SEASON MEETING: Seattle defeated Vancouver 3-0 at CenturyLink Field on Sept. 27, 2017, behind goals from Víctor Rodríguez, Nicolás Lodeiro and Dempsey.
HERITAGE MATCH: Saturday's game will be the Sounders' Heritage Match. For the first time in 2018, the Sounders will wear its Heritage kits at home and CenturyLink Field will take on a throwback look with the Sounders' original colors and logos. Arrive early to be one of the first 10,000 fans to receive a Sounders FC old-school snapback, courtesy of Washington Federal!
THREE-MATCHES UNBEATEN: The Sounders enter Saturday’s match unbeaten in their last three matches, coincidentally all of which were on the road. This is Seattle’s first three-match unbeaten streak of the season.
RUIDÍAZ DEBUT?: After suiting up as a substitute last weekend, but not making an appearance, new Designated Player Raúl Ruidíaz is expected to make his Sounders debut against the Whitecaps.
HOME COOKING: After leaving Atlanta last weekend with a well-earned road draw, the Sounders turned their attention to winning at home. Seattle only has eight points from eight matches at CenturyLink Field so far this season.
MCCRARY SUSPENDED: After being sent off last weekend with two yellow cards, Sounders right back Jordan McCrary will serve a one-match suspension on Saturday. Kelvin Leerdam, who made his return as a substitute after missing a month with a hamstring injury, will likely get the start.
Clint Dempsey dribbles against the Whitecaps in Leg Two of the 2017 Western Conference Semifinals | Mike Fiechtner
SVENSSON RETURNS: After helping lead Sweden to the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals in Russia, Gustav Svensson met the team in Atlanta and came on as a second-half substitute at center back to secure a road result.
KEY KEI: Vancouver is led offensively by MLS veteran forward Kei Kamara, who has eight goals and three assists this season.
DOMINANT DAVIES: Vancouver midfielder Alphonso Davies, just 17, is one of the league’s youngest and most explosive players. He has three goals this year to go along with a team-high eight assists.
LONG TRAVEL: Before taking on the Sounders, the Whitecaps visit the Montreal Impact in Quebec on Wednesday for the first leg of the Canadian Championship. This comes after falling 3-1 on the east coast last weekend in the inaugural match at D.C. United’s new Audi Field, a long and taxing stretch of travel and games for the Whitecaps ahead of Saturday afternoon’s match at CenturyLink Field.
LEAKY DEFENSE: The Whitecaps enter this weekend having allowed 40 goals, third-most in MLS and the most in the Western Conference.
