With four games left in their regular-season campaign, Vanni Sartini is challenging his Vancouver Whitecaps to adjust their mindset.
The club clinched its post-season spot last weekend. Now the head coach wants every game from here on out to be treated like a playoff matchup, starting Wednesday when the B次元官网网址楥aps (13-9-8) host their regional rivals, the Seattle Sounders (14-9-8).
B次元官网网址淲e try to win the game. We have the luck to be already qualified, so even though itB次元官网网址檚 not like a do or die, we canB次元官网网址檛 be scared,B次元官网网址� Sartini said. B次元官网网址淣ow itB次元官网网址檚 all about the prize that is in front of us. And the prize will hopefully make us perform in a way that is with no restraint, with no fear, with a lot of confidence and going there to try to win.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver has made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons, but hasnB次元官网网址檛 made it out of the first round. Getting into post-season mode now, while the regular season is still going, could help, the coach said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all about trying to get into that kind of mentality and habits of being a team that can play and win games (in the post-season). Finally,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ecause itB次元官网网址檚 good that we are consistent playoff participants. We want to try to become playoff winners.B次元官网网址�
The final games will also determine who faces whom B次元官网网址� and where B次元官网网址� when the playoffs begin.
Seattle currently sits in fifth spot in Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 Western Conference standings, three points up on seventh-place Vancouver.
The top four teams in the table will have home-field advantage for the post-season, while the clubs sitting in fifth through seventh position will skip the play-in round the eighth- and ninth-place teams must endure.
With just seven points separating the second-place and ninth-place team, positioning is still very much up for grabs.
B次元官网网址淥bviously a couple teams are still battling for the top four,B次元官网网址� said Whitecaps striker Brian White. B次元官网网址淲e could easily finish ninth if we donB次元官网网址檛 perform and we lose games and other teams do well. So thereB次元官网网址檚 still a lot of things to play for on the table. And itB次元官网网址檚 important that we do our best to win all three points.B次元官网网址�
The B次元官网网址楥aps and Sounders have already met twice this season, with Vancouver taking a 2-0 win on April 20 and settling for a 1-1 draw on May 18.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 little love lost between the two clubs, said Whitecaps left back Sam Adekugbe.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e played them so many times over the years, and we probably know that they have it out for us as well, seeing that we won away early in the season,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檙e just looking forward to it.B次元官网网址�
While Seattle struggled to start the 2024 campaign, theyB次元官网网址檝e rounded into form in recent weeks and head north for WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 matchup unbeaten in their last four Major League Soccer games (3-0-1). The Sounders have outscored opponents 9-2 across the stretch.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a big, physical team. Offensively, they have a lot of weapons, so itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a tough test at home,B次元官网网址� White said. B次元官网网址淏ut these are the kind of games that we need to win in the playoffs. So itB次元官网网址檚 good to have tough challenges going into that.B次元官网网址�
SEATTLE SOUNDERS (14-9-8) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (13-9-8)
Wednesday, BC Place
INS AND OUTS: The Whitecaps could once again be without captain Ryan Gauld (knee) and midfielder Ali Ahmed (quad). Both players missed SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 matchup and did not participate in full training with the team on Monday.
GIMME A BREAK: Wednesday will mark VancouverB次元官网网址檚 sixth game in 18 days. The club will wrap a stretch of seven games in four weeks Saturday when it hosts Minnesota United FC.
ANOTHER CASCADIA CLASH: After posting a 1-1 draw against the Timbers on Saturday, the B次元官网网址楥aps sit atop the Cascadia Cup leaderboard with a 2-1-2 against their regional rivals, Portland and Seattle. A win on Wednesday would clinch VancouverB次元官网网址檚 second-straight title as best in the Pacific Northwest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
