Nashville SC will pay their first ever visit to BC Place Stadium on Saturday, needing a win against the Vancouver Whitecaps to ensure they remain above the playoff line in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer.
Vancouver sit eighth in the standings after a 1-1 draw at Real Salt Lake this past weekend, just two points behind the Boys in Gold, who defeated Dallas 4-0 in their previous encounter.
Match preview
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A solid week of performances has the Whitecaps very much in the thick of the playoff battle in the Western Conference as they beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 last Wednesday before nabbing a point late at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The task down the stretch of the regular season will only get harder for Vanni Sartini and his side, who have seven games remaining, six of which will be against teams either in a postseason position or in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Some in-season transfers have turned them into a much more formidable side to contend with in the midfield, as they have been much better when it comes to controlling games and playing on the front foot.
That has enabled some of their stars to thrive, while also remaining confident despite some early setbacks, earning 10 points this year when conceding the opening goal.
In their previous home fixture against the Burgundy Boys, they managed to get off to a quick start, something we have rarely seen them do in front of their fans of late.
They scored in the first half (twice) for the first time since June 4 when a Ranko Veselinovic goal put them ahead versus RSL, in a match they wound up winning 2-1.
They have developed a habit of leaving it late in 2022, scoring 10 goals in the final five minutes plus stoppage time this year, including their previous match against Nashville at the end of July when they equalised in the 87th minute to draw 1-1.
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Finally, the Nashville team we all expected to see throughout the season showed up last weekend as they smashed the Toros, equalling a club record for the largest margin of victory.
That performance was a massive relief for manager Gary Smith, who had seen his team struggle since the middle of July, going winless in six consecutive fixtures before that big game.
Three players found the back of the net, which is also an encouraging sign for a side that have depended heavily on their German number 10 to carry them for much of the campaign.
On the back end, they have been shakier than we are used to seeing, allowing more goals already this year (36) than they had ever conceded in any other regular season, though they have scored in 12 consecutive encounters, continuing a club record.
They have not won a regular season road game since the end of June, scoring just once in their last four away matches in all competitions.
Saturday will be their fifth visit to Canada for an MLS affair, where they have only suffered one defeat historically in the Great White North, while maintaining a pair of clean sheets in their two matches played in Montreal.
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Team News
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Ryan Gauld has a goal involvement in three straight matches for Vancouver, notching a first-half brace in their previous home fixture, while he assisted on the equaliser by Julian Gressel at RSL and leading scorer Lucas Cavallini has not found the back of the net since putting home the winner in injury-time at the beginning of August against the Houston Dynamo.
Javain Brown had the only goal in their first-ever meeting versus Nashville, his lone tally of the season, while Thomas Hasal has allowed just one goal in each of his last two matches since returning from a hand injury, replacing Cody Cropper, who conceded five in a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Brown is doubtful for this encounter because of a left ankle sprain, Brian White is also unlikely to feature due to a rib cage strain and Deiber Caicedo remains out after undergoing right knee meniscus surgery.
Shaquell Moore has added a ton of width to the Nashville attack, with the American wingback recording the first assist of his career last weekend, while Jacob Shaffelburg collected his first goal since joining them on loan from Toronto.
David Romney scored his third of the season, and Hany Mukhtar notched a brace in their previous encounter, putting him at 16 goals for the year.
CJ Sapong picked up his 35th career MLS assist in their lopsided win over Dallas, Joe Willis earned his 46th career clean sheet and 28th with the Boys in Gold, while Sean Davis leads this team in minutes played by outfield players with 2,244 in 2022.
Teal Bunbury, who scored the only goal in their previous match versus the Caps, is out with a left thigh problem, while Ake Loba is expected to miss another game due to a trunk injury.
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Hasal; Blackmon, Veselinovic, Godinho; Raposo, Berhalter, Cubas, Dajome; Gauld, Gressel; Cavallini
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, Zimmerman, Romney, Lovitz; Davis, McCarty, Shaffelburg; Godoy; Mukhtar, Sapong
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 Nashville SC
Even though they have won their last two home games, Vancouver have had plenty of anxious moments late in matches, while Nashville do not seem to be able to do much more than earn single points on the road, with six of their nine draws this year coming as the visitors.
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