The Vancouver Whitecaps are in position to win the Cascadia Cup when they visit the Seattle Sounders on Sunday night.
The Whitecaps are 2-0-0 in the three-team competition between Vancouver, Seattle and the Portland Timbers. The Whitecaps have already defeated Portland (2-2-0) twice this season, meaning they can clinch their record ninth Cascadia title with a win or tie against the Sounders (0-2-0).
Vancouver (10-3-4, 34 points) is tied for most points in the Western Conference with Los Angeles FC. However, the Whitecaps are winless in their past three MLS matches (0-1-2).
Vancouver lost three matches in Leagues Cup play this month, including a road loss in penalty kicks to Tigres UANL on Tuesday.
Whitecaps star Brian White has a team-best 10 goals and has reached double digits for the fifth time in six seasons. He hasn’t scored in three MLS matches since play resumed after the World Cup break.
On Thursday, Vancouver locked up young defender Ralph Priso to an extension through 2028-29 plus a club option for 2029-30.
Priso, who turned 24 earlier this month, has made 49 MLS appearances for the Whitecaps over the past two-plus seasons. He also has made two appearances for the Canada national team.
“Ralph came to us with a strong foundation and has continued to develop into a more complete player,” Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster said. “His growth over the past two seasons, both with our club and now at the international level, is a testament to the work he has put in and the environment we have created here.”
Seattle (7-7-3, 24 points) has dropped six straight MLS matches and is coming off a stretch in which it lost two of three Leagues Cup matches. The most recent was Wednesday’s 2-1 setback against Chivas de Guadalajara.
Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer is feeling the urgency after the long stretch of poor play.
“Look, we still have a long way to go,” Schmetzer said. “Again, realistically, we’re going to have a tough stretch of league games — Vancouver, Austin, and Cincinnati. So yes, we have to build some momentum.”
Seattle forward Sebastian Gomez said his club will not quit.
“Just believing, never backing down. We’re in a rough spot, but now we can get hot again,” Gomez said.
Paul Rothrock leads the Sounders with five goals in MLS play.
This is the first MLS meeting of the season, but the Sounders defeated Vancouver 5-1 aggregate in CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 play in March.
Seattle is 76-54-28 across all competitions against the Whitecaps. The teams meet again on Nov. 1 in Vancouver.
–Field Level Media
