The last time the Seattle Sounders traveled to Vancouver, the Whitecaps won 2-1 last September to snap a 15-match winless run against their Cascadia Cup rivals dating to 2017.

The Whitecaps (3-4-5, 14 points) will try to make it two straight against the Western Conference-leading Sounders (7-4-2, 23 points) on Saturday night at BC Place.

The Whitecaps have lost two consecutive matches, both on the road. They suffered a 3-1 defeat last weekend at Portland and a 2-1 loss Wednesday at FC Dallas despite Pedro Vite’s early goal.

Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini said he wasn’t concerned about returning home after a midweek game in Texas.

“When we feel our fans behind us, the legs become very light. It’s easy to play,” Sartini said. “And I think that we’re gonna do a good performance, for sure.”

The Sounders are coming off a 2-1 home loss Wednesday to Austin FC, which snapped an eight-match winless streak. It was Seattle’s second loss in its past three matches.

Seattle’s lone goal came from substitute Fredy Montero in the 79th minute. It was Montero’s 10th career goal off the bench for Seattle in MLS play, twice as many as any other player in franchise history. Montero also scored four goals as a sub for the Whitecaps from 2017-20. Only five players in league history have more scores off the bench.

“One result doesn’t change what we have done during the whole season,” Montero said. “What I saw from the outside (in the first half) is that the game wasn’t open for us. … Obviously, every team now is studying us when they come to play against us — they know what we’re good at.”

Seattle’s Jordan Morris remains tied for second in MLS with eight goals, despite being scoreless in seven consecutive matches since April 1.

The Sounders have an 18-8-10 edge in the MLS series against Vancouver, though the rivalry dates back to the mid-1970s in the old North American Soccer League.

–Field Level Media