The rivalry stretches all the way in which down the I-5 and throughout the years to 1974, when most Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders followers weren’t even alive.
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It’s Rivalry Week in Main League Soccer. All of the native derbys — pronounced “darby” in the event you’re from outdoors North America or a pretentious home soccer fan — are in full flight.
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For the Vancouver Whitecaps, meaning a date with the Seattle Sounders at B.C. Place on Saturday, the continuation of a Hatfield and McCoy-esque feud that stretches 158 video games all the way in which again to 1974.
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All-time, the Sounders are up 70-51-37 within the collection. In MLS, together with one playoff and one bubble match assembly, they’re 17-8-9, outscoring the Caps 56-34.
Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer has been a part of the cross-border duels for the reason that ’70s, when he travelled north as a part of the Washington-B.C. junior soccer change program — staying with Canadian households — after which teaching the Sounders in opposition to the Caps on the NASL, USL and MLS ranges.
Forward of the very first MLS assembly in 2011, when he was an assistant with Seattle, he described these experiences along with his trademark deadpan wit.
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“I keep in mind when Canada was like a overseas nation. Now it’s P.C. to name them our neighbours. Again then (within the 1970’s) they have been a overseas nation. We didn’t like ’em,” he as soon as informed journo Invoice Schwartz.
“I blame my mom for unhealthy parenting,” he added of his stays in Vancouver with the change program.
“You’re 10 years previous and staying with foreigners. It was terrorizing my childhood!”
NEXT GAME
Seattle Sounders (7-4-2, 1st West) at Vancouver Whitecaps (3-4-5, ninth West)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, B.C. Place Stadium
TV: Apple TV. Radio: AM730
WHO’S THE TERROR NOW?
A rivalry is meant to be a intently fought competitors between two entities. Shut and competitors are two phrases that haven’t described this Cascadia Cup union previously few years.
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The Whitecaps received the final assembly — 2-1, solely an 89th minute purpose from Will Bruin spoiling the get together at B.C. Place — however earlier than that, Seattle was on a 15-game unbeaten streak in opposition to Vancouver (10-0-5). The Caps have 4 wins at B.C. Place. The Rave Inexperienced have 5, and yet another at Empire Area.
WHO’S IN FORM?
The ninth-place Whitecaps (3-4-5) are clinging to the ultimate playoff berth within the West, and have misplaced two straight. The Sounders (7-4-2) are atop the West in complete factors, one level up on LAFC, who’ve performed two fewer video games.
Three of the 4 halves the Caps have performed previously two video games could be counted among the many worst of the season, as they fell 3-1 in Portland and 2-1 in Dallas.
A return to B.C. Place can solely buoy a group that had been on an eight-game unbeaten run earlier than shedding in Portland final week.
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“To start with, we like to be residence. Lastly, we’re gonna play residence,” stated Caps coach Vanni Sartini. “It was very laborious this week as a result of not solely (we performed) the 2 MLS video games, we went to Toronto to play the Cup sport, so it was very laborious. We had much less time to organize as a result of whenever you journey, you lose a day more often than not.
“We don’t have an excessive amount of time. (Thursday) might be a restoration day. Friday we put together for the sport, and Saturday we’ll go on at full pace.”
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Sounders have been dropping factors in opposition to groups nicely under them within the standings. They have been demolished 4-1 by Portland a month in the past, when the Timbers have been nicely under the playoff line. They misplaced 2-1 to Sporting KC to start out the month of Might, when SKC was on the backside of the West.
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And Wednesday night time, they misplaced 2-1 to Austin, who hadn’t received since March and have been in tenth within the West.
“I don’t know. We messaged that out loud and clear,” Coach Schmetzer stated. “I don’t have a solution. I imply, we jump-started Portland, Kansas Metropolis and now Austin. I don’t know what it’s.”
The Portland Timbers, by the way in which, lead the Cascadia Cup standings. They break up their conferences with Vancouver, however lead on purpose distinction, whereas additionally having overwhelmed Seattle.
BEST OF FRENEMIES
If there was a constructive Wednesday for Seattle, it was some historic symmetry. Within the 79th minute, Fredy Montero scored his 79th profession purpose for the Sounders, pushing him 4 forward of teammate Raul Ruidiaz for the all-time membership lead.
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Now he returns to Vancouver to face the group he performed for twice (2017, 2019-22), and stays fourth all-time in objectives scored (28), simply three forward of Brian White (25).
“For me, it’s a distinct sport, a particular sport due to all of the years that I spent with the Whitecaps,” he stated. “They have been good to me. I actually admire the whole lot that I completed with them, however proper now, I’m centered on with the Seattle Sounders and and I like this group, I like town, and I’m gonna play laborious to win the sport for us.
“Particularly after this outcome from tonight — we’re gonna go there and grind and attempt to play since minute one to win these three factors.”
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Since he returned to Seattle in 2021, Montero has embraced his position as an alternative and mentor for youthful gamers on the group. The Sounders and Caps are the one MLS group’s he has performed for — on two separate stretches for each — however he began his MLS profession in Seattle. Left-back Cody Baker has a photograph of him with Montero when he was eight years previous, and Montero was entrance and centre for Baker, signing a four-year homegrown contract with Seattle earlier this week.
“Fredy’s been an excellent professional for lots of various causes. As he winds down his lengthy and illustrious profession, he has discovered methods to assist the membership different than simply being a participant on the sphere. I feel he embraces his position. I feel he is superb within the locker room,” stated Schmetzer. “He’s excellent with Léo (Chú), excellent with Dylan (Teves) and excellent with all of the younger gamers. And he nonetheless gives you with that high quality as nicely whenever you want it on the sphere. So we’re extraordinarily happy to have him.”
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FUN FACT
The highest three strikers in anticipated objectives per 90 are additionally the three most polarizing for his or her fan bases.
They’re: Jordan Morris (6.4), Brian White (6.4), and Héber (4.9).
Whereas White’s 4 league objectives has been deemed inadequate by the hordes of social media basic managers, so too has the manufacturing of Héber, who has simply two objectives and an help in his first 9 appearances for Seattle.
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In the meantime, Schmetzer is fielding questions like, “Is it time to sound the alarm on Jordan Morris?” regardless of him scoring eight occasions this season. The query was prompted by Morris not having a purpose contribution in seven video games till his secondary help on Montero’s purpose Wednesday night time.
“Under no circumstances. Not in my eyes,” Schmetzer stated. “That purpose was created as a result of Jordan Morris was capable of dash in behind, after which he will get the ball to Héber, and Héber makes the ultimate help. But when we have been a hockey group, that’d be a secondary help, soooo…”
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Originally posted 2023-05-18 21:30:26.
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