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 香蕉视频直播楥aps (13-9-8) host their regional rivals, the Seattle Sounders (14-9-8).
香蕉视频直播淲e try to win the game. We have the luck to be already qualified, so even though it香蕉视频直播檚 not like a do or die, we can香蕉视频直播檛 be scared,香蕉视频直播� Sartini said. 香蕉视频直播淣ow it香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�
Vancouver has made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons, but hasn香蕉视频直播檛 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.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 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,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ecause it香蕉视频直播檚 good that we are consistent playoff participants. We want to try to become playoff winners.香蕉视频直播�
The final games will also determine who faces whom 香蕉视频直播� and where 香蕉视频直播� when the playoffs begin.
Seattle currently sits in fifth spot in Major League Soccer香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淥bviously a couple teams are still battling for the top four,香蕉视频直播� said Whitecaps striker Brian White. 香蕉视频直播淲e could easily finish ninth if we don香蕉视频直播檛 perform and we lose games and other teams do well. So there香蕉视频直播檚 still a lot of things to play for on the table. And it香蕉视频直播檚 important that we do our best to win all three points.香蕉视频直播�
The 香蕉视频直播楥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.
There香蕉视频直播檚 little love lost between the two clubs, said Whitecaps left back Sam Adekugbe.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝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,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淪o we香蕉视频直播檙e just looking forward to it.香蕉视频直播�
While Seattle struggled to start the 2024 campaign, they香蕉视频直播檝e rounded into form in recent weeks and head north for Wednesday香蕉视频直播檚 matchup unbeaten in their last four Major League Soccer games (3-0-1). The Sounders have outscored opponents 9-2 across the stretch.
香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e a big, physical team. Offensively, they have a lot of weapons, so it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a tough test at home,香蕉视频直播� White said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut these are the kind of games that we need to win in the playoffs. So it香蕉视频直播檚 good to have tough challenges going into that.香蕉视频直播�
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 Saturday香蕉视频直播檚 matchup and did not participate in full training with the team on Monday.
GIMME A BREAK: Wednesday will mark Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播楥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 Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 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
