The first match of the Conference Semi-finals in the 2017 Major League Soccer season will be contested between Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders at BC Place. The visitors earned their place at this stage of the draw thanks to finishing in second place in the Western Conference, one place ahead of their opponents. Vancouver Whitecaps finished the regular season in third place, just 1 point behind Seattle Sounders and the winners of the Western Conference, Portland Timbers. However, Vancouver Whitecaps were forced to enter the playoff stage in the first knockout round.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps could easily have won the Western Conference this season but dropped points towards the end of the campaign put pay to that dream. However, a new dream has started to emerge as Vancouver Whitecaps look towards a place in the Conference Finals. Having started the playoffs in the first knockout stage, Vancouver Whitecaps welcomed San Jose Earthquakes to BC Place.
The hosts had little trouble in winning this match and recorded the most comprehensive victory of any team in the playoffs, winning 5-0. You must go back to the 23rd July to find the last time Vancouver Whitecaps lost a home game, which was a 2-1 reverse to Conference winners Portland Timbers. Vancouver Whitecaps have scored in each of their last 12 home matches.
Seattle Sounders Form
Seattle Sounders avoided the knockout round of the MLS playoffs by finishing second in the Western Conference.
They won 3 of their last 4 games, including a good 3-0 home victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps and that was enough to see them finish just a point off top place in the conference.
While home form has been excellent for Seattle Sounders, their away form does not come close and they have won just 1 of their last 6 away games, which came at 9th place Minnesota United. Their only other away victory in their last 13 matches was at Colorado Rapids on the 5th July and they finished 10th in the Western Conference.
Seattle Sounders have failed to score in their last 3 away games.
Team News
Vancouver Whitecaps have no suspension concerns but have lost David Edgar and Matias Laba to injury. They are expected to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Fredy Montero once again leading the line.
Seattle Sounders will be without the suspended Clint Dempsey, who saw red in their previous match and will be a big loss. They will also miss Jordan Morris, Brad Evans, Ozzie Alonso and Gustav Svensson who are injured.
Top Betting Tips
Playing at home is often a big factor in MLS games due to the distances teams must travel to play games. While that is not the case in the first leg of this match, Vancouver Whitecap’s home form is strong and Seattle Sounders away form has been poor, given the home side the edge.
Vancouver Whitecaps are 7/5 to win the match with Ladbrokes and take an advantage to the away leg.
Vancouver Whitecaps don’t often do clean sheets in home games but with Seattle missing Clint Dempsey and struggling for goals in recent away games, now would be a great time to collect their second in a row. You can get 17/5 with Ladbrokes for Vancouver Whitecaps to win the match to nil.
Fredy Montero was on the score sheet in the knockout round and will once again be the focus of home attack. Montero is 5/1 with Ladbrokes to open the scoring against his former club.