The Vancouver Whitecaps started off the 2023 season with a pair of losses before blowing out Honduran side Real Espana 5-0 in the Concacaf Champions League.
So which version of the Whitecaps will FC Dallas face on Saturday afternoon? That is the million-dollar question given that the return leg in Honduras for the Whitecaps is set for next week.
Key Player: Andres Cubas
In the meetings against the Whitecaps last season, Cubas showed to be a big-tie midfield destroyer for them against FC Dallas. Cubas does well at occupying space in the midfield, closing down passing lanes, and finding ways to keep the pressure off his back line.
Key Matchup: Sergio Cordova/Brain White vs Nkosi Tafari/Jose Martinez
This one really comes down to who gets the start on Saturday between Cordova and White. Both have been rotating at the top of the Whitecaps’ lineup to start the season. Cordova started Wednesday’s game, while White came off the bench and scored. Either way, both players are dangerous in front of the goal and the Dallas back line will need to be on alert in this one.
Quick Notes:
Scoring from everywhere - Four different players found the scoresheet for the 'Caps on Wednesday night in the CCL, including two of their defenders.
Early-season losses - The Whitecaps have lost their first two MLS matches this season despite leading both of them at half-time. This is the first time in club history that the Whitecaps have played consecutive matches in which they lost after leading at half-time.
Recent success against FCD - The Whitecaps have won their last three meetings with Dallas, including both in 2022, after not previously winning consecutive times in the first 24 games between the sides. Vancouver was the only team to complete the regular season double over Dallas last season.
Potential Lineup:
Here is what they ran last night in the CCL:
Our 𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙍𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙓𝙄 vs @rcdespana in @TheChampions 🏆
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) 2:19 AM ∙ Mar 9, 2023
➡️ 4-3-2-1 formation
➡️ Córdova gets his first ‘Caps start
➡️ Gauld wears the armband
Kickoff is set for 7:06pm PT ⏱
#VWFC | #VANvDRS | #SCCL23
And here is what they looked like last weekend against San Jose:
Our 𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙍𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙓𝙄 vs @SJEarthquakes 🌎📳
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) 2:46 AM ∙ Mar 5, 2023
➡️ 4-3-2-1 formation
➡️ Laborda gets his first ‘Caps start
➡️ Gauld wears the armband
Kickoff is set for 7:39pm PT ⏱
#VWFC
We know they will rotate because of the game Wednesday night and having the second leg next week in Honduras. So this lineup prediction is truly a shot in the dark:
Hasal; Ahmed, Yao, Laborda, Blackmon; Gressell, Cubas, Raposo; Gauld, Vite; Cordova.
Keys To Three Points over Vancouver
- Quick in transition - Nico Estevez alluded to it yesterday in his media press call. If FCD wants to have any success in this game, they’ll need to be quick in transition in breaking down the Whitecaps’ defense. This means quicker passing (which shouldn’t be an issue on the turf at BC Place), and finding those passing lanes along the channels behind the Caps’ defense. Basically, what they did to LA last weekend on repeat.
- Control the tempo - Estevez talked about how weird of a place Vancouver is to play at yesterday and it is true. Dallas only has three wins there all-time and some of those wins came before the Caps’ moved into BC Place. The turf is a tricky element there but if the Dallas midfield can maintain the tempo in this one and keep the pressure off the back line, we could see them come home with some points.
- Putting them away - We know this group can do it but there were times last season, including the game in Vancouver, where Dallas went up early and then struggled to hold on. We need to see more ruthlessness out of the attack on Saturday, just like we saw last Saturday against LA when it seemed anyone was about to score in the second half.
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