Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. FC Dallas | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. FC Dallas
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 30
BC Place — Vancouver
Sept. 23 — 7 pm ET
WATCH: TSN1, ESPN+

A pair of Western Conference foes needing three points for different reasons will meet at BC Place when the Vancouver Whitecaps host FC Dallas Sunday.

The Whitecaps, coming off a Cascadia Cup loss to rival Seattle Sounders, are four points below the playoff line entering the weekend, while FC Dallas, which drew Columbus Crew SC, 0-0, in Week 29, could move into first-place in the West with a win.

This is the second meeting this season, with the teams playing to a 2-2 draw at Toyota Stadium in May. Reggie Cannon scored the lone goal of the first half and Maxi Urruti doubled Dallas’ lead in the 78th minute. But an own goal by Maynor Figueroa four minutes later opened the door and Kei Kamara leveled in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time from the penalty spot.

Vancouver Whitecaps

Vancouver (11-10-7) had a six-match unbeaten streak snapped in a 2-1 home defeat to the Sounders Saturday night.

Raul Ruidiaz struck for a first-half brace to give the Sounders a two-goal lead before Kamara pulled the Caps back a goal deep in first-half stoppage time. Despite the match being played at a frenetic pace, neither team was able to score after halftime.

“I said after the game Saturday performance-wise they did everything I asked them to do. Obviously result-wise disappointing because it’s against a rival, but on any other day I’m sure we would have got the result,” Carl Robinson said. “We didn’t get the breaks, we switched off in two key moments in the first half and weren’t able then to catch a break or finish off one of our number of chances.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: D - Aaron Maund (right hip flexor strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Stefan Marinovic — Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Doneil Henry, Brett Levis — Alphonso Davies, Aly Ghazal, Felipe, Cristian Techera — Nicolas Mezquida, Kei Kamara

FC Dallas

In a chess match with few scoring chances, FC Dallas (14-6-8) played Crew SC to a goalless draw at home Saturday night.

After Jesse Gonzalez snuffed out a Federico Higuain shot on frame in the 26th minute, Zack Steffen denied Santiago Mosquera on a set piece had arguably the best chance for the hosts six minutes later.

“Tough game against a good rival,” Oscar Pareja said. “They caused a lot of problems for us, especially in the right side … When we had the ball, we didn’t have the energy that we had in the second half. That made me think the second half was much better.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: M - Roland Lamah (muscle strain), D - Matt Hedges (undisclosed injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Jesse Gonzalez — Reggie Cannon, Maynor Figueroa, Reto Ziegler, Marquinhos Pedroso — Victor Ulloa, Carlos Gruezo — Michael Barros, Maxi Urruti, Santiago Mosquera — Dom Badji

All-Time Series

Overall: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5 wins, 21 goals … FC Dallas 9 wins, 25 goals … 4 draws
At Vancouver: Whitecaps FC 4 wins, 13 goals … FC Dallas 2 wins, 9 goals … 4 draws
Last meeting at Vancouver: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1, FC Dallas 1 (June 17, 2017)