Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake

BC Place plays host to Vancouver Whitecaps’ exciting MLS encounter against one of the best-performing Western Conference teams Real Salt Lake.

After alternating between winning (3) and not winning (D1, L1) across their last five MLS fixtures, Vancouver enter this round sitting four points adrift of the Western Conference play-off. The Caps pulled off a narrow 1-0 victory away to Sporting Kansas City last time out and could now win back-to-back MLS games for the first time this season. That could prove daunting against a Salt Lake side they’ve alternated between victories (3) and defeats (2) across their last five home league H2Hs. There’s a reason for optimism, with Vanni Sartini’s team going unbeaten in three home league games ahead of this clash (W2, D1). Vancouver’s home MLS fixtures have been notably tight this season, as all six have featured a full-time margin of under 1.5 goals (W3, D2, L1).

In the meantime, Real Salt Lake have gone from strength to strength since losing 2-0 at Nashville in early May, winning all three MLS matches since, including two by an identical 2-1 scoreline. Yet, before beating Vancouver’s fellow Canadian rivals Montreal on their most recent MLS travel, RSL had been winless in five away league games (D2, L3), failing to score in four of them. Indeed, a lack of scoring prowess on hostile turf has seen only three teams from the Western Conference net fewer goals on the road this season than Salt Lake (6). RSL’s slow entries have witnessed five of their six MLS goals scored away from home come in the second half of play.