Match Preview: Austin FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps – the stretch runs begins

After a mere 42-day break, the Whitecaps are finally ready to play an MLS regular season match once again! The fact that there’s a break that long in the middle of the summer is quite something, but after a long post-Leagues Cup pause and a bit of a pyrrhic victory over Pacific FC, the ‘Caps have their sights set on Austin.

With less than two months to play in the regular season, the Whitecaps are certainly now in the stretch run. There are 10 MLS games to go, plus the Canadian Championship final against Toronto FC. Seven at home, four on the road, the chance for a cup three-peat and just seven points separating 4th and 11th place in the MLS Western Conference standings. It’s all to play for!

Unfortunately, the ‘Caps have a bit of a hole up front heading into this all-important stretch of games. Brian White is in concussion protocol after a harsh smack of the head on the BC Place turf against Pacific, while Levonte Johnson is again out due to a minor calf injury.

That means the only proper #9 fit to play is Damir Kreilach, and there’s not a ton of available attacking depth behind him, Fafa Picault and Ryan Gauld (who also didn’t look 100% against Pacific despite scoring the lone goal). We could see any of Ali Ahmed, Ryan Raposo and Sam Adekugbe filling in up front, and potentially some WFC2 callups to fill out the bench. The wildcard option would be the return of Déiber Caicedo, who is back training with the team, but it’s unclear whether he’ll have the match fitness to play this weekend.

The one positive piece of injury news this week was Tristan Blackmon making his return off the bench on Tuesday after two months on the sidelines. After being ever-present in the lineup last year, the American defender has not been at the forefront nearly as much in 2024, both due to injury as well as some struggles on the pitch when he has played. He and Bjorn Inge Utvik could be in a battle for who will get the minutes in the big games coming up.

Andrés Cubas and Pedro Vite as the duo in the middle of the park has been the bread and butter for Vanni Sartini this season, with Alessandro Schöpf returning on Tuesday to his role of quasi-wingback/third central midfielder. Sartini has been tinkering with his system, and with the lack of attacking options there definitely needs to be a focus on being as defensively sound as possible, given that the ‘Caps haven’t kept a clean sheet in MLS play since May. Ironically, that was against Austin!

That 0-0 draw on May 4th is the only previous meeting between these two sides this season. The ‘Caps actually have quite a good record against the Texan outfit since they joined MLS, having only lost one of their seven matchups. Their last trip to Q2 Stadium was also a scoreless draw, back in April of last year.

Austin currently sits in 9th place in the West, trying to cling to one of the final postseason positions. After a fantastic 2022 campaign where they finished 2nd in the conference, the Verde & Black have slumped back down the table and are in danger of missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. They have scored the third-fewest goals in MLS this year, but are above average in terms of goals conceded, so don’t be surprised if this ends up being another low-goal affair.

The Whitecaps might be down to take the offer of a low-scoring game, given their injuries up front and the fact that they’re on the road. On the other hand, with the opportunity for homefield advantage in the first round of the playoffs in sight, any chance for a win is an important one. Thankfully, at least, there won’t be any more month-long breaks between games.