A fierce rivalry continues to rumble when Cascadia foes Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC meet in the decisive second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals tonight on FS1 and FOX Deportes. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, with MLSsoccer.com airing 30 minutes of live pregame coverage starting at 9 p.m. on Facebook, YouTube and Periscope.
Defending MLS Cup champion Seattle holds a narrow edge going into the fixture after the clubs scrapped to a scoreless draw Sunday night in Vancouver. The Sounders will also welcome back star forward Clint Dempsey, who served a red card suspension in leg one. Another 0-0 tie would send tonight's match into extra time, while a draw involving goals would send the Whitecaps to the conference finals on away goals.
This scenario gives Seattle plenty of attacking impetus after Sunday's contest unfolded in a drab manner. Just as Dempsey is in contention to feature, Vancouver manager Carl Robinson may opt to start two of his best attacking players this time around. Yordy Reyna and Cristian Techera started on the substitutes bench four days ago but might get starting nods at CenturyLink Field, where Vancouver holds a respectable 4-4-1 all-time record but fell 3-0 on Sept. 27.
Injuries have taken their toll on both sides. Seattle is certain to be without Jordan Morris and Brad Evans, while Osvaldo Alonso, Victor Rodriguez and Gustav Svensson are question marks. On the opposite sideline, Reyna and Laba are nursing minor knocks that might have prevented them from playing a greater role in the first leg.
The Sounders are an unbeaten 10-0-3 in their last 13 home games and boast a 0.71 goals against average at CenturyLink Field this season. But Vancouver has proven its mettle on the road, having snapped Sporting KC's club-record 24-game home unbeaten run on Sept. 30 with a 1-0 triumph.
