The Vancouver Whitecaps have a chance to extend their unbeaten run at home to seven straight matches in all competitions when they welcome the New England Revolution to BC Place Stadium on Sunday in Major League Soccer action.
After a slow start to the campaign, the Caps are within reach of a playoff berth in the Western Conference, trailing the Seattle Sounders for that final position on goal difference, while the Revs carry a 10-game unbeaten streak heading into this encounter.
Match preview
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The Vanni Sartini magic that we saw last season could be making a comeback in 2022, as the Whitecaps have started to turn their season around.
Vancouver have managed to pick up 16 points in their last eight league games, which is the best mark in MLS over that stretch.
A part of their resurgence can be attributed to the poise we have seen from them in the middle of the field, as they are not rushing their ball movements as much as we saw in the early stages of 2022.
They play three consecutive matches at home, which will be a big opportunity for them to climb into a playoff spot in a venue that has been extremely kind to them this year, suffering only one defeat.
Since March, the Whitecaps have not lost a match when scoring first, posting four clean sheets in all competitions at BC Place.
Sunday will be their first home fixture against the Revs since 2018, and they have not beaten the reigning Supporters' Shield winners in Vancouver since 2013.
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Last Sunday, we did not get a typical send-off at Gillette Stadium as Matt Turner sat out of his final MLS game to watch his former team defeat Minnesota United 2-1.
While the Arsenal man did not play, we saw plenty of great performances from some of the newcomers, which should have manager Bruce Arena encouraged about his team's chances from now on.
New England seem to have settled into a nice rhythm, as they are methodically climbing their way up the Eastern Conference table, trailing New York City FC for first by just four points.
Like in 2021, second halves have lit a fire in this squad, tallying five times in the final 45 minutes in their previous five MLS matches.
The Revs have not dropped a road contest since April, scoring multiple goals in six of their seven away matches this year.
We are seeing them show much more dynamic play in the midfield, and they have utilized their speed out wide, providing Arena with more attacking options.
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Team News
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A brace from Brian White propelled the Whitecaps to a 2-1 win over York United as they advanced to the final of the Canadian Championship, while Lucas Cavallini and Deiber Caicedo each scored in a 2-0 win away to Dallas.
It appears as though Andres Cubas could be that missing ingredient Vancouver needed, as the Paraguayan has done a marvellous job of forcing other teams back with his pressure, while it seems as though Cody Cropper has earned the starting goalkeeper position, suffering only one defeat in his last six matches in all competitions.
Cristian Gutierrez has a left calf strain, while Thomas Hasal will not be available once again because of a left-hand injury.
Dylan Borrero netted his first career MLS goal intThe Revs match versus the Loons, and a Gustavo Bou free-kick was enough to give them all three points in that contest.
Carles Gil picked up his eighth assist of the campaign to move into a tie with Orlando's Mauricio Pereyra for the most in the league.
Henry Kessler remains out with a leg injury, while Jon Bell posted his second consecutive 90-minute performance at the back, as he started alongside DeJuan Jones, Andrew Farrell and AJ DeLaGarza.
Djordje Petrovic made a career-high five saves in their victory last weekend, Wilfrid Kaptoum collected his fifth consecutive start in midfield and Ben Reveno made his MLS debut late in that contest.
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Cropper; Blackmon, Veselinovic; Jungwirth; Raposo, Cubas, Teibert, Brown; Caicedo, Dajome; Cavallini
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Bye, Farrell, Bell, Jones; Maciel, Kaptoum; Borrero, Gil, Rivera; Bou
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 New England Revolution
When the Whitecaps are playing with such a high confidence level, they are a difficult side to contend with, though this time, it seems like more than just a new coach bump that has turned things around.
As improved as the Revs have been, they still leave their share of gaps in behind, and contending with the physicality of Cavallini while also trying to penetrate the Caps' newfound midfield strength will be a tall task.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
