Two teams seeking to bounce back from defeats on the opening weekend will lock horns on Saturday as MLS Cup holders New York City FC travel to Canada to face Vancouver Whitecaps.
The visitors were beaten courtesy of a last-minute goal against LA Galaxy, while the hosts shipped four goals in Ohio against Columbus Crew.
Match preview
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Vancouver Whitecaps got off to the worst possible start as they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat away against Columbus Crew last weekend, a result that equals the second-largest margin of defeat in a season-opening game in MLS history.
First-half strikes from Miguel Berry and Derrick Etienne put the hosts into a comfortable two-goal lead at the break, before the 53rd-minute dismissal of Jake Nerwinski gave the visitors a mountain to climb for the rest of the second half.
Two more goals in the final five minutes from Luis Diaz – a Costa Rican winger not to be mistaken for Liverpool's January signing – and Lucas Zelarayan, rubbed salt into Vancouver's wounds, leaving head coach Vanni Sartini with plenty to ponder already at such an early stage.
Vancouver have now suffered five defeats in their last eight season openers and, unsurprisingly, they now sit bottom of the Western Conference on goal difference.
The Whitecaps now face a daunting challenge against MLS Cup holders NYCFC, who they have beaten only once in their five previous meetings, a 3-2 win on home soil back in July 2017.
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Like Vancouver, New York City FC have begun the new campaign on the wrong foot after suffering a slender 1-0 defeat away against LA Galaxy last weekend.
Ronny Deila's side were seemingly on course to claim a point in California, before former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez netted in the 90th minute to condemn Manchester City's sister club to defeat on the opening weekend, ending their 15-game unbeaten run across all competitions – dating back to October 2021 – in the process.
That result saw NYCFC become the fourth defending champion in the last six years to lose their season opener; only two defending champions, however, have started a season with two straight losses – DC United in 2000 and Toronto in 2018 – so they will be hopeful of returning to winning ways on Saturday.
While NYCFC are sure to target success again in the MLS, they will also have one eye on the CONCACAF Champions League as they seek to become the first MLS side since LA Galaxy back in 2000 to win the tournament. Deila's men beat Costa Rican outfit Santos de Guapiles 6-0 on aggregate in the last 16 and will face Comunicaciones in the first leg of their quarter-final tie next Wednesday.
New York City, who will be the favourites for Saturday's contest, have won three of their five meetings with Vancouver, including a 3-1 away victory in the most recent encounter in September 2019.
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Team News
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Vancouver centre-back Jake Nerwinski is suspended, following his dismissal against Columbus Crew, so Florian Jungwirth could deputise in the back three alongside Ranko Veselinovic and Tristan Blackmon.
With striker Brian White set to remain on the sidelines with a foot injury, Deiber Caicedo and Lucas Cavallini are the most likely duo to start in attack, with Ryan Gauld to continue in the number 10 role just behind.
As for NYCFC, their only injury concern is with defender Anton Tinnerholm who continues to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered last year.
New recruit Thiago Martins, who joined the club last month from Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos, was an unused substitute last weekend, but the centre-back will be hoping to make his MLS debut on Saturday at the expense of either Maxime Chanot or Alexander Callens.
Last season's Golden Boot winner Valentin Castellanos, who netted 19 times in 32 games during the regular season, is set to lead the line, with support provided in attack by wingers Talles Magno and Santiago Rodriguez as well as veteran playmaker Maximiliano Moralez.
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Hasal; Jungwirth, Veselinovic, Blackmon; Brown, Baldisimo, Teibert, Dajome; Gauld; Cavallini, Caicedo
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Gray, Chanot, Martins, Amundsen; Parks, Acevedo; Rodriguez, Moralez, Magno, Castellanos
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 1-3 New York City FC
Both teams have scored in all five previous meetings between Vancouver and NYCFC and we expect the net to ripple at both end of the pitch again this weekend.
The visitors are understandably the favourites and they should have no problems in returning to winning ways at BC Place.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a New York City FC win with a probability of 45.96%. A win for Vancouver Whitecaps had a probability of 28.67% and a draw had a probability of 25.4%.
The most likely scoreline for a New York City FC win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.45%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (9.22%) and 0-2 (8%). The likeliest Vancouver Whitecaps win was 1-0 (7.88%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.05%). The actual scoreline of 0-0 was predicted with a 6.8% likelihood.
