Real Salt Lake Real vs Vancouver Whitecaps Fc Van Picks and Predictions October 19th 2024

Whitecaps Aim to Improve Playoff Positioning vs. RSL

The Vancouver Whitecaps head into their regular-season finale with plenty on the line, aiming to secure a crucial win against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night in Sandy, Utah. For the Whitecaps (13-12-8, 47 points), a victory could significantly improve their playoff seeding and avoid a precarious wild-card match. But perhaps even more pressing is the need to regain momentum after a six-match winless run has dropped them to eighth place in the Western Conference standings.

Importance of Momentum

Vancouver has struggled in recent weeks, failing to secure a win in their last six outings (0-3-3), a skid that has threatened their playoff aspirations. For Whitecaps forward Brian White, who leads the team with 15 goals this season, Saturday’s match represents an opportunity to turn things around before the playoffs.

“I think obviously we’ve had a bad run of results recently,” White said. “So it would be great to go into playoffs with a little bit more positive energy, a win, and see what we can do from there.”

The stakes are clear for Vancouver: a win could bump them up to the seventh seed, provided Minnesota loses its final match. This would allow the Whitecaps to bypass the Western Conference wild-card round, which now comes with additional complications.

BC Place Scheduling Conflict

The Whitecaps announced on Friday that a scheduling conflict at their home stadium, BC Place, means they won’t be able to host a wild-card match. Should Vancouver finish in either eighth or ninth place, they will face an away game, likely against the Portland Timbers. This development makes Saturday’s clash all the more crucial, as a victory could help them avoid the added challenge of traveling for a do-or-die playoff fixture.

Salt Lake’s Strong Finish

Real Salt Lake (15-7-11, 56 points) enters Saturday’s contest in good form, having gone unbeaten in their last five matches (2-0-3). This solid run has propelled them to fourth place in the Western Conference, level on points with third-place Seattle and with an opportunity to leapfrog the Sounders if results go their way.

While Salt Lake has settled for draws in three of their last five games, coach Pablo Mastroeni believes his team is building positive momentum after securing a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes two weeks ago, thanks to a goal from Diego Luna, who now has seven goals on the season.

“We haven’t been, obviously, happy with the ties,” Mastroeni said. “But now we go five undefeated and we bookend that five-game stretch with two wins. And so now, all of a sudden, the mindset changes. And so we’ve got to keep doing all the little things that go unnoticed that make our team who we are.”

Eyeing Third Place

While Salt Lake has already secured a playoff berth, they have extra motivation on Saturday, as a win could lift them into third place in the West, depending on Seattle’s result. Importantly, the team has no risk of dropping lower than fourth, which means Salt Lake will have home-field advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs.

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Getting Arango Back on Track

One of the key challenges for Real Salt Lake in the final match will be reigniting the form of forward Cristian Arango. The Colombian striker was once in contention for the MLS Golden Boot, scoring 16 goals by June 1, but injuries have hampered his productivity in the second half of the season. Arango has found the back of the net just once since June, and Mastroeni will be hoping to see him return to form heading into the playoffs.

What’s at Stake

For the Whitecaps, the mission is clear: snap the winless streak, boost their playoff seeding, and avoid the uncertainty of a wild-card road match. Salt Lake, meanwhile, looks to maintain their unbeaten run, improve their playoff positioning, and get their key players back to peak performance.

Both teams have plenty to play for, setting the stage for a highly competitive clash at America First Field on Saturday night. With momentum, seeding, and potential home-field advantages hanging in the balance, expect both Vancouver and Salt Lake to leave it all on the field in their regular-season finale.