Austin Fc Aus vs Vancouver Whitecaps Fc Van Picks and Predictions August 31st 2024

Road-Tested Whitecaps Look to Add to Their Success at Austin FC

The Vancouver Whitecaps, known for their strong performances on the road, will face off against Austin FC, one of the toughest teams at home, in a key Western Conference match on Saturday. Both teams are vying for crucial points as the MLS playoff race intensifies.

Whitecaps Aim to Extend Road Dominance

The Vancouver Whitecaps (11-8-5, 38 points) enter Saturday’s match after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Pacific FC in the Canadian Championship semifinal on Tuesday, thanks to a second-half goal by Ryan Gauld. The Whitecaps are coming off a rare MLS break, having last played in league action on July 20, where they suffered a 4-3 home loss to Houston, ending a five-match unbeaten run that included four victories.

Vancouver currently sits in sixth place in the Western Conference, just three points shy of a first-round home playoff position. The Whitecaps have been particularly strong on the road this season, boasting a 6-4-3 record, the best away record in the Western Conference.

Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini emphasized the importance of maintaining possession against Austin, a team known for its lethal counter-attacks.

“We need to be always very, very, very present,” Sartini said. “Even if we’re going to have some spell of possession, we need to be very present, because in transition, Austin is lethal. So the organization, both offensively and defensively, will be very important.”

Austin FC Seeks Home Comfort

Austin FC (9-10-7, 34 points) finds itself in ninth place in the Western Conference, clinging to the final wild-card spot for the postseason with eight games remaining. The Verde return to Q2 Stadium for their first home match in over a month, following a confidence-boosting 2-0 win at Nashville on August 24, their first MLS victory since July 6.

Austin has performed well when playing at Q2 Stadium this season, holding a record of 6 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses. During their latest victory against Nashville, Jon Gallagher and Osman Bukari scored goals, with Bukari recording his first MLS goal. Alex Ring’s pass that helped Gallagher score a goal brought him to the first position on the club’s all-time assist chart, with a total of 24 assists in all competitions.

Austin has accumulated 10 points in its most recent seven league games, a significant improvement from the two points obtained in the five MLS matches before. Coach Josh Wolff pointed out that the team’s increasing health and depth were crucial elements in their recent improvement in performance.

“We have competition (amongst the players) for the first time in a long time,” Wolff said. “We have the ability to maneuver based on what we think gives the team the best chance to win.”

Head-to-Head History

Vancouver Whitecaps have faced Austin FC seven times, with Vancouver winning the majority of those games, coming out on top in four of them. Austin has only managed to secure victory once against Vancouver, with two games resulting in ties, one of which was a goalless draw on May 4 in Vancouver.

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Matchup Outlook

The Whitecaps want to keep winning away games and move up in the playoffs, while Austin FC hopes to make use of their home field advantage and secure their spot in the postseason competition. Both teams have a lot on the line in this game, which makes it a vital match in the Western Conference standings. Vancouver’s strong performance on the road and Austin’s solid record at home ensure that this game will be a closely fought contest.