Whitecaps Face St. Louis City as Both Seek to End Recent Downturns
The Vancouver Whitecaps and St. Louis City are set to clash on Saturday night in the Pacific Northwest, both teams eager to reverse their recent struggles.
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Recent Form
Current Standing
Vancouver (7-7-4, 25 points) has hit a rough patch, losing their last two matches and winning only twice in their past ten games. Despite a strong start to the season, the team’s form has dipped.
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Key Player: Ryan Gauld
Ryan Gauld has been the standout player for the Whitecaps, leading the team with nine goals and four assists. He has been in exceptional form recently, scoring five goals and providing two assists in his past five matches. However, the team might be too reliant on Gauld’s contributions.
Other Offensive Challenges
Brian White, who scored 15 goals last season, has only five goals this year and hasn’t found the net since late April. No other player has scored more than three goals for the team this season. The absence of central midfielder Andres Cubas, who is representing Paraguay at the Copa America, has also been felt.
Manager’s Perspective
Manager Vanni Sartini believes the team’s struggles are a matter of fine margins.
“It sounds very easy to say,” Sartini said. “We just need to be a little better. And a little better means a lot of things. It means our performance didn’t go down dramatically. (But) the efficiency of our performance did go down dramatically.”
St. Louis City’s Recent Form
Present Position
St. Louis (3 wins, 6 draws, 10 losses, total of 19 points) is going through a difficult second season following a fantastic first year. In their inaugural year in 2023, they clinched the top spot in the Western Conference standings, but have faced challenges this season.
Issues encountered while traveling by road.
Bradley Carnell’s team is one of only two in MLS that have not yet achieved a road victory this season. They are currently positioned three spots lower than Vancouver in the Western Conference standings.
Difficulty in scoring
Joao Klauss has scored five goals in 19 games, making him the top scorer for St. Louis. The team’s lack of consistent scoring has been a factor in their recent poor performance.
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Future chances for success
St. Louis faces a critical period ahead, with five of their next six games against teams ranked ninth or below in the Western Conference. This offers a crucial chance to climb up the rankings.
“This week, Carnell emphasized the importance of securing points away from home and aiming for a victory.” We require a buffer of three points. At some stage, we must make up lost time. And it begins with the upcoming match against Vancouver.
Final thoughts
Both the Whitecaps and St. Louis City are eager for a win to improve their chances for the playoffs as they get ready to compete. Vancouver hopes Ryan Gauld can maintain his good form, while St. Louis seeks to end their winless streak on the road and move up the rankings. This game is crucial for both teams as they aim to change the course of their seasons.