Preview: Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | MLS is Back Tournament, Group B

2020 MLS is Back Tournament – Group B, Matchday 13
Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Sun., July 19 – 10:30 PM ET

TV: FS1, TUDN; TSN in Canada

STREAMING: FOX Sports App, TUDN App in USA; TSN App in Canada

A Cascadia rivalry will be played out in the MLS is Back Tournament when familiar foes Seattle Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps square off in Group B Sunday.

Although the match won't count toward claiming this year's Cascadia Cup, it could well determine which team fails to advance out of Group B. As if they need added incentive, a winner will eliminate their rival from reaching the Round of 16.

Anything short of a victory will eliminate the Sounders, who look to rebound from a 2-1 defeat to Chicago Fire FC Tuesday morning. Robert Beric made the most out of a Sounders defensive miscue to give Chicago the lead in the 52nd minute. Jordan Morris got to the byline and dragged back an inch-perfect pass to an onrushing Handwalla Bwana for the equalizer in the 77th minute. But Mauricio Pineda came through with the game-winner on a corner kick in the 84th minute, finishing a bouncing ball at the back post.

The Whitecaps opened the tournament with the wildest game yet in Orlando, falling to the San Jose Earthquakes in a seven-goal thriller. The shorthanded 'Caps roared out of the gate and had a 2-0 lead inside of 22 minutes through Ali Adnan and a Judson own goal. They regained the two-goal lead in the 59th minute after an ill-advised pass in his own penalty box from 'Quakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega was picked off by David Milinkovic, who dished off to Cristian Dajome for an easy finish into an open net.

But San Jose responded with three unanswered goals inside the final 20 minutes, including Shea Salinas' winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time. 

Seattle Sounders

Updated team roster

• Injury Report:
  • OUT: João Paulo (M) - right quad strain
  • OUT: Joevin Jones (D) - left adductor strain
  • OUT: Yeimar Gomez Andrade (D) - left hamstring strain
  • QUESTIONABLE: Will Bruin (F) - right knee injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Vancouver Whitecaps

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Janio BikeL (M) - left adductor strain
  • OUT: Eric Godoy (D) - right quadricep strain
  • QUESTIONABLE: Leonard Owusu (M) - right hamstring injury
  • UNAVAILABLE: Lucas Cavallini (F)
  • UNAVAILABLE: Fredy Montero (F)
  • UNAVAILABLE: Georges Mukumbilwa (M)
  • UNAVAILABLE: Tosaint Ricketts (F)
  • UNAVAILABLE: Andy Rose (D)
  • UNAVAILABLE: Bryan Meredith (GK)
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup

• Sounders: 11 wins, 34 goals
• Whitecaps: 7 wins, 27 goals
• 6 draws

Officials

• Referee: Robert Sibiga
• Assistant Referees: Jose da Silva, Ian McKay
• 4th Official: Armando Villarreal
• VAR: Tim Ford