Sounders gameday: Seattle vs. Vancouver

SEATTLE (9-13-5, 32 POINTS) vs. VANCOUVER (9-13-7, 34 POINTS)

1 p.m., Saturday, CenturyLink Field

TV: JoeTV. Radio: 97.3-FM. 1360-AM.

Head to head: Vancouver beat Seattle, 2-1, in March. The Whitecaps lead the series, 6-5-2.

Notes: The Sounders have seven regular-season games left, but their unofficial playoffs begin now. Seattle is in ninth place, needing to climb over San Jose (who they drew with last weekend), Vancouver (today’s opponent) and Portland in the Western Conference. The Timbers occupy the last playoff position and are six points better than the Sounders while having played two more games. There’s a chance to move up in the standings, but it’s hard to see how if they don’t dispose of their Cascadia Cup rivals today. It won’t be easy. The Whitecaps, after a midsummer’s swoon, have won two straight games and have playoff hopes of their own. Their ragged defense has been sharper in their last five games, having not surrendered more than a goal in that span. And Vancouver is seemingly not intimidated by CenturyLink Field, having won there in each of their last four appearances (FYI, today’s match is a full-stadium affair). ... The Sounders, meanwhile, are a beat-up team in a mini-slump. Seattle is winless in its last three games — and the Sounders would not have earned two ties in that stretch in not for two late goals by Nicolas Lodeiro. Centerback Brad Evans (lower back) is a game-time decision, coach Brian Schmetzer said Friday. Also, Joevin Jones and Jordan Morris were limited in practice on Friday with minor injuries. The Sounders did get some encouraging news on Wednesday when Clint Dempsey, who has been sidelined with an irregular heartbeat, returned for some light training. GM Garth Lagerwey told reporters that Dempsey had a minor medical procedure to correct the problem and that he’s cautiously optimistic in Dempsey’s return this season.

Next up: Sept. 25, at L.A. Galaxy.

This story was originally published September 16, 2016 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Sounders gameday: Seattle vs. Vancouver."