Vancouver can land first blow in playoff clash with Seattle

MLS Playoffs
Sky Sports Football, 12.30am Monday

Home advantage has been critical to Vancouver Whitecaps’s MLS Cup charge this season and a visit from their poor-travelling Cascadian rivals Seattle Sounders should see them land the first blow in the fight for a place in the Western Conference Championship.

Defeat at Portland Timbers on the final day of the regular season saw the Whitecaps drop out of the automatic places – which gifted foes Seattle a bye at their expense – but their response was immediate.

Vancouver displayed plenty of character to thump visiting San Jose Earthquakes 5-0 in their opening playoff encounter on Thursday evening and should feel confident of building a lead before they travel to Seattle.

The Sounders may have the fresher legs but they have won just three of their 17 away league games this term and successive 2-0 defeats at Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia Union – who both failed to make the playoffs – suggests the holders could have their work cut out.

Form can often go out the window in the playoffs but Vancouver have been dominant on their own patch – losing just three times this term – and are tough to oppose.

Recommendation
Vancouver Whitecaps draw no bet
2pts 4-5 Coral, Ladbrokes

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