FC Dallas will try to secure a playoff spot while the host Vancouver Whitecaps will try to clinch the top playoff spot in the Western Conference when the teams meet on Decision Day Saturday night.
Vancouver (18-6-9, 63 points), which is three points ahead of second-place San Diego FC (18-9-6, 60 points), can clinch first place with a win or draw. Dallas (10-12-11, 41 points) enters the competition in eighth place and would clinch an MLS Cup playoff berth with a victory.
Dallas could also secure a playoff spot with a tie and either a Colorado Rapids loss or draw against Los Angeles FC or a Real Salt Lake loss or draw in St. Louis City. Even if FC Dallas loses, a combination of points lost by Colorado, RSL and/or the San Jose Earthquakes could send Los Toros to the playoffs.
“They’re a fighting group and they know what’s at stake,” Dallas coach Eric Quill said, according to BigDSoccer.com. “Our mentality is going to be high for this game, and the fight was on the training pitch this week. I’m really proud of who we are right now.”
Dallas will be without starting forwards Petar Musa (18 goals, six assists) and Logan Farrington (five goals, four assists), who are both suspended for the game.
“We will not be afraid,” Quill said. “We’re not going out there to face the ropes and get knocked out. We’re going out there to throw punches and (be) the group we’ve been.”
Vancouver is led by 36-year-old German legend Thomas Muller, who has six goals and three assists in six matches since arriving from Bayern Munich, where he played in 13 Bundesliga championship teams as well as two Champions League winners.
Muller scored in the seventh minute of added time on October 11 to give the Whitecaps a 2–1 victory at Orlando City and propel Vancouver to first place in the West.
Vancouver has lost just twice in 16 home games (10-2-4) and is on an eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3).
“It should be a fun game to watch,” Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen said. “There’s a lot at stake. Dallas has to win the game. … We have to win the game. I think both teams will go all the way, and that should be exciting for the spectators.”
Vancouver won the teams’ first meeting in Dallas, 1-0, on March 15, thanks to a Tristan Blackmon header in the 54th minute.
–Field level media
