The Vancouver Whitecaps will try to maintain their 100% record in MLS when they host the Chicago Fire at BC Place Stadium on Saturday.
A goal early in the second half last weekend was enough to give the Caps a 1-0 victory at Dallas, while the Fire claimed a narrow 2-1 triumph away to Toronto.
Match preview
Early into the 2025 season, nearly everything has gone the way of the Whitecaps, who are the only team in the league with a perfect record after four games.
Jesper Sorensen has been the brains behind this successful operation thus far, with this group of talented players beginning to play to their potential.
By avoiding defeat on Saturday, the Caps will have equalled their longest unbeaten run domestically from 2024 (five games), while they can win five consecutive MLS encounters for the first time in club history.
Maximum points this weekend would also give them three consecutive triumphs domestically at BC Place, their longest winning run at home in this competition since 2022 (three).
Going back to 2024, the Caps have found the back of the net in six consecutive regular-season affairs, leading the Western Conference with nine goals so far this year.
Vancouver have won two of their last three MLS home games versus Eastern Conference opposition, defeating CF Montreal 2-0 earlier this month.
Another manager who has had an early positive impact with his new club is Gregg Berhalter, as the Fire have points in three of their first four regular-season affairs.
With their victory last Saturday, this team equalled the number of MLS wins away from home from a year ago, while their only two triumphs this season have occurred as the visitors.
Should they emerge victorious on Saturday, it would mark their first three-match winning run away from home in MLS since the 2009 campaign.
All seven of their points earned this year have come when conceding the opening goal, while their only defeat happened when they drew first blood in their season opener against the Columbus Crew (4-2 loss).
Chicago have not won a domestic away match versus a Western Conference team since defeating Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in June 2023.
However, the last time they visited BC Place in 2022, the Fire came away with their first away victory against the Whitecaps, having lost their previous four trips to Vancouver.
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Team News
Last week the Caps were without captain Ryan Gauld, who has a knee issue, Emmanuel Sabbi sat out with a sore ankle and Sam Adekugbe was sidelined with a quad strain.
Because of the international window, the club will be missing Brian White, who is with the US national team, Pedro Vite was called up to the Ecuador squad, Andres Cubas is on the Paraguayan team and Ali Ahmed is with Canada.
Tristan Blackmon netted the lone goal in their victory over the Toros, with Yohei Takaoka collecting his second clean sheet of the campaign without making a single stop.
Last weekend, in Toronto, Romingue Kouame, Dylan Borso, Carlos Teran, David Poreba, Chase Gasper, and Kellyn Acosta were all sidelined for the Fire with lower body injuries, while Chris Mueller was on paternity leave.
Two Chicago players were called up for the international window, with Brian Gutierrez joining the US team at the CONCACAF Nations League and Omari Glasgow with the Guyana for their CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers.
Andrew Gutman and Hugo Cuypers scored in the opening half at BMO Field, cancelling out the opening Toronto goal which came from Deandre Kerr.
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Ocampo, Blackmon, Veselinovic, Laborda; Berhalter, Priso, Ngando; Kreilach, Rios, Nelson
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Dean, Rogers, Elliott, Gutman; Oregel, Pineda, Haile-Selassie; Zinckernagel, Cuypers, Bamba
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 Chicago Fire
Both teams are flying high and off to strong starts this season, but we trust the attacking depth of Vancouver a little more, as they have proven to be a well-balanced side early into 2025.
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