Soccer
Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer clash between Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
The Vancouver Whitecaps will put their 100% MLS record on the line Saturday when they travel to Toyota Stadium for a date with Dallas.
Last Saturday, the Toros suffered their first defeat of the campaign, 3-1 to the Chicago Fire, while the Caps climbed to the top of the Western Conference table with a 2-0 triumph over CF Montreal.
Soccer Match preview
© Imago
A match that appeared to be in their control for so long took a sudden turn in the final few minutes, as the Toros conceded three times beyond the 80th minute against Chicago.
That was their first defeat at home in this competition since September of last year (3-1 loss to Orlando City), as this team have now lost their last four regular-season affairs at home against Eastern Conference opposition.
They have been better versus the West, winning seven of their last eight home games against their own conference in league play, with their lone defeat over that stretch coming to the Colorado Rapids last August (3-2).
Eric Quill‘s men have yet to lose in the 2025 domestic campaign when conceding the opener, claiming four points in MLS this year when doing so.
The Toros have not scored in the opening half of a domestic encounter this season but have only conceded one first-half strike in their previous four league contests at Toyota Stadium.
Not since May 2023 have they won a regular-season home match against a Canadian team, defeating the Whitecaps on that occasion 2-1.
© Imago
Jesper Sorensen has been the toast of Vancouver early on, with the Danish coach winning all three of his league matches in charge of this team.
He took over from Vanni Sartini, a popular and successful figure who guided them to the playoffs in each of their previous two MLS campaigns.
So far, Sorensen has improved this team’s backline, with the Caps conceding a goal or fewer in their last six competitive games.
He has not forgotten about their quality in the attacking third though, as Vancouver lead the Western Conference in goals scored after three matchdays (eight).
A victory on Saturday would mark the first time that this club will have claimed four successive MLS victories since August 2021.
The Caps were unbeaten in their three away fixtures played last season in Texas, including a 3-1 triumph over Dallas at Toyota Stadium on matchday four a year ago.
Dallas Major League Soccer form:
Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer form:
Vancouver Whitecaps form (all competitions):
© Imago
In their defeat to Chicago, Dallas were missing Show due to an upper leg issue, while Paxton Pomykal was sidelined because of a knee injury.
Last week, the club signed Kaick from Brazilian side Gremio and loaned Homegrown midfielder Diego Pepi to Texoma FC in the United Soccer League One for the remainder of the season.
Logan Farrington netted their only goal of their encounter last week, his first of the 2025 campaign, while Luciano Acosta has three goal involvements in five league fixtures against the Whitecaps in his MLS career.
Against Montreal, captain Ryan Gauld went down with an injury, and he could be gone for a few weeks, Emmanuel Sabbi was unavailable with an ankle strain, Jayden Nelson sat out because of a hamstring issue and a quad injury to Sam Adekugbe kept the Canadian on the sidelines for that contest.
They were missing Edier Ocampo last week through suspension, though he is eligible to return this weekend, while Brian White was called up to the USA squad for their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League semi-final match with Panama, though he will be available to play on Saturday.
Mathias Laborda notched his first of the season for Vancouver against Montreal, with Tate Johnson putting home his first career MLS goal in the victory.
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Moore, Ibeagha, Urhoghide, Farfan; Ramiro, Delgado; Julio, Acosta, Farrington; Musa
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Laborda, Veselinovic, Blackmon, Johnson; Vite, Cubas, Berhalter; Ahmed, White, Rios
Soccer We say: Dallas 3-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Without Gauld, the Caps will have difficulty providing quality service to White in the attacking third, while we believe Acosta is due for a big game, and he tends to have them against Vancouver.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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Read MoreBecki Mongold