Whitecaps vs St Louis City Pre Match Thoughts: Caps can clinch a playoff spot with some favours

Clinch

Whitecaps could clinch a playoff spot with a victory and defeats or draws for Minnesota and Dallas. Then Vancouver would officially qualify for the playoffs despite being 6th currently, they'll still have a better and more positive playoff spot to play for. Vanni doesn't seem to care about the seeding in the playoffs, as he just feels like if the Caps made the playoffs there is a possibility for the MLS cup so Vanni is defining that he just wants to clinch a playoff spot earlier so he can earn some fatigue and stamina back. So with some favours done by LAFC and Seattle not letting Minnesota and Colorado get victories and the Whitecaps get their stuff done with a good performance and 3 points then the Vancouver Whitecaps will clinch a spot in the MLS playoffs. This might be slightly ambitious but both Minnesota and Dallas are playing repectively from homeand away, while Vancouver is at home against a first seed in St Louis where they will have to put in a good game and get the victory preferably clinching a playoff spot here at BC Place in front of the home fans for the second time in 3 seasons. So there is hope and precision if the Whitecaps strike with their best effort and agile movements showing leadership and sharpness in this match to possibly book themselves a spot in the MLS Cup.

St Louis

A look and a observation about St Louis and they've clinched the first seed in the Western Conference and also the Supporters Shield has already been secured by FC Cincinnati so there's no point to play for that. There is a possibility where St Louis will rotate the squad to get their younger and rotation players more minutes and gain some sharpness on the pitch as they've right now nothing to play for. First seed has been clinched in the West and no Supporters Shield to battle for. The only thing to play for, might just to potentially have home advantage in the MLS cup finals if they are looking so far forward to beating the Whitecaps and then getting closer to having home advantage if they get to the MLS cup finals against every team except for Cincinnati. So I do expect some rotation being done by St Louis. Something that seems dangerous is the goalkeeper Roman Burki, the former goalkeeper from Dortmund in Germany, St Louis Head Coach Bradley Carnell thinks that he is a MVP candidate. So if they are desperate in having home advantage against every team except for FC Cincinnati and they want it the advantage against every team unless Cincinnati makes it to the final but that's still quite a long road ahead of them.

Defending

I feel like for Vancouver to put in a great showing whether if St Louis City rotates or not it starts out from the back. If the Whitecaps is more composed while playing from the back and do well build up play without unnecessary risks and just calmly play out from the back if I'm highly ambitious I would prefer a uncommon clean sheet at this point. With the terrible goals conceded against DC United just plain silliness and unnecessary to give up especially the first one but the second one was also iffy as the DC United player got the ball that was popped up then dribbled past the defence to create a opportunity. So whether if it is a trio or a duo of center backs, there will still need to be stability in the defensive side of the pitch. Find a good middle in between of defending aggressively but not too aggressively where you would be in a difficult situation if you miss a tackle and they'll dribble beyond you. So if the defence is well I do believe the Whitecaps will get a result.

Prediction

I believe the Whitecaps will come in with a positive mindset after not getting a win in 4 matches and they'll be aggressive and hungry for the victory. I believe St Louis will do some slight rotation if they still care about the home advantage all across to the final and they're looking ahead a lot. They just have to rotate to save fitness since there is not too much to play for. With some decent defending not very iffy less risky I believe the Whitecaps will put in a great performance and get a hard fought 2-1 win at BC Place. With the first half being pretty subpar but I believe in the second half is where Vanni will give them a good talk and they'll get the victory. And I do also predict that they will clinch and qualify for the playoffs tonight as I don't believe Minnesota and LA Galaxy will get wins they might draw which will still make the Caps qualify for the playoffs.

Final Prediction: Whitecaps 2-1 St Louis

Man Of The Match

It seems difficult to know who will be the player the stands out in this match, but my bet is going to be the Gauld and White duo, both players on awesome form. White has been so good with his aeriel awareness lately winning header and scoring a lot. Also White is chasing the Golden Boot only 1 behind the leaders. While Ryan Gauld is providing assists and scoring at the same level, his playmaking is always sublime and wonderful to watch. Recently, only these two spectacular players have stepped up in recent matches. And at the end of the season that's when you need your best players to step up to gather themselves a victory behind them two players.