Heading into the Western Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, SoundersFC.com caught up with a couple national MLS analysts to preview the Seattle Sounders’ series with the Vancouver Whitecaps. ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle and national freelance writer and New England Revolution beat writer Kyle McCarthy each offer their thoughts on what they expect from the two-leg series. (NOTE: These interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity.)
What is the biggest storyline heading into the Western Conference Semifinals?
CARLISLE: Clint’s Dempsey’s status is a big one. He had to sit on the sidelines when the Sounders won it last year, and now he has to sit out the first leg, so that’s certainly a big storyline. That goes hand-in-hand with, can the Sounders repeat their title run?
MCCARTHY: It has to be the Cascadia component. You look at the composition of the Western Conference playoff field right now, it’s Vancouver, Seattle and Portland plus Houston. When you have such a concentration of rivals in this meeting, it’s the primary storyline. The games are going to be even tighter and more tense, and there’s a lot to play for for both sides.
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What are some similarities and differences between this Sounders team and the one that won last year’s MLS Cup?
CARLISLE: It has a lot of the same cast of characters, but there are some important additions. Víctor Rodríguez gives them another experienced option on the wing. Kelvin Leerdam has been a good signing in the back. There will be some differences in that it doesn’t look like Jordan Morris is going to be available. There’s a little bit less pace. I know Joevin Jones played the last game on the wing as well instead of the back. Guys like Leerdam and Rodríguez are important additions for the Sounders to just give them a more varied attack, and that’s important especially in light of the injuries I alluded to.
MCCARTHY: You see this Seattle Sounders team and the MLS Cup champions as teams with lots of talent on them, as teams that are capable of turning the game in an instant and really punishing the opposition. You look at most of the key figures, they’re back. The question for Seattle heading into this first leg in particular is, how do things change without Clint Dempsey? And how do the Sounders adjust to that? But in terms of what Seattle brought last year and what Seattle can bring now, I think you look at those two teams and they’re both well set up for the postseason with their strengths and how they’ve put the fundamental pieces in place.
This is the first MLS playoff meeting between these two Cascadia rivals. What type of environments are you expecting both on and off the field?
CARLISLE: I’m expecting fantastic environments. Vancouver had a good crowd show up for the Knockout Round against the San Jose Earthquakes. Seattle is a team that’s going to continue to draw well. A lot of attention has been on Atlanta, but I think it’s still worth remembering that Seattle still has fantastic support. There’s a good atmosphere at BC Place as well. In terms of Cascadia, it at times seems like Vancouver is the little brother. They’re the only one of the three teams that hasn’t won an MLS Cup, but they’re a good side and they’re going to try and play to their strengths. I expect them to be up for it, just like I do the Sounders, and I think the fans will be very passionate as well.
MCCARTHY: I would expect both at BC Place and at CenturyLink Field for both sets of supporters to really get behind their sides. We’ve seen since all three Cascadia teams have come into MLS a real momentum and a real rancor when those meetings take place. The stakes when you look at the fact that both are in the postseason and there’s a place in the Western Conference Finals on the line, that heightens it, and I expect that to translate onto the field. I would expect there to be a few heavy tackles, a few disagreements and it comes down to both teams trying to manage their emotions.
What is an on-field matchup you’ll be watching that can influence this series?
CARLISLE: One matchup I think is going to be intriguing is Cristian Roldan against Yordy Reyna. Vancouver is a team that likes to get out and run. They’re really effective in transition especially when Reyna gets on the ball. It’s going to be up to Roldan to make sure that Reyna doesn’t completely run wild and run at the Seattle defense. When Vancouver gets out on the break, you want to avoid 1-on-1 situations if at all possible. Keeping Reyna in check largely falls on Roldan.
MCCARTHY: I’m looking to see how Nicolás Lodeiro copes with the Whitecaps’ central midfielders. They’re a particularly rugged group. You look at Tony Tchani, he’s done very well since ending up in Vancouver. For Seattle to be effective, Lodeiro has to find space. Vancouver is going to make that as difficult as possible in the center of the field, so there’s going to be an onus on Lodeiro to find spaces in different areas. He’s really good about that whether he’s floating out to the left or drifting over to the right, he’s done a good job of finding ways to influence the game. If he can do that against Vancouver, then Seattle is going to be in good shape.
So many playoff series come down to little details. What will be the deciding factors for each team to make it to the conference finals?
CARLISLE: Set pieces are going to be really key. Vancouver has shown over the course of the season, and they reminded everybody during the San Jose game, just how effective they can be from set pieces. If you’re Seattle and you have to foul one of the Vancouver players, make sure you don’t do it in a dangerous spot. That’s going to be pretty critical. Keeping Kendall Waston under control too. He’s super critical on set pieces as well. Nullifying that set-piece threat that Vancouver has is going to be key for both teams.
MCCARTHY: If Vancouver is going to make it to the Western Conference Finals, they’re going to need to continue their dominance on set pieces. We saw that in the 5-0 win over San Jose, and we’ve seen it all year. They present a lot of problems for teams from dead-ball situations. In order for them to advance, they’re going to have to figure out a way to generate those opportunities in the final third and then take advantage of them.
For the Sounders, the key is to make sure that their possession tells. They’re a side that when they’re on the ball, they’ve got a lot of quality, and they have to make sure they punish Vancouver if the Whitecaps are going to cede the possession. When you look at how these two teams are set up, the onus is really going to be on Seattle to make good use of the ball and make sure they don’t turn it over in bad spots. If they’re able to do that, then that gives them the platform to be able to go out and accomplish what they want to accomplish and reach the Western Conference Finals.
