By BOB MACKIN
- THE BUZZ
The 14-7-8 Vancouver Whitecaps will be singing the Rolling Stones' "This Could be the Last Time," en route to Saturday night's 7 p.m. match with host 10-9-10 Seattle Sounders.
- HISTORY
The teams finish their United Soccer Leagues' First Division regular season schedule at Starfire Sports Complex (near Southcenter Mall) in Tukwila, Wash. It will be the 111th and perhaps last meeting between Vancouver and Seattle. Seattle, which leads 54-41-15 since 1974's North American Soccer League season, joins Major League Soccer in 2009. The Whitecaps hope to follow in 2011.
- LE TOUX
Sounders' French Connection forward Sebastien Le Toux leads with a dozen goals. The 2007 USL MVP scored and assisted when the Sounders beat the Whitecaps 2-0 on May 23 at Swangard Stadium. The teams played a scoreless Aug. 20 draw at Starfire. Whitecaps' striker Eduardo Sebrango leads Vancouver with 11 goals. It's unlikely either Le Toux or Sebrango will catch league-leader Alex Afonso, who has 15 for Miami FC.
- PERSONNEL
Whitecaps Wesley Charles, Takashi Hirano and Charles Gbeke are healthy and available for selection by head coach Teitur Thordarson. Geordie Lyall (groin) and Omar Jarun (suspension) are not.
- THE BIG IF
If the second place Whitecaps win Saturday and the Puerto Rico Islanders lose tonight and Sunday, then Vancouver finishes first overall and gets a first-round bye. Otherwise, the Whitecaps can finish no worse than second and have home-field advantage when playoffs begin next weekend.
- SAMMY SAYS
Mayor Sam Sullivan proclaimed yesterday "Whitecaps FC Day in Vancouver."
