VANCOUVER, BC – It’s going to be an interesting week for Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
A few days before Whitecaps FC conclude the MLS regular season at home vs. Portland Timbers in a match that will determine this year’s Cascadia Cup champion (Sunday at 1 p.m. PT – tickets still available), they will learn their opponent for the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals.
The CCL group stage will come to an end with eight matches scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday – at which point the quarter-final seeding and matchups will be set.
Here’s what we know heading into the final week:
The ‘Caps will be a top three seed, meaning they will face the sixth, seventh, or eighth seed in the two-leg quarter-finals between February 21 and March 2, 2017, with Whitecaps FC hosting the second leg at BC Place towards the end of that timeframe.
As for who Whitecaps FC will face, it’s still very much in the air. At this point, the most likely opponents are New York Red Bulls, FC Dallas, Portland Timbers, Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica), Tigres UANL (Mexico), Pumas UNAM (Mexico), or Suchitepéquez (Guatemala).
But one result could change everything. Here are the top eight seeds based on the current standings, which gives you a sense of where things stand.
<strong>SEED</strong> |
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>D</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>Whitecaps FC (Canada)*</p> |
<p>4</p> |
<p>4</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>+8</p> |
<p>12</p> |
<p>2</p> |
<p>CF Pachuca (Mexico)</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>+15</p> |
<p>9</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>Arabe Unido (Panama)*</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>+5</p> |
<p>9</p> |
<p>4</p> |
<p>New York Red Bulls (U.S.)*</p> |
<p>4</p> |
<p>2</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>2</p> |
<p>+4</p> |
<p>8</p> |
<p>5</p> |
<p>Saprissa (Costa Rica)</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>2</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>+8</p> |
<p>7</p> |
<p>6</p> |
<p>Honduras Progreso</p> |
<p>4</p> |
<p>2</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>7</p> |
<p>7</p> |
<p>Tigres UANL (Mexico)</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>2</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>+3</p> |
<p>6</p> |
<p>8</p> |
<p>FC Dallas (U.S.)</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>2</p> |
<p>+1</p> |
<p>5</p> |
* Clinched quarter-final berth
And here are the two games to watch that will determine Vancouver’s final ranking:
- Arabe Unido vs. Don Bosco (Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT): Arabe Unido is heavily favoured to win this game, but it’s all about how many goals they win by. They need to win by at least three goals to leapfrog the ‘Caps in the quarter-final rankings. Any other result would see Vancouver secure a top two-seed.
- CD Olimpia vs. CF Pachuca (Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT): If Olimpia can win this game by at least two goals, they will take Pachuca’s spot in the quarter-finals. Any other result would see Pachuca advance. In the event of a Pachuca draw or loss, Whitecaps FC would secure a top-two seed in the quarters.
All CCL group stage matches are streamed live on the CONCACAF Facebook Page.
