Whitecaps battle to extend unbeaten run vs. Orlando City

The red-hot Vancouver Whitecaps have already clinched a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs. Their next step is claiming the Western Conference's top seed.

The Whitecaps, who have not lost in two months, visit Orlando City on Saturday in the penultimate regular-season match for both clubs.

Vancouver (17-6-9, 60 points) is currently second in the West and level on points with conference-leading San Diego FC, who own the tiebreaker on wins (18 to 17). Los Angeles FC (59 points) and Minnesota United (58 points) remain in the hunt for the West's top seed.

The Whitecaps are 4-0-3 in their last seven MLS outings and 6-0-4 in their last 10 matches across all competitions, including a fourth straight Canadian Championship triumph on Oct. 1. That run is due in part to Thomas Muller, who has six goals and four assists across all competitions since his Aug. 17 debut.

Thanks to the FIFA international break, Vancouver's lineup will be thinner, as Canada's Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson, along with Paraguay's Andres Cubas, are away with their respective national teams.

"We'll just take it one game at a time and just do our best," Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. "We'll be down some guys (but) everyone (has) stepped up tremendously this year. So, it's about taking it one game at a time and then carrying that into the postseason."

Orlando (14-7-11, 53 points) is in seventh place in the East, but a top-four finish remains possible. The Lions are three points behind fourth-place Charlotte FC with two matches left.

Though Orlando City will have players like second-leading scorer Marco Pasalic (Croatia), Alex Freeman (United States) and David Brekalo (Slovenia) on international duty, it's not a major concern for head coach Oscar Pareja.

"You feel sorry because you (are missing) some players, but you feel happy because this is going to be an opportunity for us to grow into the roster toward the playoffs. So, I see it that way," Pareja said.

Orlando is 1-0-3 in its last four matches after playing to identical 1-1 draws against FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew.

Saturday's match was originally set for Aug. 30 before being rescheduled due to Orlando's qualification for the semifinals of the 2025 Leagues Cup.

--Field Level Media