Vancouver Whitecaps will clash with Real Salt Lake for the second time of the season on Wednesday, July 7, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah. These two met in this stadium just under three weeks back when Real Salt Lake won with 3-1.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake
When: Wednesday, July 7 – 20:00 MDT
Where: Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah, United States
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 38°C
The Vancouver Whitecaps will hope they can snap their seven-game winless streak in half tonight when they face off against Real Salt Lake in Utah. The Canadian squad enter this match off a solid 2-2 draw with FC Dallas, having previously managed a 2-2 draw with Seattle Sounders.
Real Salt Lake have been struggling with their form of late as well. They’re winless in their last three after suffering a 0-1 loss to Los Angeles FC on Sunday, having previously put together a 1-1 draw with Houston Dynamo and 1-2 loss against Seattle Sounders.
Whitecaps Winless since May 2021
Vancouver Whitecaps enter tonight’s match with a disappointing 0-2-5 record from their last seven league outings. That run includes five consecutive losses against Minnesota United (0-1), Sporting Kansas City (0-3), Houston Dynamo (1-2), Real Salt Lake (1-3), and Los Angeles Galaxy (1-2).
On a more positive note, Whitecaps managed two back-to-back draws ahead of their rematch with Real Salt Lake. They forced Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas to a 2-2 draw and picked up their first points in two months.
Lucas Cavallini scored a goal in each of Whitecaps’ last two outings and seems to have finally found his form after going goalless since his side’s win against Portland Timbers (1-0) in April. But, unfortunately, he won’t be able to help his team tonight.
Although Whitecaps have shown some improvement in their last two, it’s hard to look past the fact that they conceded four goals in that stretch. With that, Whitecaps now conceded 15 goals in their last seven and are at 18 conceded goals on the season.
Real Salt Lake Looking To Bounce Back
Real Salt Lake are winless in their last three after dropping the ball against Houston Dynamo (1-1) and Los Angeles FC (0-1). Although RSL managed only one point from those two games, they were arguably the better team in both outings.
Against Houston Dynamo, RSL had a 57% ball possession and shot the ball 9/21, yet still failed to grab all three points. Meanwhile, Dynamo managed only seven goal attempts and three shots on goal, converting one of them.
Even against LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake were the better team, however, that didn’t show in the final result. They had a 58% ball possession and shot the ball 4/14 to LA Galaxy’s 1/9.
With the performances RSL have been showing, they should have picked up all six points yet were left with only one. However, that is by no means any indication of Real Salt Lake’s lack of quality.
Having lost and drawn in their last two, RSL are 3-4-3 in their last 10 and 1-4-3 in their previous eight. Their only win during that stretch came mid-June, when Real Salt Lake defeated Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1.
Having already tasted success against the Whitecaps just under three weeks back, RSL should feel confident in their ability to recreate that performance, and they definitely have the players to achieve just that.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake Betting Picks
Whitecaps enter this match without their goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who is joining the Canadian team for the Gold Cup. Joining him is also Lucas Cavallini, who is on two assists and three goals on the season.
Adding to that, forward Tosaint Ricketts, midfielder Michael Baldisimo, and defender Bruno Gaspar are all out with an injury. Although the absence of the latter three isn’t as impactful, it’s Whitecaps missing Crepeau and Cavallini that should concern you.
Cavallini’s goals have earned his side five points on the season, while Whitecaps lost 11 out of 18 games without their goalkeeper Crepeau. Whitecaps haven’t improved much since their last meeting with Real Salt Lake, so it’s hard to expect this bout ending any differently than how it did the last time these two teams met.
Prediction: Real Salt Lake -0.50 Asian Handicap – 1.93 at Betfair
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