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Besard Sabovic didn’t mince his words.
When asked if there was a little more focus this week playing the first-place team in the Western Conference, Austin FC’s defensive midfielder noted the team is certainly aware of the circumstances when it takes the field Saturday at Vancouver.
“Of course,” said Sabovic, an offseason acquisition who has been stellar for the club through its first seven games. “It motivates you to get a result when you’re playing a good team, so we are very excited.”
Here’s what you need to know about the match as Austin FC (4-2-1, 13 points) tries to push its unbeaten streak to five:
No team in MLS outside of Miami has been more impressive than Vancouver through the first two months of the season. But it’s not just what the Whitecaps have done in league play, starting out 5-1-1 and leading the West, that has the soccer world noticing what’s going on in southwest Canada.
Vancouver has also reached the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup and did so by defeating three Mexican league teams. The club’s hot start has new coach Jesper Sørensen as the early front-runner for MLS coach of the year.
But if there’s one detriment that a long run in the Champions Cup could bring, it’s fatigue. The Whitecaps have played six additional games this season and will be on less than 72 hours rest after playing Pumas UNAM on Wednesday night in Mexico City.
Austin FC coach Nico Estévez downplayed the fact that Vancouver will be affected by consistently playing midweek games the last eight weeks.
“You can see that they have handled that really well,” said Estévez, who would also be an early candidate for coach of the year. “They’ve played in Mexico before and got good results in the games afterwards. And the only time they didn’t was when they had guys away (on national team duty). … It doesn’t change anything for us.”
At some point, the constant travel will probably be a factor for the Whitecaps, especially with them being without dynamic midfielder Ryan Gauld, who is still out with an injury he suffered a month ago against Montreal. And though those are factors that are out of Austin FC’s control, it’s a better situation for the Verde & Black than playing a team on a full week of rest with a complete roster.
If Austin FC’s defense keeps up its early season form, it will have a chance for a result in any match.
The Verde & Black lead the MLS with only three goals allowed, which is due to a collective team effort, but especially one from the backline.
Center back Oleksandr Svatok has quietly had a phenomenal five-game stretch after coming on in the first half at Portland on March 1 following an injury to Julio Cascante.
“He’s a real defender,” Estévez said. “He’s very intense, focused, aggressive and covers well. … And we’re working with him on buildup. We’re seeing that progression of feeling more comfortable with the ball and … helping him to become a more complete player.”
Estévez continues to preach patience with an attack that has only produced five goals.
New forwards and designated players Brandon Vazquez and Myrto Uzuni only have one goal apiece, though Estévez noted most of their contributions don’t show up on the stat sheet.
“They do so many good things for the team with their runs, buildup and defending,” he said. “That’s why we have the points we do.”
And like defense being a team effort, Estévez said other players besides the forwards have to contribute for a successful offense.
“The best teams in the world have a bunch of players scoring,” he said. “We’ve had situations that created chances, and now it’s about having the poise to make the right decision. We can be less predictable in our movements.”
The field conditions at BC Place offer a distinct challenge for opponents.
“It’s a little bit different than others and is very bouncy,” Estévez said. “We just have to be smart and don’t try to do things that put us in a difficult position.”
Sabovic is one player who should have no issues with the surface after playing most of his career on turf in Sweden. Still, it’s not his first choice.
“I think everybody would prefer real grass when it’s good, but artificial is always consistent,” he said.
Forward: Myrto Uzuni, Brandon Vazquez, Osman Bukari
Midfield: Owen Wolff, Dani Pereira, Besard Sabovic
Defense: Guilherme Biro, Brendan Hines-Ike, Oleksandr Svatok, Jon Gallagher
Goalie: Brad Stuver
Austin FC 1, Vancouver 1: This is a bit of a dangerous prediction with the way Vancouver has been playing, but at some point the travel is going to catch up with it. I think that happens here, especially with the high level Austin FC plays defense. Look for the Verde & Black to take a crucial point on the road.
Austin FC (4-2-1, 13 points) at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5-1-1, 16 points), 6:30 p.m., BC Place, Apple TV, 97.5, 104.3 (Spanish)
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Our preview and prediction are in
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When asked if there was a little more focus this week playing the first-place team in the Western Conference, Austin FC’s defensive midfielder noted the team is certainly aware of the circumstances when it takes the field Saturday at Vancouver.
“Of course,” said Sabovic, an offseason acquisition who has been stellar for the club through its first seven games. “It motivates you to get a result when you’re playing a good team, so we are very excited.”
Here’s what you need to know about the match as Austin FC (4-2-1, 13 points) tries to push its unbeaten streak to five:
Vancouver Whitecaps FC off to sizzling start
No team in MLS outside of Miami has been more impressive than Vancouver through the first two months of the season. But it’s not just what the Whitecaps have done in league play, starting out 5-1-1 and leading the West, that has the soccer world noticing what’s going on in southwest Canada.
Vancouver has also reached the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup and did so by defeating three Mexican league teams. The club’s hot start has new coach Jesper Sørensen as the early front-runner for MLS coach of the year.
But if there’s one detriment that a long run in the Champions Cup could bring, it’s fatigue. The Whitecaps have played six additional games this season and will be on less than 72 hours rest after playing Pumas UNAM on Wednesday night in Mexico City.
Austin FC coach Nico Estévez downplayed the fact that Vancouver will be affected by consistently playing midweek games the last eight weeks.
“You can see that they have handled that really well,” said Estévez, who would also be an early candidate for coach of the year. “They’ve played in Mexico before and got good results in the games afterwards. And the only time they didn’t was when they had guys away (on national team duty). … It doesn’t change anything for us.”
At some point, the constant travel will probably be a factor for the Whitecaps, especially with them being without dynamic midfielder Ryan Gauld, who is still out with an injury he suffered a month ago against Montreal. And though those are factors that are out of Austin FC’s control, it’s a better situation for the Verde & Black than playing a team on a full week of rest with a complete roster.
Austin FC's defense is an MLS storyline
If Austin FC’s defense keeps up its early season form, it will have a chance for a result in any match.
The Verde & Black lead the MLS with only three goals allowed, which is due to a collective team effort, but especially one from the backline.
Center back Oleksandr Svatok has quietly had a phenomenal five-game stretch after coming on in the first half at Portland on March 1 following an injury to Julio Cascante.
“He’s a real defender,” Estévez said. “He’s very intense, focused, aggressive and covers well. … And we’re working with him on buildup. We’re seeing that progression of feeling more comfortable with the ball and … helping him to become a more complete player.”
Verde & Black offense still a work in progress
Estévez continues to preach patience with an attack that has only produced five goals.
New forwards and designated players Brandon Vazquez and Myrto Uzuni only have one goal apiece, though Estévez noted most of their contributions don’t show up on the stat sheet.
“They do so many good things for the team with their runs, buildup and defending,” he said. “That’s why we have the points we do.”
And like defense being a team effort, Estévez said other players besides the forwards have to contribute for a successful offense.
“The best teams in the world have a bunch of players scoring,” he said. “We’ve had situations that created chances, and now it’s about having the poise to make the right decision. We can be less predictable in our movements.”
BC Place turf to be a factor
The field conditions at BC Place offer a distinct challenge for opponents.
“It’s a little bit different than others and is very bouncy,” Estévez said. “We just have to be smart and don’t try to do things that put us in a difficult position.”
Sabovic is one player who should have no issues with the surface after playing most of his career on turf in Sweden. Still, it’s not his first choice.
“I think everybody would prefer real grass when it’s good, but artificial is always consistent,” he said.
Austin FC predicted starting lineup
Forward: Myrto Uzuni, Brandon Vazquez, Osman Bukari
Midfield: Owen Wolff, Dani Pereira, Besard Sabovic
Defense: Guilherme Biro, Brendan Hines-Ike, Oleksandr Svatok, Jon Gallagher
Goalie: Brad Stuver
Austin FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC prediction
Austin FC 1, Vancouver 1: This is a bit of a dangerous prediction with the way Vancouver has been playing, but at some point the travel is going to catch up with it. I think that happens here, especially with the high level Austin FC plays defense. Look for the Verde & Black to take a crucial point on the road.
Saturday's match
Austin FC (4-2-1, 13 points) at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5-1-1, 16 points), 6:30 p.m., BC Place, Apple TV, 97.5, 104.3 (Spanish)
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Our preview and prediction are in
Continue reading...
