Whitecaps look to fell slumping Timbers in first Cascadia matchup of the season

VANCOUVER — Just five games into the Major League Soccer season, Vanni Sartini says his side Vancouver Whitecaps are preparing for another crucial match.

Facing the Portland Timbers is always a big deal, the head coach said, and the stakes will be even higher on Saturday because the 'Caps play host.

"I would say it’s another must win," Sartini said. "We say every time that we need to build our win at B.C. Place so there’s always pressure when we play home to make points. And it’s also one of our local rivals in the Cascadia derby, so there’s always this added flair to that.”

The game will be one for the record books: it will mark the 100th all-time meeting between the Whitecaps and the Timbers.

Since 1975, the two clubs have faced each other in the North American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League, United Soccer League and MLS. Vancouver holds a slight edge in the ongoing rivalry with a 42-39-18 all-time record.

The two sides come into Saturday's match on different streaks.

The 'Caps (1-3-1) are looking to build momentum after downing Sporting Kansas City 1-0 last week to collect their first win of the season. While the club has played just two games at B.C. Place this season, they have yet to concede a goal on home turf.

Pressure has been key to collecting clean sheets in front of the club's fans, Sartini said.

“We were able to keep the other team away from our goal for a lot of time," he said. "This helps the back three and this helps the goalkeeper. Because if they’re not under pressure for the entire game, they can also make a good play, a good tackle, a good save when they’re required to do. So that’s what we need to do Saturday, too.”

The Timbers (1-2-3), meanwhile, dropped a 3-1 decision to the