Nico Estevez has been impressed by Austin FC's defensive structure this season but is keen to use that foundation to improve in the final third against Vancouver Whitecaps.

Austin are fourth in the Western Conference after seven games, having won four of their matches so far (D1 L2). 

They are unbeaten in four outings, with a 0-0 draw against Portland Timbers ending a run of three consecutive wins.

However, goals have been hard to come by. Only once this season have they scored more than once in a game, but Estevez instead chose to focus on how hard they are to beat.

"One of the things that I always bring to my teams is to be hard to beat," he said. "With Dallas, the first year, we were the best defense in the West.

"The second year, we were the second-best defending team in the West. I think that builds the foundation of a team. And now it's about how we can grow on the offense.

"We're going to be a tough team there. We're going to be a tough team. And this is what I know."

Vancouver sit top of the West, having suffered just one defeat so far this season, and have a two-point advantage over Saturday's opponents.

They got back to winning ways in MLS last weekend with a 2-0 victory over Colorado Rapids and reached the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-final in midweek after a 3-3 draw with Pumas, advancing on away goals.

Vancouver were clinical in the 2-2 draw in the second leg of that tie, though head coach Jesper Sorensen admitted they still need to improve in the final third.

"I don't really think we played the game I thought we could and should [in the Champions Cup]," he said.

"We were effective, which hasn't always been the case for us, especially at home. We were efficient, and this is football.

"It's somehow how things work out, so while we were happy with the result, there are still things we need to look at."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Vancouver Whitecaps – Jayden Nelson

Thirteen different Whitecaps players have been involved in at least one goal in the team's first seven matches of the season, including seven players involved in two or more.

Jayden Nelson has the most goal involvements with five, scoring one and assisting four so far this campaign.

Austin FC – Brad Stuver

Austin have allowed an MLS-low three goals through their first seven matches of the season, not allowing opponents to score more than once in any match – Brad Stuver has kept four clean sheets already.

Only nine teams in MLS history have allowed three or fewer goals through eight matches of a season, most recently Columbus Crew in 2020.

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

Vancouver have lost only one of eight all-time meetings with Austin FC (W5 D2), including winning three of four at home (D1). The Whitecaps have held Austin to one total goal over the last five meetings.

Vancouver's 16 points (W5 D1 L1) are their most through seven games of a season in the club's MLS history. The Whitecaps have kept clean sheets in four of their last five league matches after doing so just three times in their previous 26.

However, Austin are unbeaten in four straight regular-season matches for the first time since June-July 2023. The Verde have not gone five straight unbeaten in league play since a seven-match run (W5 D2) in June-July 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Vancouver Whitecaps – 48.5%

Draw – 25.8%

Austin FC – 25.7%