Sorensen defends Vancouver's recent attacking struggles

Jesper Sorensen has come to the defence of his Vancouver Whitecaps side after their recent attacking struggles.

Vancouver are top of the Western Conference, but have not won any of their last four games following a goalless draw with second-place St. Louis City SC.

The Whitecaps previously drew 1-1 with Los Angeles FC, when defender Tristan Blackmon received an early red card, and lost 3-1 to the Chicago Fire.

However, against St. Louis on Wednesday, Vancouver also restricted their high-flying opponents to just eight shots, which amounted to 0.8 expected goals (xG).

The Whitecaps have already secured their playoff place, doing so after the draw with LAFC, and Sorensen is not concerned about their attacking output ahead of their trip to Austin FC.

"I don't think that's fair to say," said Sorensen when asked if Vancouver's defensive strengths are affecting their attacking play.

"I think we generated chances [against St. Louis]; it was a difficult team we were up against.

"Also, considering we played 10 against 11 for almost the entire game in LA, I think we actually produced more chances than you would expect to begin with.

"So, I think the fluidity in our game is okay. We create some good chances; we don't concede much as well."

Austin, meanwhile, are 14th in the West and seven points off the playoff places with five games to go.

They lost 3-1 to LAFC last time out, extending their winless run in MLS to four games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin FC – Brandon Vazquez

Brandon Vazquez has scored in three straight regular-season matches for the third time in his MLS career and the first since he was at FC Cincinnati in 2022 (four straight).

The only longer streak by an Austin player is Sebastian Driussi's seven-game run from July to September 2022.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Oliver Larraz

Vancouver failed to hit the target despite attempting 16 shots against St. Louis, with Oliver Larraz recording the joint-most shots (four) and second-most xG (0.2).

It equalled the second-most shots attempted by a team who did not hit the target in a regular-season match since 2010, with only Real Salt Lake v Houston Dynamo in 2017 taking more (21).

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

After an eight-match unbeaten run, Austin have suffered back-to-back regular-season defeats with losses to Nashville SC and LAFC.

Austin have managed just four wins in their last 18 regular-season matches dating back to early May (D6 L8).

However, Vancouver are on their longest winless run in regular-season play since the beginning of the 2025 season (four games).

Austin snapped a seven-match winless run against the Whitecaps (D3 L4) with a 2-1 away win on September 13, just the Verde's second all-time win in 11 meetings with the Whitecaps.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 29.6%

Draw – 24.8%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 45.6%