Vancouver Whitecaps vs Charlotte FC Preview
The second round of MLS fixtures continues when the Vancouver Whitecaps take on Charlotte FC at the BC Place on Saturday at 4:30 PM PST. The Whitecaps will kick off their Major League Soccer season this weekend, a week behind schedule. Charlotte has already played New York City FC in their opening match, and you can bet that Dean Smith will want to keep the momentum going.
Vancouver was the busier team in the offseason, playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and several preseason games. However, they are winless in their last eight games in all competitions. Charlotte faced Vancouver in a MLS Preseason game in February 2023, but neither side could find a winning goal. Can the Whitecaps start their season with a victory over the Crowns this weekend?
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Charlotte FC Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The last time these two sides played a competitive match against each other was back in 2022. Charlotte FC walked away with the win that day, helping the Crowns chase down a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Vancouver and Charlotte also shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw during the 2023 preseason, but friendlies rarely offer valuable information with sides often heavily rotated.
As mentioned, Charlotte won the latest MLS match against the Whitecaps, but the win didn’t come easy. Vancouver opened the scoring after just two minutes in the first half. A defensive error from Christian Fuchs gifted the Canadian side a one-goal lead. Tosaint Ricketts capitalized on a heavy touch from Fuchs and fired the ball past Kristijan Kahlina. Six minutes later, Andre Shinyashiki leveled the score with a perfectly placed header into the bottom corner of Vancouver’s goal. With five minutes left in the game, the Crowns secured a late victory thanks to Daniel Rios’ quick reactions in the penalty area. The result was a 2-1 victory in front of their home fans.
After playing their opening MLS game, Charlotte FC is third in the MLS Eastern Conference. Dean Smith’s side got a 1-0 victory over New York City FC last Sunday after Adilson Malanda scored in the eighth minute of the match. The game was uneventful, but getting three points will give the Crowns some extra confidence against Vancouver this weekend.
Ryan Gauld is a crucial player for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Gauld scored 11 goals last campaign and will look to continue his goalscoring form this season. The Whitecaps’ top goalscorer last season, Brian White, couldn’t find the net during the CONCACAF Champions Cup and will need to up his levels this weekend. White played twice in the competition, and while he didn’t score, the forward registered one assist against Tigres UANL.
The Crowns didn’t have many goalscoring options last season, with Karol Świderski leading the way for Charlotte. However, after getting 12 goals for the MLS side, they transferred Świderski to Hellas Verona in the Italian Serie A. Enzo Copetti is yet to live up to expectations and only scored six times last season. The forward will look to get his first goal of the season against the Whitecaps.
Vancouver ended the 2023 MLS season poorly. The Whitecaps failed to win in their last four matches, with two draws and two losses. The two defeats came against Los Angeles FC in the playoffs.
With the return of the MLS, there are several games to watch this weekend. However, making a soccer prediction for the Vancouver vs Charlotte match is troublesome. The Whitecaps might be on a losing run in preseason games, but will this continue in the regular season?
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Charlotte FC Predictions
Correct Score Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 win over Charlotte FC
This week, we predict the Vancouver Whitecaps will secure a 1-0 victory over Charlotte. The Western Conference side is yet to play a game this season, and we expect them to start with a victory. Charlotte will create some chances, but the Canadian side will take all three points on Saturday.
Making soccer predictions early in the season is troublesome. Our correct score prediction will probably upset those betting on the Vancouver Whitecaps to score several goals this weekend. We feel the Whitecaps will walk away with the three points against Charlotte FC after a close 1-0 outcome. The sportsbook also agrees with our prediction, with a 1-0 win to the Whitecaps priced at -154 odds on the correct score market.
A new season will give Vancouver hope they can secure an MLS playoff spot. However, the Whitecaps need a better record during the start of this season. Vancouver hasn’t won their opening MLS game since beating the Portland Timbers in the 2021 campaign. But we predict they will end this streak against Charlotte.
Placing an MLS wager on the halftime markets is a popular choice on online sports betting sites. We can see the Vancouver Whitecaps vs Charlotte FC match getting off to a slow start. We predict that the winning goal will come during the second half of the game, in the 60th minute, with no goals in the first half.
Ryan Gauld would be our choice in terms of goalscorers this weekend. Gauld was amongst the Whitecaps’ top scorers in the MLS last season. In a close game, we feel his experience will place him in the right place at the right time to get the winning goal.
As mentioned, we expect a quiet game this weekend. Both sides will probably create very few chances. That’s why we are also predicting eight corners or fewer to be taken during the game. Looking at the Vancouver Whitecaps vs Charlotte FC predictions, what soccer betting picks are worth placing this weekend?
Our 2024 @TheChampions campaign comes to an end.
Next up, our home opener kicks off on March 2 at @BCPlace ⏭#VWFC | #TIGvVAN | #ConcaChampions pic.twitter.com/08U8EObnoc
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) February 15, 2024
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Charlotte FC Betting Picks
When betting on Major League Soccer this early in the season, you can find extra value as the outcomes are harder to predict. Our moneyline pick is the Vancouver Whitecaps to beat Charlotte FC. However, at -114 odds, betting on the Whitecaps would only return a $8.80 profit from a $10 wager. We can find better value from alternative markets.
One way to increase your returns when betting on soccer events is to look at the total goals. We predict Vancouver will win by one goal to nil, meaning we would bet on under 1.5 goals this weekend. With odds of +310, this market offers much more value than the moneyline pick. A $10 wager on under 1.5 goals to be scored during the Vancouver Whitecaps vs Charlotte FC game returns $41.
Most online sports betting sites offer goalscorer markets on MLS games, and we feel Ryan Gauld is worth a bet on Saturday. Novibet will give you +188 odds for Gauld to score anytime during the game, and you can also receive a welcome bonus if you’re a new customer.
You may be looking for a high return bet on the Vancouver Whitecaps vs Charlotte FC game this weekend. If so, we can see the first goal coming late in the game and predict that Vancouver will open the scoring in the 60th minute. Placing a $10 wager on the first goal between 60:00-69:59 returns a staggering $130!
If you disagree with our assessment of the game and feel Charlotte FC has a chance at winning this match, you could wait until kick-off to place a wager. Taking advantage of live betting is popular among soccer fans, and betting on Charlotte after the match has started could be a good way to find better markets if the Crowns start strong.
There’s a new king in Queen City 👑
At 16 years and 2 days, @CharlotteFC academy standout Nimfa Berchimas became the 9th youngest baller to make his MLS debut in Saturday’s match. pic.twitter.com/h3G34qmw7p
— MLS NEXT (@MLSNEXT) February 26, 2024
Vancouver Whitecaps Team News
When the Vancouver Whitecaps take on Charlotte FC, they will be without Mathías Laborda. The Uruguayan is serving a sports court suspension and will remain sidelined until March 4th. Laborda was last seen in action for the Whitecaps two weeks ago when Vancouver lost 3-0 against Tigres UANL in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Ali Ahmed also remains sidelined for Vancouver’s MLS season opener this weekend. After undergoing groin surgery, Ahmed hasn’t played a competitive soccer match this year.
Charlotte FC Team News
Charlotte FC has no fresh injuries or suspensions after their MLS season opener against New York City FC last Sunday. We expect midfielder Brandt Bronico to be unavailable for Dean Smith’s side, with Bronico’s return date unknown. Benjamin Bender is another sidelined midfielder for the Crown, and it’s unlikely that Bender will return to the MLS for at least four weeks.
You can expect to see Nimfasha Berchimas included in the squad this weekend. The 16-year-old homegrown star only played five minutes in the season opener, but another bench appearance is possible against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
