CF Montreal v Vancouver Whitecaps: Sartini aiming to keep winning feeling in playoff fight

Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini has urged his team to keep fighting for a playoff place as they travel to CF Montreal in MLS.

The Whitecaps have lost just two of their last six matches and got back to winning ways on the road with their 3-1 win over Minnesota United in midweek.

They are now up to fifth in the Western Conference, but Sartini knows they cannot rest on their laurels with the teams below them closing in.

"We hit like three or four performances where we were a little bit poor, and two wins where we didn't really deserve to win," Sartini said.

"Playing more defensive allowed us to get points, but in the last two games, we've returned to the form that got big results at the start of the season.

"We need to put the costume from [Sporting] Kansas City on so we can fight to get the win. We need to keep going, everyone's happy when we're fighting for the playoffs and making a result in Montreal would be fantastic."

Montreal, meanwhile, are 12th in the Eastern Conference, just two points off a playoff place after picking up just one win in their last six outings.

Though they are unbeaten in four at home, they have struggled on the road, with goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois lamenting a disjointed forward display.

"Our forwards had a little bit more trouble finding each other and combining [against New York City FC]," Sirois said.

"I think there are days like that, and it's up to us, the whole team, to find solutions together, but unfortunately, we didn't do that.

"Yes, we created chances, but I think there were too few and that's why we didn't score."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CF Montreal – Sunusi Ibrahim

Sunusi Ibrahim has scored six goals for Montreal this season, more than anyone else in the team.

The Nigerian is without a goal in his last three games though, and after managing just one shot in the defeat to NYCFC last time out, he will be keen to regain his scoring touch.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld

Ryan Gauld may be Vancouver's joint-top scorer with nine goals this season (level with Brian White), but he turned provider on Wednesday against Minnesota.

He assisted all three goals as the Whitecaps secured another win, lifting him to the top of their assists chart with six for the season.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

There has not been much to split the sides across the last eight meetings, with Montreal and Vancouver winning four apiece. The Whitecaps came out on top when they last met in April 2023 with a 5-0 thrashing.

Montreal have won just one of their last six matches (drawing three and losing two). However, that victory was in their last home match as they beat the Philadelphia Union 4-1.

After back-to-back defeats, Vancouver have since won their last two on the bounce, scoring seven goals across those victories.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

CF Montreal – 38.4%

Draw – 26.5%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 35.1%