The Vancouver Whitecaps had a strong hold on the Western Conference for what seemed to be the entire season. Their win against the LA Galaxy to open the year set them on a path to be the top team in the West.
San Diego FC has been a surprise in their expansion year, with limited expectations in their first season in the MLS. Despite having the odds against them, they have been strong all year.
Both teams have been on a collision course that saw both teams meet this past week.
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A Fight for the West
San Diego has been slowly making up ground on Vancouver for almost two months now. Slowly building and adding quality wins as we enter the dog days of summer, as Vancouver has had a large group of players off on international duty.
Despite San Diego also missing a top player on their team for the USMNT, it has still kept the bulk of their team together during late June.
San Diego traveled up the Pacific coast to face off against Vancouver on the 25th in a matchup that will dictate who will be in the driver’s seat for the rest of the season.
San Diego found it comfortable in the back of the Vancouver net inside the confines of BC Place. Five goals were enough to hold back a Whitecaps comeback that earned three goals late in the game.
This result gives San Diego a one-point lead over Vancouver in the Western Conference. This win also boosts their Supporters’ Shield ranking; they now sit tied in second, only four points back from the Philadelphia Union.
The race for the West between these two is far from over, with plenty of games still to play. With a weak Western Conference, it could make all the difference facing a seventh seed or an eighth/ninth seed.
The Rest of the West
The Western Conference looks lost for most teams when it comes to being a top seed, thanks to Vancouver sprinting off from the rest of the bunch. With Vancouver having a slight slip in their form, the rest of the West has slowly gained on the former Western Conference favorite.
San Diego has made things interesting with their victory in Vancouver; other Western teams aren’t too far behind, as they now see a chance to strike.
Minnesota United FC and the Portland Timbers are only three and six points behind San Diego, respectively, in the top spot in the West.
Minnesota has been closing, trailing the top two spots. They have played well all year, with a strong quality in their play. They have played tough against the top teams in the league, while earning positive results against the weaker teams they have faced.
Portland has been up and down the rankings as they find themselves now in the mix for a top seed in the West.
It has been hard to tell what kind of team Portland was going to be this season. Moments of brilliance would be followed by clueless mistakes that would cost them major points.
Portland may be the weakest of the bunch, but they do play well in their system, as they challenge any opponent they face as the Western Conference battle heats up.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO / Sports Press Photo
Recording Date 24.06.2025