VANCOUVER -- Jordan Harvey didnt quite know what to make of the Vancouver Whitecaps coming into the 2014 campaign. China Jerseys Stitched . After a tumultuous off-season that included the teams head coach getting fired -- as well as its best player forcing his way out of town -- the defender wasnt alone. "I had a lot of questions," Harvey said this week. "It was a young team and everything, but we acquired some really quality players. We had that first game (a 4-1 home victory over the New York Red Bulls) and the expectations were huge, but we also saw how high we could reach and the bar was set. "I think we have the consistency, the depth to maintain that." Nearly a third of the way through the season, those characteristics will be put to the test on Saturday when the Whitecaps (4-2-4) host the top team in Major League Soccer at B.C. Place Stadium as the Seattle Sounders (8-3-1) travel north to face their bitter geographic rivals. Watch the game live on TSN2 and TSN GO at 7pm et/4pm pt. "Arguably theyre the best team in Major League Soccer at the moment. The league table doesnt lie," said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. "Its a good test for us to see where we are. Its a test that Im looking forward to as a coach, and I know my players certainly are. "Theyre a very a good team, but let me tell you, so are we." The Whitecaps enter Saturday with 16 points through 10 games, but just one of their four wins have come against Western Conference opponents -- a trend from last season that Vancouver will have to shake if it wants to return to the playoffs after missing out in 2013. "Its vitally important. Winning any game of football is good, but obviously every time you dont win against a Western team youre losing points and theyre gaining points," said Robinson. "Its very important and we need to make sure that we compete with the Western teams and beat the Western teams. Thats a big focus for us this year because we didnt do it enough last year." The Sounders have 25 points from their 12 games, but will be without midfielder Clint Dempsey, who is away with the U.S. national team as it prepares for the World Cup in Brazil. "Its a test for us because Seattle are where they are," said Robinson. "Weve had a very positive start. Weve still got a lot of work to do, a lot of improving to do, and well continue to do that, whatever the result on Saturday. Its just a marker for us to see where we are." The Sounders have won five of six and are coming off a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend, while the Whitecaps will have had 10 days off since bowing out of the Amway Canadian Championship semifinals to Toronto FC on May 14. "I think its going to be a game thats going to be a bit open," Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid told the clubs official website. "Theyre a team that likes to counter attack and get forward, so it might open up at certain times during the game." Theres no doubt the Whitecaps have turned heads around MLS ten games into the schedule after a tricky off-season. Robinson was promoted from an assistants role to replace former head coach Martin Rennie in December after a prolonged search, with the Welshman taking over just in time to watch star striker Camilo Sanvezzo refuse to honour the final year of his contract. Undaunted by that setback, Robinson brought in talented fresh faces, including Matias Laba and Pedro Morales and the roster has gelled quickly. "I think weve surprised a lot of people. I dont think weve surprised the dressing room, though," said Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit. "I think the manager has kept the squad that he wants here because he believes that we can be capable of the things weve been doing the first 10 games. "Its up to us to make sure we go beyond that." The veteran defender has been with the Whitecaps since the club joined MLS in 2011 and knows the importance of beating the top teams in the West -- something Vancouver did twice last season against Seattle. "It has to come from us," said DeMerit. "It has to come from the fact that we believe in it and we believe we can do it and do it consistently." While the Sounders will be without Dempsey on Saturday, the Whitecaps will have to be wary of Seattle striker Obafemi Martins, who has five goals and six assists. "Hes a top player. Hes a world-class footballer," said Robinson. "Hes someone who scores goals and thats why hes paid big money. Weve got to make sure we eliminate the service into him and eliminate him on the ball because hes a fantastic player." Apart from its importance in the standings, the game is also Vancouvers first of the season in the regional Cascadia Cup -- a mini-tournament played between the Whitecaps, Sounders and the Portland Timbers. The team with the most points in the games played amongst the three clubs at the end of the season takes the title, which Vancouver did in 2013. "Its like a playoff atmosphere," said Harvey. "You can feel the support, the energy from the fans and its always one that we want to win for them. The Cascadia Cup -- thats some hardware that we want to keep." DeMerit likens the atmosphere to the local derbies he was a part of during his time playing in England. "You get that full atmosphere, that constant hum of chants, that full intensity that comes with that rivalry and that only rivalry games seem to create," said the 34-year-old. "Both sets of fans are very passionate about their clubs and thats what we want. Thats what were trying to build here in North America and in MLS and theres no better example than the Cascadia rivalry." Notes: The Whitecaps are 3-1-1 at home so far this season, while the Sounders have the same record on the road. ... Seattle and Portland tied the only other Cascadia game played so far this season 4-4. Each team plays six games in the competition. The Whitecaps visit the Timbers on June 1. ... Vancouver announced Thursday that striker Darren Mattocks has obtained a green card in the U.S., freeing up an international roster spot. ... Harvey and DeMerit, who are both American, said they were surprised that Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan was left off the U.S. World Cup team. Said Harvey: "Thats a crazy decision. Im really shocked by it. Hes a quality player -- best U.S. player in history." Cheap Jerseys From China ." Argos general manager Jim Barker uttered those words during an interview with TSN 1050 radio just prior to the CFLs annual free agent frenzy. China Jerseys Wholesale . The 17-year-old had four goals and four assists in 38 games for Liberec in the Czech pro league this past season. Zacha had three goals and two assists in seven games at the world mens under-18 championship in April when the Czech Republic took the silver medal. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ .Y. - The NFL has fined Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch $20,000 for making an obscene gesture during last Sundays NFC championship game, a person with knowledge of the fine told The Associated Press on Thursday.TORONTO -- With Toronto FCs 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, TFC has now won as many games as it did all of last season and is firmly entrenched in a playoff position in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. But there was no celebrating after the final whistle blew. And that speaks volumes for how far Ryan Nelsens squad has come. Jermain Defoe scored on a penalty shot as Toronto FC entered the World Cup break on a high note with the win. "Another box ticked," as Nelsen put it. "And we moved on." "Were winning games now, we won that game 1-nil and were a wee bit disappointed to tell you truth with how we played," Nelsen said. "Thats where I hoped wed get to was to start to get the wins and the crowd would be going, We won but we didnt play very well. I was praying for that time to happen. Most of the time in the past it was just praying for wins." Toronto, now undefeated in four MLS games, improved to 6-4-1 and jumped from sixth to fourth in the East with several games in hand. Defoes goal came in the 27th minute, awarded when Nick Hagglund was pulled down in the box. The former Tottenham Hotspur star stepped up and slotted the ball to the far left corner, to the delight of the capacity crowd of 22,591 at sun-soaked BMO Field. It was Defoes seventh goal with Toronto and fourth game winner, one shy of the franchise record. "Ive enjoyed it," Defoe said, reflecting on his time in the MLS. "As a forward, I try to get off to a good start and hopefully relax and enjoy my football, and then I know the goals will come. Luckily the goals have come. "Before you come you can never imagine what its going to be like. But its just been amazing, lucky to be at such a good club, where the players get treated right, playing with good players, a lot of young players, theres a good team chemistry, team spirit which is always important. And I believe that we can do something special this year." It was a strong afternoon for Hagglund, a 21-year-old rookie drafted 10th overall by TFC last year. The former Xavier University defender had several scoring chances, including two in less than a minute midway through the first half. On the first, he forced the Jon Busch to make a diving save. The second, he stretched for a volley that he fired just wide of the net. "I think hes icing his groin at the moment from that volley," Nelsen said, laughing. ";Hes just a lovely guy whos not afraid of any occasion. Fake China Jerseys. He kind of puffs his chest and just goes for it. Hes just that type of personality. Those types of personalities go a long way not just in soccer but in life. Thats why hes just a pleasure to have around the place." Nelsen said they spotted something special in the defender, which is why the club moved up in the draft to acquire him. "Just that fearlessness, which in my opinion, gets you a long way in life," Nelsen said. "We saw that in him when we interviewed him, we saw that in him when he played. Hes progressing exactly how we dreamed he would be, to tell you the truth. Hell only get better." Hagglund almost scored in the 68th off a free kick after some angry moments from Nelsen and his players. Newcomer Dominic Oduro was sprinting onto a pass in the air that San Joses Clarence Goodson reached up and stopped with his hand. Toronto players were arguing for a red card, but were awarded a free kick instead, which Hagglund headed just wide of the post. "Its been a roller-coaster," Hagglund said of his rookie season. "Its been fun just to get to play with the guys. What a great group, and Nelsen has done nothing but great things, and encouraged me and pushed me forward, and put me in positions where I have to grow and learn and its been exciting." Oduro, acquired in a trade Friday that sent Alvaro Rey to the Columbus Crew, came on in the 64th minute, and the fans soon got to see the blistering speed for which the Ghanian midfield/forward is known. "Hes direct, quick," Defoe said of his new teammate. "I enjoyed (playing with him)." The colourful Oduro is also known for the elaborate designs he shaves into his hair, still had Columbus-yellow stripes died into his hair on either side of his mohawk. The 28-year-old had a career-high 13 goals last season, including two against Toronto. Brazilian Gilberto had been pencilled into the starting lineup, but was replaced by Kyle Bekker just prior to kickoff after Gilberto was injured during warmup. Toronto doesnt play another league game until June 27 when they travel to New York to face the Red Bulls. NOTES: Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley (the U.S.), and goalie Julio Cesar (Brazil) are playing for their countries in the World Cup in Brazil. . . Retired striker Danny Koevermans, in Toronto with his family for vacation, was at the game. ' ' '