After a disappointing midweek match, the Vancouver Whitecaps surged with a triumphant 6-0 win over Minnesota United to continue their brilliant MLS season start.
Brian White had a brace and Cheikh Sabaly got his first in a Whitecaps shirt as Minnesota had no answers for the home side.
Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen said the bounce back was “more than we ever hoped for.”
“Even though it was only two-and-a-half days since we played [our] last game, I think the players looked fresh and looked really eager to come out and push the pace, and also play with great quality,” Sørensen said.
The Whitecaps took advantage of an early penalty opportunity in the eighth minute. Jeevan Badwal was brought down from behind in the 18-yard box after smartly getting in front of a Minnesota defender.
But perhaps raising a few eyebrows, it was Sebastian Berhalter, in the absence of Thomas Müller, who stepped up to take the spot kick.
Given the American midfielder’s record on set pieces, it was a good choice. Berhalter hit the ball with power down the middle as Minnesota keeper Drake Callender dove to his right.
The Whitecaps did not stop there. White added another in the 13th minute, converting the goal after a beautiful sequence of passing.
Berhalter played the ball up to Emmanuel Sabbi on the right. The American winger grabbed the ball at the byline and cut it back to White, who made no mistake.
It was an opening start to the match that significantly contrasted the lacklustre start to their previous Concacaf Champions Cup match three days prior.
Mathías Laborda got his first of the season in the 23rd minute with a near-post flick off of a free kick.
Sabbi made it four before the half in the 43rd minute. Berhalter threaded the needle on a pass to Sabbi as he entered the 18-yard box from the right.
It was a difficult angle, but Sabbi made easy work of it, slotting his shot low, underneath Callender. It was Berhalter’s third goal contribution in the match and seventh across all competitions this season.
The second half was not much kinder to the visitors. AZ started things off, drawing another penalty for the Whitecaps.
White stepped up for the spot kick this time and put it away for his brace in the 54th minute. It was White’s 100th goal contribution in a Whitecaps shirt, the most of any player for the club in the MLS era.
Sabaly made it six on the night in the 74th minute. It was the Senegalese attacker’s first goal for the Whitecaps, and it capped off a stellar performance for the entire squad.
Berhalter dominates yet again
Berhalter had a goal and two assists on the night, but he was involved in every aspect of the play.
“He’s an important player for us because he’s in the middle of everything,” Sørensen said. “He’s in the middle of the way we play. He’s in the middle of how we build our play. He’s an important player for us in our set plays. He’s a guy that has amazing mentality.”
The American midfielder has been a stalwart player for the Whitecaps throughout numerous seasons. However, he started to get noticed throughout MLS last season for his consistent performances. This, in turn, has led to recognition from other places, including Europe.
“Of course, he can take further steps as a player. All players can. He also has the willingness to train and take those steps.”
Whitecaps back to midweek Champions Cup action
The six-goal win puts to rest a questionable performance against Seattle Sounders last Thursday in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
“[Looking back] I did not feel we were up against a team where we were chanceless [in the last Champions Cup match],” Sørensen said. “I definitely have the feeling that we put ourselves in harm’s way in a couple of situations. In a competition where there’s not much room for errors, we have to play almost a perfect game or close to it, come Wednesday.
The second leg of the Round of 16 tie takes place on Wednesday, March 18, at ONE Spokane Stadium. Seattle’s home stadium, Lumen Field, is unavailable for this match.
Kickoff on Wednesday is at 8 p.m.
