Not only did the Vancouver Whitecaps get blown out in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, but they dealt with the stomach bug after coming back.
Several players and staff dealt with the illness after the match against Cruz Azul. Was it something they ate? Seems like it. But with the illness and nine players on international duty, the Whitecaps were playing a derby day with a depleted lineup. As a result, seven WFC 2 players got called up for the game.
This game should not have happened, but logic and reason go out the window with MLS. The Whitecaps player status report list could’ve been a team itself.
Ay, Caramba.
However, when Vancouver’s lineup came out, it didn’t look too bad. It was still depleted and the bench was full of the seven WFC 2 call-ups, but it could’ve been worse. Many of the players who were sick were starting.
So, the Whitecaps had a chance to get a respectable result. And it turns out, it was more than just respectable.
First half: Strong despite absences
In the early stages of the game, the Whitecaps wanted to put all the events of the past week behind them. With this new formation, they looked quick and fluid.
Emmanuel Sabbi, Edier Ocampo, JC Ngando and Jeevan Badwal were firing the ball down the pitch. Daniel Rios was also trying to get involved but was late getting to the crosses. While Ocampo usually plays on the right, he was on the left on Sunday. Usually, it doesn’t work with Ali Ahmed or Ryan Gauld due to the overlap. But with Ngando on the left and staying centrally, Ocampo was free to cut inside as he pleased.
The Whitecaps were doing a good job defensively too. With this new formation, Ocampo stayed higher up while Mathias Laborda dropped back with the centre-backs. Speaking of the CBs, Tristan Blackmon, Ranko Veselinovic and Bjorn Inge Utvik made big tackles and blocks in the early stages. They were dropping deep much more than usual.
The Whitecaps got their breakthrough late in the half. Ngando and Ocampo linked up well and Badwal tapped in the cross. That was the first career goal for the 19-year-old Surrey native. What a moment it must have been for him. Badwal was also the first BC-born player to score for the Whitecaps since Michael Baldisimo.
The Whitecaps did not look like a team that came off stomach sickness in that half. They had to rely on dropping deep defensively and transitions instead of possession. Where was this in Mexico with the strong squad? So far, so good, but would it last?
Second half: Sounders see red twice and Whitecaps take advantage
Laborda was a thorn in the side for the Sounders all game. Seattle’s frustrations mounted when Nouhou yanked him down and got sent off.
Just a few minutes later, Jonathan Bell got sent to the locker room for taking down Sabbi just outside the box. Maybe the Sounders felt bad for the Whitecaps missing so many players, so they made it fair and got two sent off. What a friendly rivalry! How nice of them!
Despite being down to nine men, the Sounders were controlling more of the play. But the Whitecaps did well defensively and Yohei Takaoka was alert and ready for any Seattle cross. It also helped that the Sounders were not making the most of their possession throughout the game. It was like watching a Call of Duty player with a really good loadout die every few seconds.
Rios has faced a lot of scrutiny and criticism from Whitecaps fans (including this writer) and he needed a goal to take the weight off his shoulders. And he did, with this beauty of a strike. That’s got to silence the critics.
The Whitecaps continued to look dangerous on the transitions. Ocampo and Laborda continued to dictate play down the sides like a metronome helping a band find rhythm.
Damir Kreliach even got on the scoresheet with a late penalty kick. As the kids say, “Unc’s still got it!”
This game was totally unexpected. Fans were not expecting a win. But it was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. Full credit goes to the players and head coach Jesper Sørensen for adapting during a rough week for the club.
Stat of the match
The Sounders had zero shots on target. Zero, nada, zilch.
Here is a bonus stat courtesy of The Third Sub. This is mind-boggling! Sure, Ralph Priso is not known for shooting but this still is crazy.
That match was also against Seattle.
What was said
Sørensen was very proud of the players.
“All the credit in this world has to go to our players because this week has been very rough,” he said. “You could see how tired everybody was at the break and it’s been very difficult. I think the result was great. I stand by my opinion that I would prefer this game to not be played. I’ll not be hypocritical sitting after a 3-0 win and just say everything is perfect because I don’t think so.”
The Danish coach spoke about the tactical adjustments he and his staff had to make against Seattle, despite not knowing if he had enough first-team players to play.
“We didn’t even know until yesterday how a starting line-up could be or should be,” said Sørensen. “Normally we have a high-pressing, high-intense play. We couldn’t do that because the players didn’t have the power to do it in this game. We knew we had a limited bench and we have some great young players and they will have great futures in football. But having a lot of them at the same time is too much. So we had to economize with the powers we had physically…We had to play more defensively. We had to be more of a counter-attacking team and had to rely a little bit more on a slow-paced game where we normally would like to have a high-paced game”
“I’m really proud of these guys tonight,” said Veselinovic. “We found a way in a tough game against a tough opponent. It’s a big game for us for the rest of the season.”
The Whitecaps vice-captain also spoke about adapting to a new formation and tactics.
“We had only one training [session] to talk a little bit about that,” said Veselinovic. “I think it was a little bit tougher in the first half until we adjusted. They were finding those pockets in the middle. They overloaded our sides and they managed to find the balls inside. It was hard, but still, we found a way to defend our box and then in the second half that helped us but we adjusted a little bit. We put a little more pressure on those players on the sides and it helped us and then we managed to score goals.”
For Badwal, it was a dream come true scoring his first ever professional goal for his hometown club at BC Place.
“As a little kid I was in the stands watching a lot, but now scoring a goal at BC Place in front of family and friends, it means a lot,” he said.
He also spoke about representing Surrey and the South Asian community.
“It’s special, growing up in Surrey with a big South Asian community behind me, it’s nice,” said Badwal. “I haven’t checked my phone fully, but I’m probably getting a lot of texts. I know they’re saying, well done Jeevan.”
Tweet of the match
Believe it or not, Badwal was asked about this by Har Johal of Daily Hive.
“It’s a Canucks thing, especially after the year they had…I don’t know,” said Badwal. “It’ll be a big party at my house.”
Badwal had every reason to party on Sunday night. And maybe there will be a party on Scott Road for the Whitecaps in the fall. It does seem possible.
Wrap-up
After the lowest points of the season last week, this game was one of the highest points of the season. Beating a Cascadia rival with a depleted squad is a huge confidence booster. Sure, the two red cards by the Sounders helped, but this win also showed that the Whitecaps truly are one of the elites in MLS.
Their resolve and resilience were even stronger. The Whitecaps are a team that wants to prove, that they can beat anyone and nothing will stand in their way, not even gastrointestinal sickness.
As it stands, the Whitecaps have 35 points. That puts them at number one in the Western Conference and in MLS. In the Cascadia Cup, the Whitecaps have six points and that puts them in the driver’s seat for the Supporters-owned trophy.
It gets tougher for Vancouver. They play one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference next. It is off to Ohio to face the Columbus Crew on Saturday. Kickoff is at 4:30 pm Pacific.
