After a three-week break, the Vancouver Whitecaps are back in action, and as the new saying goes, it is time to lock in.
Due to the international window and their August 30 game in Orlando being rescheduled because Orlando City SC was participating in Leagues Cup, the Whitecaps had some time off. Given the number of games they have played this season, they needed an extended break. However, the team trained these past three weeks instead of taking time off to go on vacation.
With seven MLS games remaining (four at home), and a Canadian Championship semi-final second leg coming up, it is crunch time for Vancouver.
Up next for the Whitecaps: Supporters Shield leading Philadelphia
The ‘Caps have a big test right out of the break. Up next is the Philadelphia Union as they visit BC Place this Saturday. They currently lead the Supporters Shield standings with 57 points. That is one ahead of San Diego FC.
The Union are coming off a 4-0 home win over the Chicago Fire and a 1-0 away win over FC Cincinnati before the international break. Philadelphia last lost a game on August 16. That was a 1-0 away defeat to the New York Red Bulls.
For the past few years, the Union have quietly been one of the tops teams in MLS. They made the playoffs six times out of the last seven years, with the exception being 2024. Philadelphia has also finished in the top four of the Eastern Conference in five out of the last seven seasons. That includes a Supporters Shield in 2020, another first place Eastern Conference finish in 2022, and a run to the MLS Cup Final that same year.
Like the Whitecaps, the Union have been on the lower end of the MLS payroll. But their pragmatic approach has led them to become one of the top teams in MLS.
Union striker Tai Baribo is tied for fourth in the league with 16 goals. Left-back Kai Wagner is tied for fifth in assists with nine. Goalkeeper Andre Blake is seventh in MLS in save percentage. (71.7%)
Philadelphia are one of the highest scoring teams in MLS. They have scored 49 goals this season, which ties them for sixth. The Whitecaps have scored 47, which puts them in 11th in MLS. In terms of conceding goals, the Union have conceded just 26 goals, the lowest in MLS. Vancouver has conceded 31 goals, the second lowest in the league.
So Saturday’s test is a battle between two MLS heavyweights. It is also a battle between two first-year head coaches who are contenders for MLS Coach of the Year. Both Vancouver’s Jesper Sørensen and Philadelphia’s Bradley Carnell have done excellent jobs in their first seasons with their clubs. This goes after both clubs made surprise coaching changes in the offseason. The Union let Jim Curtin go after a decade as head coach and nearly 14 years at the club. And of course, the Whitecaps fired Vanni Sartini after three years as head coach and nearly six years at the club.
Carnell has the Union playing in a 4-2-2-2 or 4-4-2 formation that is very direct, vertical, high tempo and emphasies counter-pressing. So this match for the Whitecaps will not be easy, but a win would be a statement. A win would also see them officially clinch a playoff spot for three straight years. The Whitecaps are also expecting another big crowd for this Saturday’s game.
The final stretch of the season
Around this time last season, there was a lot of optimism surrounding the Whitecaps. Unfortunately, that went down the drain quickly as they stumbled into the playoffs, winning just one out of their last eight regular-season games. As a result, Vancouver played in the wild card round.
That obviously can’t happen this season, and given the talent this team has and how well they bounced back after losses, it can’t. The Whitecaps are also in the midst of a race for the Western Conference and Supporters Shield.
After Philadelphia, the Whitecaps play Sporting Kansas City away, Portland Timbers at home, Seattle Sounders away, San Jose Earthquakes at home, Orlando away, and host FC Dallas on Decision Day. So, other than SKC and Dallas, all the teams Vancouver will face are currently in playoff spots.
According to RotoWire, the Whitecaps have the eighth-easiest remaining schedule in MLS. But soccer isn’t played using data and spreadsheets.
The Whitecaps also look to advance to the Canadian Championship final again and win their fourth straight Voyageurs Cup. They are tied 2-2 with Forge in their two-legged semi-final. The second leg is on Tuesday night.
Injuries remain a challenge for Vancouver. Brian White will miss the next three games with a hamstring issue. Captain Ryan Gauld, out since March with a knee capsule injury, is back in training with a knee brace.
Sørensen has said it is looking likely that Gauld will return before the end of the season.
New signings Sebastian Schonlau and Joedrick Pupe are settling in. Schonlau saw minutes with WFC 2, while Pupe continues recovering from a hamstring strain. Kenji Cabrera and Thomas Müller have also used the break to build chemistry.
With Ranko Veselinovic and Sam Adekugbe out for the season with injuries, Schonlau and Pupe have to step pretty much right away to solidify the Whitecaps back line. With White out for the next three games, Rios has to lead the line and prove his doubters wrong. Ali Ahmed, Jayden Nelson, and Emmanuel Sabbi also have to step up offensively. Actually, everybody needs to.
The Whitecaps have proven this season that they can handle tough stretches. But need to elevate their game even further. With improved depth and the leadership and winning experience of Müller, this team can totally win the Western Conference crown. It would take a lot to win Supporters Shield at this point, but there’s still a chance.
Vancouver missed out on home-field advantage in the playoffs last season. This season, it is up for grabs more than ever, and they can’t squander this chance. It is time for the Whitecaps to continue to prove they are contenders by finishing the regular season strong and set up a deep playoff run.
Time to get to down to business
Saturday’s heavyweight tilt between Vancouver and Philadelphia kicks off at 6:30 pm Pacific.
