The Vancouver Whitecaps stumbled into the postseason. The vibes heading into the wildcard game felt so low that ants and fleas were doing the limbo.
A win over the Portland Timbers in their home stadium was going to be tough to get. This game was originally supposed to be at BC Place, but it was held at Providence Park. Why? BC Place is hosting the Supercross World Championships this weekend. Well, that is too bad.
Nobody expected this, not even the most positive Whitecaps fan out there could. Who had a 5-0 Whitecaps win over the Timbers on their bingo card? If you say you did, you’re a liar!
This was the first Whitecaps playoff win (if you can call the wildcard round that) since a 5-0 first-round/knockout round win over the San Jose Earthquakes in 2017. Both Whitecaps playoff wins in their MLS era had 5-0 scorelines. Good things come in five I guess. It’s time to cue Mambo No. 5.
This was one of, if not the greatest night of the Vancouver Whitecaps MLS era.
Match Musings
Where in the world was this over the past month? Who is this team? What year is it? Are these really the Vancouver Whitecaps or Manchester City in disguise? Nonetheless, this was very pleasing to the eyes.
For the first ten minutes, it looked like both teams were playing it safe. Both Vancouver and Portland’s midfield were duelling like Dueling Pianos.
The Timbers were known for conceding set-piece goals and the Whitecaps took advantage.
Remember that 3D Space Cadet Pinball computer game? I played it in elementary school during free time in computer classes. Stuart Armstrong’s corner kick turned into Pinball and Ryan Gauld slotted it home.
Vancouver again took advantage of Portland’s weakness like Lux Luthor used Kryptonite on Superman.
The ball from Gauld was nice. However, Mathias Laborda deserves credit for his fancy footwork as he found Brian White for the tap-in. Who knew Laborda had that in him?
Gauld wasn’t done. The Flying Scotsman and his crew took advantage of a James Pantemis error. Gauld made Pantemis pay. Pantemis was probably thinking: “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the consequences of my own actions.” What a cheeky chip by Gauld.
The midfield and backline deserve credit for the first-half performance. The Timbers did not have many (or any) high-quality chances except for a long-distance shot from Juan Mosquera that went right to Yohei Takaoka. It helped the Whitecaps that the Timbers had miscommunications on their counterattacks as Felipe Mora, Jonathan Rodriguez and Evander couldn’t connect.
It was a great half of soccer for the Whitecaps but that was just one half. They needed to show that there was no mercy.
It turns out there wasn’t. Just like Kylo Ren ordering the First Order to take down Luke Skywalker, head coach Vanni Sartini wanted more.
Despite being up 1-0, the Whitecaps continued to push and push. They were relentless. They kept winning the ball back, defending well and looked even more dangerous.
One Scot was having a great night but why not two? It was a great ball from Stuart Armstrong from Fafa Picault but there needs to be love for Pedro Vite’s ball to Picault. Armstrong doesn’t score many headers. According to Michael McColl of AFTN Canada, (And Whitecaps media’s resident Scotsman!) Armstrong’s first-ever pro goal was a header. That was against St. Mirren in 2011 when he was with Dundee United.
This goal was just perfect, right down to the last-minute details. Armstrong ended the night with two assists and a goal. That is why the Whitecaps signed him as their third Designated Player and he picked a good time to get up to speed.
Gauld continued to prove he alone, is the honoured one. He performed one final trick for his masterclass show by getting his hat trick.
The Timbers had no answer and Timber Joey couldn’t whip out his chainsaw. As a result, the Whitecaps sent over 20,000 Timbers fans grumbling on their way out muttering to themselves in disbelief their season ended like that. They were in the stage of denial and by the time they got him, they probably were at the anger stage.
Not only did Vancouver attack well, they defended well. They did not look phased by Portland’s counter-attack and they made sure it didn’t work against them. The backline of Mathias Laborda, Sam Adekugbe, Ranko Veselinovic and Tristan Blackmon were formidable. They made sure to block, cause turnovers and make smart tackles when Portland were on the attack.
Stat of the match
Gauld had three goals and an assist and joined some elite company in MLS Playoff history.
Yeah, that Landon Donovan guy as well as that Sebastian Giovinco fellow were both really good.
What was said
“It was a fantastic game and today, everything went in the right direction,” said Sartini after the game. ” In the last two games, everything went in the wrong direction in terms of luck direction. So I think it evens out. I’m really happy because the guys at the top did fantastic work but it wasn’t easy.”
“We know Ryan, (Gauld) there is nothing to say,” said the Whitecaps head coach on his top performers. “He’s doing more and more and more. And Stu of course, we had to wait for him. Hopefully from now on he’s gonna be improving and getting to the rhythm at the top.”
I asked Sartini what he said to the team at halftime to motivate them to keep pushing despite being up 3-0.
“We all love soccer and we all know about teams that were down 3-0 at half and then they tied 3-3,” he said. “The momentum of the game can shift immediately. I told the guys to keep looking for the fourth goal more than defending.”
He also gave a passionate message to the Whitecaps fans.
“I want to say thank you to all the fans who came here and see you soon,” said Sartini. “Unfortunately, we were stolen by the circumstances of a home playoff game we deserved to have today.”
Sartini also gave the coldest quote I have ever heard since I started covering the Whitecaps.
“It’s huge for the confidence,” said Armstrong on the win. “We definitely needed it. Obviously a little bit sluggish and sloppy towards the end of the season. We knew we were a good team, full of potential, but the more you say it without actually giving the results and performances, then the effect starts to wear off. So to have such a big performance when it mattered, and now we’re coming into the playoffs, the timing is great. Hopefully, we can carry on that form and reignite that belief within ourselves.”
“We’ve been off of it a bit for the past few weeks but it shows that we piece it together and play to the level that we know we can and we’re a really good side,” said Gauld. “Obviously it’s nice to have the five goals but to be able to keep an attack like Portland’s provides a big statement in itself. They’ve had one of the best goalscoring records in the whole year. To keep them mostly quiet for 90 minutes is another big thing.”
Best of Twitter
Best here for the content
Tonight, was an all-time Whitecaps Twitter night. Perhaps the best one.
Best Ghost Of The Past
Honestly, Teibert could’ve come on and the Timbers still wouldn’t generate anything.
Best 2011 PTSD
Just like the referees in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, the referee in this game was making strange calls. Diego Chara could’ve gotten his second yellow at least three times. That included tripping up Armstrong while he was on the ground in the second half. But in the end, it doesn’t even matter.
Best Quiet Chainsaw
It turns out the Whitecaps were the ones that chopped down the Timbers. They were the home team after all.
Best Vancouver Sports Happiness Moment
The Whitecaps thrashed the Timbers in their stadium, while they were being the home team. That is something you’ll tell your grandparents. This was a game many will never forget.
Wrap-up
This had to happen, because of course. The Whitecaps and LAFC meet yet again.
For the second straight year, these two teams will go against each other in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Whitecaps lost 3-0 to them at BMO Stadium in May and lost 2-1 to them at BC Place on October 13. Vancouver did beat LAFC in Leagues Cup Play in August. That game ended 2-2 and the Whitecaps won on penalties.
With the likes of Denis Bouanga, Ilie Sanchez, Ryan Hollingshead, Mateusz Bogusz and now Olivier Giroud, LAFC will not be easy. They are poised to reach their third straight MLS Cup Final.
Can the Whitecaps carry this momentum into LA? It’s going to be a totally different game.
Game one of the best-of-three series is on Sunday and kickoff is at 6:45 Pacific.
