Winless in seven is not a good record heading into a playoff.
For any team. In any sport.
But that’s exactly where the Vancouver Whitecaps are as they lost their MLS Decision Day match to Real Salt Lake by a score of 2-1.
Whitecaps assistant coach Michael D’Agostino, leading the bench for the suspended Vanni Sartini called the run-in “a tough month” but said there have been positive signs.
“I think we’ve made positive steps in the last two games,” he said. “I know it seems odd when you’ve lost them.”
Expanding on the positives, D’Agostino pointed to attacking output, creating opportunities and their aggressive press moving in the right direction.
Questions began early for the Whitecaps as the starting lineup raised more than a few eyebrows. Yohei Takaoka was relegated to the bench, and none of the three Vancouver DPs started.
If the Whitecaps were going to get anything from this match, it would have to come from unconventional means.
The Whitecaps knew the job that had to be done, but if the opening 20 minutes was any indication, they forgot the plan right after the anthems were sung.
Real Salt Lake, playing in front of their home fans at America First Stadium, dominated time on the ball and looked dangerous right from the beginning.
Cristian Arango tested young Canadian goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer in the first 30 seconds. The Whitecaps keeper did well and looked good throughout the first half.
The Whitecaps ended the half with their best chance of the first 45 minutes, a well-controlled ball by Alessandro Schöpf off his chest to his feet. The shot was just wide of the far post, but it did have RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath beat.
To start the second half, the Whitecaps did come out of the gates with an added step. They had energy and were making runs into the 18-yard box.
And it paid off in unusual fashion as Schöpf went down in the box in the 46th minute and immediately, the referee pointed to the spot.
VAR referred the referee to the pitchside monitor, but the call stood. Fafà Picault stepped up, but his shot sailed clear over the crossbar, keeping the score level.
Sensing a need for change, Ryan Gauld and Andrés Cubas entered the match just before the hour mark. And with his first touch, the Scot put the Whitecaps up by a goal in the 58th minute.
“He’s our captain,” D’Agostino said of Gauld. “He’s clearly one of our best players if not our best player. And he brings a big impact every time he steps onto the pitch.”
Tristan Blackmon’s throw bounced inside the 18-yard box before coming out and finding the captain at the edge. Expert control brought the ball down and the shot off the half-volley went through heavy traffic, beating MacMath at the far post.
Real Salt Lake found their equalizer in the 72nd minute, a well-placed shot from Diego Luna as Ranko Veselinović, Bjørn Inge Utvik and Cubas all lingered in the area.
The shot got around Veselinović and beat the diving Boehmer at the far post.
And as the fates decided, RSL added the winner in the 83’ minute, an own goal off Boehmer. The Whitecaps’ goalkeeper went to punch a cross away and mistimed his movement. The ball went off his shoulder and trickled over the line.
Eight minutes of extra time could not change the outcome leaving the Whitecaps finishing the MLS regular season in 8th place, forced to play the play-in match of the playoffs and with a host of questions over their current situation.
Boehmer starts well but shows he’s still learning
The first half for Boehmer was strong. He stopped five shots on target, including the big chance from Arango in the first minute.
“We have a lot of trust in Isaac,” D’Agostino said. “Isaac is a big part of our team. And we wanted to get him the opportunity to play in case we need him in the playoffs.”
The own goal in the second half highlights some of the technical issues of his game. A confident goalkeeper, Boehmer shined during the Canadian Championship.
Cascadia match for the play-in
Finishing in 8th in the West should mean a home match for the play-in, but due to BC Place already being booked for an event, the Whitecaps will travel to Portland to face the 9th-place Timbers.
D’Agostino said it was unfortunate, but that nothing changes what the team needs to accomplish.
“It’s business as usual. We knew that going in before the game.”
BC Place is set to host the 2024 FIM World Supercross Championship.
Up Next
The play-in match will take place on Wednesday, October 23. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m.
