Vancouver Whitecaps: 5 causes for positivity heading into the ultimate third

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There seems to be a decades-long development of unfavourable headlines in media — shock! — with a large uptick in clickbait headers of anger, concern and disgust, while positive and neutral ones have seen an equally dramatic dip.

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If it bleeds (infuriates or nauseates), it leads.

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To counter this miserable development, right here’s 5 optimistic issues because the Vancouver Whitecaps enter the ultimate third of the season …

HE’S A LATE BLOOMER

After 923 minutes throughout all competitions, designated participant Sergio Córdova lastly scored for the Whitecaps on Wednesday.

His 72nd-minute purpose — cool, calm and picked up — stood up because the winner within the Caps 2-1 win over Austin FC.

“I really feel good. I really feel glad to have the ability to give the staff the three factors immediately. From a private viewpoint, it’s one thing that makes me very glad, it’s one thing I’ve been engaged on for a lot of weeks, to get that purpose,” he stated. “It’s a weight off my shoulders, and I feel it’s a brand new begin for me. I’m very, very glad, and I hope it’s the start of a great run for me and for the staff.

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“A part of the purpose is clearly mine, but additionally a part of that purpose is the staff’s. They’ve recognized that, with a number of the conditions I’ve been by since I received there, it hasn’t been the beginning I needed, I feel they knew it in addition to me. They’ve been an important help for me, motivating me in each coaching to maintain working more durable, to bolster myself. I’m very grateful for the help that I’ve had with everybody since I’ve arrived in Vancouver. It’s an necessary a part of this primary purpose.”

Whereas it took loads longer than La Pantera and everybody rooting for the staff needed, it must be famous Córdova’s brief MLS historical past reveals he’s a late-season performer.

He had 9 objectives and two assists for Actual Salt Lake final season. 4 of these got here in August, when he scored in 4 of 5 video games. One other got here of their second-last common season sport, an important 1-1 tie with the LA Galaxy that was the one factor separating RSL and the Portland Timbers from the ultimate playoff berth.

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After which there was the post-season showdown with Austin, wherein he and Sebastián Driussi exchanged braces earlier than Los Verdes gained on penalty kicks.

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SAVOUR THE DOME WHILE THE TEAM’S STILL HOME

After Saturday’s conflict with the Galaxy at B.C. Place, simply 4 extra house video games stay within the common season: San Jose, DC United, St. Louis, and LAFC on Resolution Day.

Presently, STL and LAFC sit atop the West standings, with San Jose in sixth, offering the Caps with an opportunity to make up factors within the convention.

There are eight away video games, seven approaching their monster street journey in September, however three of these come towards Japanese groups — potential free factors, as coach Vanni Sartini likes to deem them.

One might level out that they don’t have the double worth they do towards groups within the West, however we’re being optimistic immediately.

The cutoff line for the playoffs was 47 factors final yr, and the eighth-placed Timbers — who completed with 46 — would squeak into this yr’s qualification line. If that’s the ground for the Whitecaps (7-7-7, 28 factors), they want round 20 from their final 13 video games — not an unattainable activity. Including to the optimism: simply 10 factors separates first from ninth within the West, and the Caps have a sport in hand on 5 of the groups forward of them, and two on two others.

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NEXT GAME

LA Galaxy (5-9-7, thirteenth West) at Vancouver Whitecaps (7-7-7, ninth West)

7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15, B.C. Place

TV: Apple/TSN Radio: AM730

TRUST THE PROCESS

Sartini’s most oft-repeated line of the season: “Belief the method.” When there’s buy-in to his collective staff technique, they win — and he contains himself in that.

“We want everybody to step up and to observe the plan and be higher in our approach of enjoying,” he stated. “Once I say everybody, it means even me. So having extra (teaching) options typically and enjoying a greater sport, as a result of everybody can change into a distinction maker.

“Brian is a distinction maker. He scored seven objectives already. Alessandro (Schöpf) is usually a massive difference-maker as a result of he by no means loses the ball. Ranko, within the final two video games, he scored two objectives.

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“The much less we depend on the people, I’d say the higher it’s for our staff.”

Don’t imagine the socialist coach? How about Galaxy bench boss Greg Vanney?

L.A. was winless of their first seven video games, and had simply two wins of their first 14. However since then, the Galacticos have reeled off a seven-game unbeaten streak, together with victories over LAFC and the Philadelphia Union.

“It’s one sport at a time. Attempt to hold hold our momentum on our facet,” stated Vanney. “We’ll go (to Vancouver) and attempt to have a great efficiency, keep on with the issues which have been working for us.

“We talked concerning the finish of coaching the issues which might be which might be serving to us to achieve success within the stretch and simply ensure that we hold doing these issues and we don’t get outdoors of that.

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“Every sport has its personal little course of, which is the place I feel we’ve achieved our our greatest work on this stretch. We haven’t gone out saying ‘OK, we have now to win this sport.’ We’ve received out and stated ‘OK, we have now to make every play. We have now to take every play with the correct quantity of consideration and a spotlight to element. And set ourselves up for a place to get factors on the finish of the sport.”

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THE GAULDFATHER

Ryan Gauld is the perfect No. 10 the Whitecaps have ever had. Interval.

The Scot’s help on Córdova’s purpose moved him right into a tie with Pedro Morales for probably the most throughout all competitions all-time in Vancouver. His efficiency on Wednesday — team-high 19 passes within the last third, 5 duels, a team-high 4 probabilities created — was adequate for his fifth choice to the MLS Staff of the Matchday.

He now has six objectives and 5 assists in his final eight video games, with B.C. Place seeing 5 of these objectives and two assists.

TUFF TURF

Vanney didn’t appear enthused about coming north to play on the B.C. Place turf, even when it was changed simply final yr. House is the place the Caps have seen their most success, going 6-2-4 on the Dome this season.

“(Turf fields), they’re all just a bit bit sluggish,” he stated. “They, like a number of the others, will spray it earlier than the sport, but it surely stays moist for less than so lengthy.

“It’s possibly a bit of softer or a bit of extra cushiony than it as soon as was. … I really feel prefer it’s it’s been a short while since we’ve been up there (Sept. 22, 2022, a 3-0 loss) however I really feel prefer it’s okay. All turf is is just not good turf, however there’s some which might be higher than others.”

The Galaxy are 2-4-2 all-time at B.C. Place.

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