The Whitecaps have not gained in 4 video games, making their push for a top-4 spot within the West a harder prospect with three video games left.
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It was like 2015 once more on Saturday evening.
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Carl Robinson patrolling the sideline at B.C. Place, fist-bumping his crew’s objectives. Striker Erik Hurtado popping out with one more new coiffure.
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And an excellent Vancouver Whitecaps crew falling brief in an important stretch run recreation.
That 2015 Caps crew was thought-about the very best squad within the membership’s Main League historical past, and had its sights set on ending excessive within the Western Convention standings — perhaps even atop the general desk — earlier than a five-game winless late-season swoon value them an opportunity at glory. That Robinson-coached aspect completed second within the West, then flamed out within the first spherical of the playoffs towards Portland with out nary a aim.
On Saturday evening at B.C. Place, the newly anointed ‘finest aspect’ in crew historical past tied 2-2 with D.C. United, who had each Robinson and Hurtado on their bench.
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Whereas the ending has but to be written for this yr’s crew, the draw prolonged a winless streak to 4 video games. With three extra remaining, a top-four spot within the West — and the house subject benefit within the first spherical that comes with it — is an more and more harder prospect. Their remaining video games are towards the Nos. 1, 2 and three groups within the West.
Saturday’s tie was the second straight recreation the Caps settled for single level towards a crew beneath the playoff line, however that didn’t concern head coach Vanni Sartini after the sport.
“No, no. Initially, they have been two very completely different video games,” he stated. “Final recreation (vs. Colorado) wasn’t an excellent recreation to be sincere, however for one million causes. The altitude, the final recreation of the seven-game stretch and no matter. Right now, it doesn’t concern me by way of efficiency, as a result of I believe we performed very properly.
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“To make the playoffs is the first aim. That’s the factor. Provided that you make the playoffs, then you may take into consideration going into the highest 4. I stated it that we couldn’t speak about prime 4 till after these two video games (at present and St. Louis on Wednesday). Even when we win towards St. Louis, it’s going to be onerous to say we’re going to reach within the prime 4. So let’s arrive into the playoff. Now we have an excellent crew. I believe that we will beat each crew. The target now’s to complete within the first seven locations, like we are actually.”
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WHERE THEY STAND
The Whitecaps (11-10-10) benefited from the out-of-town scoreboard on Saturday, as all of the groups with direct influence on their destiny additionally tied. In consequence, Vancouver heads into Sunday in sixth place within the West, which gained’t change after the weekend.
Houston tied Dallas 0-0; Minnesota and San Jose completed 1-1; Nashville vs. Seattle was additionally a scoreless draw; Sporting Kansas Metropolis, 5 factors again of Vancouver, was thumped 4-1 by first-place St. Louis; and L.A. Galaxy saved Portland from passing Vancouver by holding them to a 2-2 draw.
LAFC and RSL play Sunday, and a type of groups will enhance their factors lead over Vancouver, as each are above the Caps within the standings.
DYNAMIC DUO
Tosaint Ricketts known as them Batman and Robin. However between Brian White and Ryan Gauld, who’s Batman, and who’s Robin?
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“I believe we’re each good with no matter you guys need to select. No matter helps the crew win,” White stated with a smile after Saturday’s recreation.
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Social media consensus says White is Batman to Gauld’s Robin, largely as a result of he’s taller. However what does that make Jake Nerwinski, White’s BFF who visits Vancouver with St. Louis on Wednesday? (The Joker is the main reply on Twitter).
A lot for the jokes. However the two attackers are a severe menace in MLS.
White had the sport’s opening aim, handing over a Gauld cross two minutes into the sport. He additionally drew the penalty that Gauld transformed within the 57th minute.
The 2 gamers are have essentially the most aim contributions of any duo within the league. White’s 14 objectives — one off the Golden Boot Lead — and Gauld’s matching 11 objectives/11 assists is the league’s gold commonplace. White’s eight headed objectives is most in MLS, and he’s the league’s prime American-born goal-scorer.
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“We construct the crew round the truth that with a purpose to improve this partnership, we did every part with a purpose to take off the load of a defensive work from them generally, and make them play as shut as we will to one another. Make them play as near the aim as we will, they usually’ve paid that again huge,” stated Sartini. “They’re crucial but in addition they know that the crew has been crucial for his or her success.”
SNAKE BITTEN AND SOFT
Tristan Blackmon may need to burn some incense, discover some magic crystals, sprinkle himself with holy water, or perhaps get a First Nations elder to smudge his rental — something to rid himself of the unhealthy luck that plagued him Saturday.
On DC’s opening aim, the Caps centreback slipped as Yohei Takaoka handed him the ball. The guests pounced on the unfastened ball, and a fast 1-2-tap-in later, the eleventh minute equalizer was at the back of the web, courtesy of Christian Benteke.
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On United’s second aim, a deflected cross looped to the highest of the field, the place Mateusz Klich unleashed a volley that skimmed off Blackmon’s again and within the nook previous Takaoka.
“I don’t need to say we’ve been unfortunate as a result of luck doesn’t exist on the finish. It’s about us,” stated Sartini. “We have to should be fortunate. And at present we didn’t.”
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The 2 objectives caught in Sartini’s craw, as a result of they have been each so pointless and cancelled out two Caps’ leads. The slip on the opening aim was comprehensible, however the failure to clear the ball on the second aggravated the Caps coach.
“I take advantage of identical time period that they utilized in in Salt Lake — we’ve been gentle,” he stated. “And guys, for those who’re gentle like this, it’s onerous to win playoff video games — and this at present was a playoff recreation.
“We must be stronger — higher. If you’re gentle defensively, then it’s very onerous offensively.
“… It’s very onerous to attain even you probably have 4 probabilities. And so it shouldn’t be simple to attain for the opposite crew. Sadly we made that simple with a few moments.”
FAMILIAR FACES
“It’s nostalgia week!” a Whitecaps staffer joked earlier than the sport.
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There was Robinson, making his first return to B.C. Place since coming again to MLS from A-League exile within the preseason.
Cristian Dajome had been traded away in April to discover a recent begin, and Hurtado — E-Cash or Rufio, as Caps followers would bear in mind from his time right here (2013-18) — additionally made the journey with United.
Earlier than the sport, present Caps Sam Adekugbe and Russell Teibert shared an embrace with Robbo at midfield, and have been joined by Hurtado. A couple of minutes later, the Jumbotron performed a pleasant vignette highlighting their contributions to the Whitecaps after they have been right here, and Robinson gave a sheepish acknowledgement as he ran his crew by their warm-ups.
Solely Dajome noticed the sphere — coming in as a 79th minute substitute — as Hurtado didn’t characteristic Saturday.
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They gained’t be the final outdated mates to go to this week.
Centreback Tim Parker and Nerwinski return to Vancouver with St. Louis Metropolis FC on Wednesday. And only some diehard followers would know that SLCFC’s sporting director, Lutz Pfannenstiel, performed for the Whitecaps in 2007, one of many 26 groups he performed for in his profession. Pfannenstiel is the one participant to have performed in all six FIFA confederations.
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