Hello!

Can you believe it?

I said, can you believe it?!

I’m not certain I do.

When I spun this newsletter up way back in March, I shared the following:

Had you told me we’d be supporting a side at the top of the MLS table - not the Western Conference table… the league table - four matches in, I would not have believed you for one second.

Had you told me we’d be supporting a side going into the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, I’d believe you for one second but not two.

Unbelievable start this side has had, eh?

While I still have trust issues - as any Vancouver sports fan does - I am coming to the belief this team is the real deal.

I was ecstatic over that hot start, and despite the thought I’d be supporting a team playing in the MLS Cup Final had not even crossed my mind.

My goodness, is it even real!?

The View

Before we discuss a few expectations going into the Final on Saturday, let's quickly revisit the match this past weekend down in San Diego.

A lot of the talk prior to match questioned how Vancouver would look to shut down Anders Dreyer without MLS Defender of the Year, Tristan Blackmon.

Pundits and analysts alike held the strong opinion that the depth of the Whitecaps FC had finally reached a limit and it would be up to the ‘Caps to perform an absolute miracle to even have a chance.

How would Laborda do everything? Is Pupe even match-ready? Do the ‘Caps do something wild and play two goalkeepers (I might be making that last one up)?

Instead, they simply did what I (and a number of others) expected - pair Ralph “The Best CB We Never Knew We Had” Priso with Matias Laborda and start Tate Johnson out wide.

Problem solved. Essentially. Trust in Jesper.

When the match got underway, it was apparent that San Diego planned to play a similar style as Vancouver - control the play and dictate the pace.

Except for one glaring issue - an inability to do either on the right side of their pitch.

It would be a massive understatement to suggest Ali Ahmed beat SDFC’s Ian Pilcher on Saturday. It was an absolute decimation. In fact, if Pilcher is not suffering nightmares that involve Ali over the course the next week or so I’d be shocked.

And it wasn’t just Ali taking advantage down the side. We even saw Andres Cubas show some offensive prowess when he set Brian White up for his first of the night.

Vancouver 1. San Diego 0.

San Diego began to make slight adjustments to shore up their right side and in turn opened up the lane on their left.

Enter Emmanuel Sabbi and Edier Ocampo. And more defensive fits to be had. And an SDFC own goal. Because why not.

Vancouver 2. San Diego 0.

Down the left. Down the right. Vancouver simply owned the pitch.

And Ian Pilcher? Well, he got himself proverbially undressed by Ali Ahmed 2’ into stoppage in the first half resulting in Brian White’s second of the match.

Vancouver 3. San Diego 0. Halftime

Two matches in a row Vancouver took control in the first half. Two matches in a row Vancouver looked like the superior side in the first half. Two matches in a row Vancouver seemed to have all the answers.

In the first half.

And thankfully, unlike what happened the weekend before, didn’t completely lose the plot going into the second.

While San Diego made three offensive-minded adjustments at half (including saving Pilcher from more embarrassment), Vancouver was unfazed.

Every time Vancouver had an opportunity to push forward, they stretched the ball out wide. Every time San Diego attempted to bring the ball forward, the Whitecaps FC forced them to go up the middle to run into an awaiting Sebastian Berhalter and Andres Cubas. And the few times San Diego attempted to send a long YOLO attempt up front, Priso or Laborda won the ball - often in the air.

The Whitecaps FC remained in charge. For the most part.

The lone San Diego goal, scored at the 60’ mark came off a set piece and brutal deflection of of Tate Johnson. While it certainly gave life to the relatively quiet Snapdragon Stadium, and seemed to inspire SDFC to hunt for more off the subsequent kickoff, the ‘Caps did well to stifle any real momentum and took back control.

Discounting some poor decisions from Tate (he didn’t have himself the best match we’ve seen), Vancouver maintained possession of the ball for long periods of play and had SDFC chasing.

And the few times San Diego won possession? If it wasn’t Cubas or Berhalter were winning it back near immediately, the Whitecaps simply pressured SDFC to make brutal decisions. Including one at 61’.

Facing pressure from Brian White, SDFC’s Manu Duah, who moments earlier stopped a sure goal from Emmanuel Sabbi, made an absolutely horrendous defensive decision and kicked a ball into open space for Ryan Guald to run on to. With Vancouver on the quick break, GK Pablo Sisniega elected to fly towards Gauld with a sliding tackle only to completely botch it and take Gauld out at the knees.

DOGSO. Red Card. Vancouver up a man the rest of the way.

Game. Set. Almost match.

The final 30 minutes of the match had a desperate SDFC attempt to exert pressure on the ‘Caps, but found little to no success being down a player on the pitch. It wasn’t until stoppage that they saw any real opportunity to close the match to one, but were foiled by an on-point Yohei Takaoka.

Final score: Vancouver 3. San Diego 1.

The Good

• Ali Ahmed. The kid was pure class on the pitch. While he only notched two assists, the own-goal came off his boot, and he generated far more opportunities than the three that found the back of the net.

• Emmanuel Sabbi. Early in the season there was some question on where he fit within the lineup. Suffice to say right where he does - to the right of Brian White opposite Ali. Had himself a dominant match.

• Ralph Priso. Best CB We Never Knew We Had.

• Yohei Takaoka. The only ball to get past Yohei came off of Tate Johnson’s backside, and arguable wasn’t that good of a shot to begin with. All the good shots? All the great shots? Yohei stopped all those. Every. Single. One.

The Not So Good

• Inter Miami beat NYCFC. Boooooo!

One Whitecaps FC match left for the 2025 season. And it’s in December.

In complete honesty, a successful season by my standards.

But as Thomas Müller pointed out in September, that’s a losing mindset and one he hopes to change here in Vancouver.

So in an effort to not disappoint Thomas, I’m looking forward to glory for the boys in blue & white on Saturday.

Up the Caps!

Up the Effing Caps!