Hello!

Before we dive into a recap of the week that was, I feel it's important to remind all of you that our goal to #SaveTheCaps has not yet been reached. While it's fair to have an increased level of optimism compared to where we were when the campaign began, it's important to note the Whitecaps FC still remain on the market and the potential still exists they relocate for 2027.

While it’s likely clear as day to all of us supporters why we want our club to stay in Vancouver now and long into the future, it might not be clear to those on the outside how massive an impact the club has on the local game - specifically with youth soccer in BC.

The View

When the Whitecaps FC faced Sporting KC at home back in April, the ‘Caps were on a string of solid play (save for those two CONCACAF Champions Cup matches against Seattle), while KC was trying to shake a rough run of play in an effort to salvage their season.

Suffice to say, the superior Whitecaps FC made quick work of Sporting KC with a 3-0 victory on first-half goals from Emmanuel Sabbi, Bruno Caicedo, and Thomas Müller. The match was never in doubt.

So as we fast-forward to the match this weekend, with Sporting KC finding themselves alone at the bottom of the Supporters Shield table and the Whitecaps FC trying to catch Nashville at the top, many expected a similar result.

In fact, there were many Whitecaps supporters who expected to exceed the five goals scored against Dallas - expectations that are arguably valid when the second-best meets the worst.

And there were those like me, who’ve seen far too many upsets to their liking, who worried this match could be a trap (including Jesper Sørensen who said as much in his post-match interview).

Shortly after the match got underway, while Vancouver carried the bulk of possession, they also were guilty of playing a little fast and loose. The plague that has ailed them in recent times, giving up possession cheaply or making egregious decisions with the ball in dangerous areas, reintroduced itself early. And had it not been for the impotence of their opponent, could’ve been down one or two late in the first-half.

Yet as the half progressed, that fast and loose play settled down, the possession and subsequent opportunities from said possession increased, and with minutes to go in the first, Caicedo dipsy-doodled through the area only to be taken down for a clearcut PK which Müller buried for a 1-nil lead into halftime.

Phew. Early crisis averted. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so worried, eh?

What worry I still had going into the second was extinguished only moments after restart when a sublime blind touch from Brian White off a phenomenally unselfish pass from Oliver Larraz gave the Whitecaps FC a 2-nil lead.

Whether this two-goal lead settled the ‘Caps down, or whether they finally sensed a broken opponent, it felt like the side simply put the rest of the half in cruise control. And while the pessimist in me is never happy when the teams he support do this, I can honestly say there was very little to worry me - short of one flash late in the match.

In fact, my normal desire to have that “third insurance marker” - which happened after Rayan Elloumi capitalized on a great cross from Müller - didn’t even cross my mind.

The Whitecaps FC were in control, they were going to walk out of Kansas City with three points (the one in Kansas and not Missouri if you ever wondered), and the first leg of the Canadian Championship against CF Montreal was already on my mind.

The Good

• Oliver Larraz. Readers of this newsletter will know I’ve been hard on the guy this season. And while I don’t think it’s fair to suggest he’s near the same level as the departed Sebastian Berhalter, I’m definitely warming up to him over these past few matches. In fact, one might remember Seba in a similar spot only a couple seasons back.

• Brian White. Obviously it’s good that Brian’s knock wasn’t a prolonged one as the ‘Caps are a better side with him on the pitch than they are without. But it’s an absolute shame he only notched one goal this match (a sublime touch as I said earlier).

The Not So Good

• Sporting KC. They were better than they were in April. But boy-oh-boy is this club in a world of hurt right now.

With the calendar flipping to the month of September, the Whitecaps FC find themselves in the thick of a number of competitions over the course of the first three weeks (excluding the last match in August, the ‘Caps have six over three).

And here we are, heading into the final stretch of the MLS season with the Whitecaps FC within reach of Nashville at the top of the Supporters Shield table. How about that?!

But I reach the end of this issue with a question - have any of you ever tried Arthur Bryant's Original BBQ Sauce? It’s the sauce referenced across the four seasons of Ted Lasso (love this show) and as someone who’s known to enjoy a good barbecue sauce, I’m genuinely curious.