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Lucas Cavallini

First Team Photo of 2022
Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps Suffer Tough Loss in Season Opener

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

It’s finally here! The 2022 season is upon us, and everyone at CascadiaSN is pumped for the new season. The first 34 game grind to reach a chance at glory. On a gloomy Ohio Saturday afternoon, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Columbus Crew took to the pitch to begin their 2022 campaigns. All of the storylines from the past four months were about to be put to the test.

Lineups:

Vancouver Whitecaps: 3-1-4-2

Columbus Crew: 4-2-3-1

Match Report

Early on, the Crew would nearly get off to a scary start right away, as their dangerman, Lucas Zelarayan, found some space at the edge of the box after a sloppy Whitecaps turnover in the 3rd minute, and he nearly made them pay for it. However, the Argentine sent his shot just over the mark. Right after, Zelarayan continued his strong start into the 5th minute, as he did well to find Milos Degenek off of a corner, and the big Australian got a firm header off, sending his shot just wide.

It started in a fashion fit for an MLS season opener. No more than eight minutes in, Miguel Berry found himself on the edge of the box, being man marked by Nerwinski. Able to create a slight separation, the Spaniard fired a right-footed effort goalwards. However, after a slight deflection from Nerwinski, the ball thanks to the face of Veselinovic. The change of direction left Thomas Hasal a half step behind where he needed to be, and the Crew and an early lead.

Columbus created several quality chances in the first half, testing Hasal from all angles. However, they could beat the young Canadian keeper for the second time in the 25th. A lovely cross-field pass from Yeboah found Etienne in plenty of space striding into the Vancouver penalty area. However, a lack of communication between Brown and Veselinovic allowed Etienne to stroll in, take his time and finish off the chance with a goal.

Vancouver could produce nothing more than several half-chances against the run of play. There was a lack of structure on defense and an inability to string multiple passes together in the midfield. Nothing was falling Vancouver’s way in the opening 45. The team was still in preseason form, and it showed. It was interesting to see how they would react to their slow start. It didn’t help that the Crew came out flying in front of their home fans, but there was no doubt that the Whitecaps could’ve offered far more resistance.

Whitecaps Wingback, Brown, battles for a 50/50 ball

Image via Whitecaps FC Twitter

Second Half

The second half showed the same trends for the visitors, starting with a player ejection. Then, Jake Nerwinski picked up his second yellow card after bringing down Etienne’s streaking in the 53rd minute. But, to be fair, it was a soft foul at best. After that, the momentum shifted right back to Columbus, who started to push back, and they’d nearly come close to finding the net on a few occasions.

A poorly taken quick Vancouver free-kick led to a fast break for the home side. After having the ball fall to his feet, Gyasi Zardes played it over to Luis Diaz, who roofed the ball over a sprawling Hasal and into the net for a Columbus third in the 84th. 

Two minutes later, Zelarayan added his name to the score sheet with a deserved goal from the Argentinian. A scramble in the Vancouver penalty box left Zelarayan alone and in space. A well-taken finish to close out the contest.

Post Match Thoughts

It was far from an ideal start for Vanni Sartini’s tenure in Vancouver. Conceding four, having a player receive his first career red card, minimal success from set-pieces. Yet, after a solid end to last season, one that saw them ride a solid second half of the campaign to a surprise playoff berth, their first such qualification in four years, the Whitecaps had high expectations heading into this year.

Because of that, it makes this result quite a disappointment. After looking like one of the more dynamic teams in the league during the second half of the 2021 season, the Whitecaps looked a lot more like the unit among the worst in the league.

Of course, it was always tough to win in Columbus away, but they certainly needed to be a lot better even to have a chance, as they were just second-best too often on the afternoon. A game to forget for Sartini’s men.

“We made a lot of mistakes,” Sartini said. “And I think when we were trying to press them we were always one or two seconds late, and it was easy for them to play through us.”

“It’s a wake-up call,” Sartini said. “It’s a wake-up call that our level needs to be better, and we really need to be more humble and hungry (going forward).”

It will have to be a quick turnaround, as Vancouver will be welcoming 2021 MLS Cup champions NYCFC to BC Place on Saturday, March 5th. The first five matches will be a tough test for the Whitecaps, so we’ll see if they can find some form and surprise everyone.

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Whitecaps DP Ryan Gauld after scoring against LAFC last season
Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps Preseason Roster Moves

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

We are just 22 days away from the start of the 2022 MLS season! The Whitecaps have been relatively busy in the transfer market, but not in the way you would think. So this is the first Transfer Talk post of the season with plenty more on the way. The first few will be old news, but I will continue to provide updates as the season goes on. 

Let’s dive in!

Key Club Departures

There had been a surprising amount of players leaving the club during this off-season. While I may not agree with a couple of them, ultimately, it’s what’s best for the club to move forward.

Andy Rose

Andy Rose started 53 of his 60 appearances in all competitions since signing with the club before the 2019 season while tallying three goals and three assists. Rose started all 21 appearances in his final year in Vancouver while also working as an assistant coach for the Whitecaps Academy U-19 team.

Rose has since announced his retirement from the beautiful game and will be joining the Seattle Sounders coaching staff. Having played for the Sounders from 2012- 2016, making 107 appearances across all competitions, it was natural that he would want to go back. 

Bruno Gaspar

In March of last year, Gaspar, 28, joined Whitecaps FC on a one-year loan from Portuguese first division side Sporting CP. The Angolan international made 12 starts in 18 appearances, including playoffs, recording a goal, and assisting the club.

Bruno was an integral part of the team towards the end of the season. He started nearly every match in the Whitecaps push for that final playoff spot. So it is a bit of a surprise the Whitecaps did not try to keep him at the end of the season. It ultimately came down to money and what Sporting CP wanted for him. 

Janio Bikel

Bikel started 39 of 46 appearances in 2020 and 2021, recording one goal and one assist. The native of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, was purchased for $2.2 million in February of 2020. His current market value exceeds that.

He was a great player for the year that the Whitecaps had him. He was great in the MDS’s system but struggled with Sartini. As a result, he will be loaned to Serie B side LR Vicenza, with an option to buy. There can be no complaints if the Whitecaps can get a reasonable fee for him.

Theo Bair

Academy graduate Theo Bair has transferred to Scottish Premiership club St. Johnstone FC. The Whitecaps made the deal official on deadline day. Vancouver will receive $135,000 initially and retain 50% of the player’s rights. However, future add-ons could add up to around $470,000, which is Bair’s current market value. Bair moves to Scotland after spending last season with Norwegian second division side HamKam. 

Maxime Crepeau

The one that hurts the most, GK Maxime Crepeau, has gone off to conference rivals LAFC for $1 million in GAM. If particular performance metrics are met, whitecaps will also receive a first-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and conditional GAM. In addition, the club will receive $250,000 in 2022 GAM, $250,000 in 2023 GAM, and $500,000 in GAM between 2023 and 2024 based on the player’s roster status. The Whitecaps will also retain a significant fee percentage if CrĂ©peau transfers abroad.

Many have speculated that he was unhappy here in Vancouver and was looking for a way out after their short playoff run. As the starting GK for the Canadian National Team, there were a lot of journalists, including myself, that expected him to move off to Europe. He may still do that after his stint at LAFC, but that remains to be seen. 

What to Expect in 2022

The Whitecaps may have lost five players and only added one, but that does not mean the team has weakened by any means. On the contrary, most of the starting XI is returning for this upcoming season. With the addition of Tristan Blackmon from LAFC, Sebastian Berhalter from Columbus, and players like Caio Alexandre and Pedro Vite coming back from injury/Visa issues, it will feel like we have four brand new signings.  

The Whitecaps could still be in the market for another GK, DM, and a proper striker, but no offers or concrete rumors as of right now. We will keep you updated if any news or stories regarding new players.

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Whitecaps preason 2
Vancouver Whitecaps

Vancouver Whitecaps Preseason Updates

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

We are just one month away from the start of the regular season for the Vancouver Whitecaps, and that also means it’s preseason time! I want to apologize for being AFK for the latter portion of the last and most offseason. I can promise things will be much more consistent from now on. 

Vancouver Whitecaps Preseason Games

Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed the club would play four preseason games in San Diego, California. The team will depart for San Diego on February 5 for an 11-day camp in Southern California.

The first match will see the ‘Caps face a mix of Club Tijuana’s first team and reserve players on February 6. After, Vancouver will play their second match on February 9 against the USL side, New Mexico United. They also play at Triton Soccer Stadium.

In the third match, the Whitecaps will face USL side in San Diego Loyal SC at Torero Stadium on February 12. Finally, Vancouver will wrap up the trip with a closed-door scrimmage against LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 16.

Following the Galaxy match, the team will return to Vancouver and resume training at the WFC NSDC at UBC to prepare for their 2022 MLS regular-season opener against Columbus Crew on Saturday, February 26.

Whitecaps Preseason

Image via 90plus Podcast on Twitter

Whitecaps Preseason Roster Updates

Players reported for the start of the 2022 preseason camp this weekend, with the first on-field session kicking off on Monday at the Whitecaps FC National Soccer Development Centre.

The’ Caps current first-team roster includes a club record of 27 returning players and one new addition, as well as three players away on loan. The 28 MLS roster players have an average age of 24 years and 45 days. This includes 13 players 23-years-old or younger. The team will also feature 12 Canadians and 14 players from different birth countries. 

Tristan Blackmon and five 2021-midseason acquisitions in Ryan Gauld, Marcus Godinho, Florian Jungwirth, Pedro Vite, and Brian White are taking part in their first preseason camp in Vancouver.

Javain Brown is currently away with Jamaica as they get set to play an international friendly in Peru. In addition, Caio Alexandre, Evan Newton, and Ranko Veselinovic will arrive in Vancouver in the coming days. 

Maxime Crepeau is away for personal reasons, although the current rumor is that he is going to LAFC for a reported $1 million in GAM. Finally, Janio Bikel is in Europe while the club explores loan or transfer options.

The seven unsigned camp invitees include two members from last year’s roster in Isaac Boehmer and Tosaint Ricketts. In addition, the four SuperDraft selections, Giovanni Aguilar, Simon Becher, ThĂ©o Collomb, and Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador, will also join the team. Lastly, Kwame Awuah, who was most recently with Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League, will be the final invitee.

Preseason Roster

Goalkeepers (3): Isaac Boehmer, Thomas Hasal, Evan Newton

Centre Backs (7): Tristan Blackmon, Matteo Campagna, Gianfranco Facchineri, Érik Godoy, Florian Jungwirth, Jake Nerwinski, Ranko Veselinović

Fullbacks/Wingers (6): Kwame Awuah, Javain Brown, Cristian Dåjome, Marcus Godinho, Cristiån Gutiérrez, Ryan Raposo

Midfielders (10): Giovanni Aguilar, Caio Alexandre, Michael Baldisimo, Janio Bikel, Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador, Ryan Gauld, Kamron Habibullah, Leonard Owusu, Russell Teibert, Pedro Vite

Forwards (8): Theo Bair, Simon Becher, Déiber Caicedo, Lucas Cavallini, Théo Collomb, David Egbo, Tosaint Ricketts, Brian White

Players away on loan:

Simon Colyn – Jong PSV

Derek Cornelius – Panetolikos FC

Damiano Pecile – Venezia FC

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Whitecaps winger, Dajome getting a shot off on goal
Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps and Earthquakes Give Fans A Quiet Evening With 0-0 Draw

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

It’s not necessarily a step back, but it certainly was not a step forward. The Whitecaps took on the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday evening. Whitecaps, who have just one win in 14, were hoping this would be a kick off point to save the season. Alas, it was not meant to be as they picked up another draw this time ending in 0-0. 

Neither team looked to create much despite both being at the bottom of the league defensively. Both teams will look at it like two points lost as opposed to one point gained. Let’s dive right into the match. 

Lineups

Vancouver Whitecaps: 4-3-3

San Jose Earthquakes: 3-4-2-1

Match Review

I’m going to try something a little different this time around! Instead of giving the match stats, I’m going to go straight into the match review. If you readers would like me to include the stats going forward just let me know! 

Whitecaps midfielder, Teibert wrestling his way through two defenders

Image via Stan Szeto /USA TODAY Sports

“We always try to play for the three points,” head coach Marc Dos Santos said after the game. “There are some moments in the minutes 88 and 92 where we were pressing, we went for the three points.”“But again, when you don’t win, you don’t win.”

There seems to be a theme with this Whitecaps team. Always playing for all three points, but never able to finish it off in the end. Most matches they do just enough to stay in the match, but still don’t bring enough to push their opponents. 

The match kicked off on a rather quiet note for both teams. It seemed that neither team could break the other open. Although, five minutes in, Ryan Raposo had himself a cheeky dribble past the defender before setting up Brian White for an excellent chance on goal. White could not get his footing right and hit it right to the keeper. 

The Whitecaps kept the intensity up a little from there, but in the end both teams settled down more as the first half went on. At the 30th minute mark the Earthquakes had their best effort of the half thanks to an attempted volley from former Portland Timbers striker, Jeremy Ebodisse. Luciano Abecasis whipped in a lovely ball to the back post but big man Maxime Crepeau denied him the opportunity. 

As expected, based on the few chances either team had, the first half ends even at the break. Which is not surprising as both teams seemed content to end with a draw. Neither really played attractive football and because of that it made it borderline unwatchable. 

Not much happened until the 60th minute as Ebodisse found some room at the edge of the box and had a strong low driven shot which made Crepeau stretch to make a save and push the ball off the post and out. 

Not much else happened after that last chance for San Jose. While the game did open up when Dajome and Gauld arrived, their inclusion was more of a cautionary tale. It served as a reminder that Gauld alone, or any of the Whitecaps’ key players, are not going to be able to create a successful team on their own. They need the rest of the team to step up.

For the Whitecaps, it certainly doesn’t feel like a bad result per say. You can never complain about a road point but as a team who has struggled for more, you want all three points. Sitting last in the West, it’ll be hard for them to crawl out of this already big hole if they continue to dig it deeper. 

Post Match Thoughts

For a clash between 2 of the worst defensive teams in the league, one could expect some goals in this match but that unfortunately was not the case. Both teams share the spoils, and for the Whitecaps, they pick up their 4th clean sheet of the season.

That leaves the Whitecaps with 7 draws in their last 9 games now. Based on their play as of late, that shouldn’t be too surprising. The Earthquakes are in the same boat as now they have 6 in their last 8. Both sides have been struggling to put away matches and get all three points. It does explain their positions in the table.

Because of all that, it shouldn’t have been surprising to see both teams draw. With both sides just outside of the playoff picture right now, that’ll leave them to both rue what could’ve been, something they’ve both dealt with. For the Whitecaps’ sake, fans can only hope that turns around soon.

There is some good news coming! The Whitecaps are so close to finally heading  home and playing their first match at BC Place since last year. Missing players are slowly getting their names back into their squad, which along with the integration of some new faces, should give them a boost. Will it be enough to get them through this rut? Only time will tell. 

 

The Whitecaps have one more road match before they make their long-awaited return to BC Place. On Wednesday, they visit Austin FC for their first-ever meeting at Q2 Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. PT. live on TSN4/5 and ESPN+.

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Whitecaps winger, Deiber Ceicedo scores the opener agaisnt LAFC
Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps Draw at LAFC. One Point Won or Two Points Lost?

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

 

The Whitecaps are heading home! After so long away from home, the boys played their last match before heading back to Vancouver for the first time since last February. While there won’t be any matches played at BC Place for a bit, at least the team can train in Vancouver. A year and a half away from home and sometimes we wonder why the team is performing the way it does
 

Anyways, on to the match! 

The Whitecaps’ third match in eight days, they went up against one of the hardest teams in one of the hardest stadiums to win in , LAFC at Banc of California stadium. The team came to play! The first half was exceptional and they looked like a different team. Despite playing as well as they did, he Whitecaps certainly dropped points on Saturday. 

The Whitecaps ended up drawing 2-2 after being up 2-0 after 38 minutes, but at the same time, that isn’t the worst result in the world. Unfortunately, we have come to expect that from the Whitecaps. This draw gives them just one win in the last eleven. Let’s dive in. 

Lineups

Vancouver Whitecaps: 4-3-3

LAFC: 5-3-2

Match Stats

Scoring Summary

25′ – VAN – DĂ©iber Caicedo

38′ – VAN – Cristian DĂĄjome (assisted by Cristian GutiĂ©rrez)

40′ – LAFC – Carlos Vela (assisted by Eduard Atuesta)

75′ – LAFC – JosĂ© Cifuentes (assisted by Diego Palacios)

Statistics

Possession: LAFC 54.3 – VAN 45.7

Shots: LAFC 10 – VAN 5

Shots on Goal: LAFC 5 – VAN 3

Saves: LAFC 2 – VAN 3

Fouls: LAFC 15 – VAN 20

Offsides: LAFC 2 – VAN 3

Corners: LAFC 5 – VAN 5

Cautions

27′ – VAN – Caio Alexandre (yellow)

58′ – VAN – Michael Baldisimo (yellow)

67′ – LAFC – Corey Baird (yellow)

69′ – VAN – Janio Bikel (yellow)

82′ – LAFC – JesĂșs David Murillo (yellow)

84′ – VAN – DĂ©iber Caicedo (yellow)

Match Report

Image via Jayne Kamin-Oncea /USA TODAY Sports

In the first half, the Whitecaps came out looking a lot more like the team everyone was expecting to see this season. LAFC naturally held most of the possession but Vancouver looked stout defensively. Whenever they got the ball off of LAFC, they were dangerous in transition. It was definitely exciting to see considering the play we have gotten all season.

While the Whitecaps were stronger in the first half, it’s also good to note that LAFC looked a bit more dangerous from the start. LAFC would have two great chances from Diego Rossi and Jose Cifuentes. Both chances were ultimately saved by Hasal in the end. 

That is when the Colombians took off! It may have taken 25 minutes but at least it finally came. After taking control of the match and pressing the opposition, the Whitecaps got the ball into the back of the net. 

After some great play between Javain Brown and White, Dajome found himself in some space down the right side. Deiber Caicedo was sitting as his main option in the box. From there, Dajome whipped a low ball towards his fellow countryman, which would bounce right to Caicedo, allowing the winger to tap home his 3rd of the season.

Regardless of how it happened, a goal is a goal! The Whitecaps would not let their foot off the gas as another goal came in the 38th minute from the other Colombian winger and team leading scorer, Cristian Dajome.

From a set-piece, Gutierrez whipped in a fantastic curler into the box to a semi open Dajome who heads it home making it 2-0 with less than 10 minutes left in the half. 

His 6th goal of the season puts him in the top 10 scorers for the 2021 season. But more importantly, it puts the Whitecaps in a position to earn a result against a tough LAFC team.

But LAFC are still LAFC. You can never let your guard down against a team like this. They responded almost immediately with a goal of their own from Carlos Vela off a brilliant through ball from Eduard Atuesta. 

The goal was initially called back for offside but after a VAR review it was given. The goal showed the quality of some of the LAFC players but in all fairness to the Whitecaps, it was the only really good chance they gave up in the first half.

LAFC coach Bob Bradley made four subs at half time which proved to turn the tides in their favor. The Whitecaps looked a shadow of themselves from the first half.LAFC did well to come out with some fresh energy and created a couple of chances. Thomas Hasal made a solid save off of a free kick and Veselinovic came up with a goal line block. 

Despite a strong push from LAFC, it was looking like Vancouver was going to hold on to the lead. LAFC looked dangerous with the ball but for the most part they were only creating shots without much to them. That was until the 75th minute. Diego Palacios floated a beautiful cross into a wide Jose Cifuentes who hit an exquisite volley to tie the game at 2-2.

Soon after, the Whitecaps had a goal ruled out for offside but other than that there were not many chances for the rest of the game for either team. 

“I’m very proud of the mindset. We’re not doing a party in the locker room. We feel we could have gotten something even more,” said coach Marc Dos Santos. “It’s a good point in a stadium that is incredibly difficult to get points. What was special about the game today is we were consistent throughout the 90 minutes.”

Post Match Thoughts

There is not much to say about this one honestly. It’s also hard to know what exactly to say. The Whitecaps played to their potential and they looked great even with missing some starters. Especially when you consider the strength of the opponent. 

Although you have to consider the familiar pattern of play that fans are seeing. The Whitecaps blew yet another lead and once again a big factor was that the opposition made changes and they didn’t. Bob saw what he needed to change and did it immediately. MDS did not make any changes until after the second LAFC goal. Granted they were already lined up but still. 

On a more positive note, the defense was excellent on Saturday. They held a team who averages more than 14 shots per game down to only 10. They also lowered their goal expectancy down by a significant amount. Usually the weakest link in the team, the defense stood their ground. 

Would they have liked to win? Absolutely, but considering the stretch of games they went through at the start of summer, where they were mostly outplayed, it’s been nice to see them take this step forward as of late. Hopefully the results start to come with it soon. 

 

The Whitecaps will return to Sandy, Utah to play one last match at Rio Tinto Stadium against an inform Minnesota United FC on Saturday, July 31. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. PT, live on TSN and ESPN+.

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Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps and Houston Dynamo Take A Trip to Snoozefest in 0-0 Draw

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

The match was supposed to be a team in-form against a team well rested. In a match that was crucial for both teams to climb out of the bottom of the West, neither team provided anything memorable. 

Playing their second of three matches in a span of seven days, the Whitecaps went up against FC Dallas in a battle of who can score the least goals. As two of the worst defensive sides in MLS by a lot of the metrics, it certainly felt like goals would be on the menu for both. Spoiler, neither of them scored.

“We had good energy,” “When we’re in the opponent’s half, in the final third, around the box, I felt we didn’t have the spark, we lacked it.”

Lineups

Vancouver Whitecaps: 4-3-3

FC Dallas: 5-3-2

Match Stats

Scoring Summary

None

Statistics

Possession: VAN 50.8 – HOU 49.2

Shots: VAN 8 – HOU 8

Shots on Goal: VAN 0 – HOU 1

Saves: VAN 1 – HOU 0

Fouls: VAN 11 – HOU 13

Offsides: VAN 2 – HOU 2

Corners: VAN 4 – HOU 7

Cautions

24′ – VAN – Andy Rose (Yellow)

42′ – HOU – Hadebe (Yellow)

83′ – HOU – Fafa Picault (Yellow)

83′ – VAN – Caio Alexandre (Yellow)

Match Report

The Whitecaps opened the match with a strong showing, clearly building from that high of finally winning last week. Other than that, it was a defensive battle besides a chance from Dajome. It was not a good chance, but a chance in front of goal to say the least. 

Houston almost pounced immediately after Dajome’s failed attempt. Urruti had a strong free kick from 25 yards out, but it hit the post and amounted to nothing. Keeping the draw intact. Other than those two chances, it proved to be a very slow start to the match. 

For both teams, that was far from a bad thing. With the two teams being poor defensively, I’m sure they would take the result going into the half. Both are desperately needing a victory but didn’t want to do so at the cost of their defence. But it didn’t make for good viewing. 

Moving onto the second half, it was just more of the same. A couple chances from our Colombians and another Urruti chance, but even with those, neither team looked like scoring. 

Certainly, both teams will feel like it was an opportunity missed as they had every chance to try and grab a hold of this game. Alas, they didn’t want to do so at the cost of sacrificing offence, leading to a quiet night. 

Ultimately, at the end of the day, a draw does nothing for either team and they both seemed to realize that. Choosing for the safety of 1 point instead of going for the 3 points at risk of finishing with nothing at all. So I guess Whitecaps fans take that as a slight win. 

Post Match Thoughts

Despite the poor showing today, taking 4 out of 6 points during a stretch of matches is also a positive. Things are trending on the up and up and we can only expect, hopefully, good things going forward. 

So now, the Whitecaps will get 3 days off before heading to LA to take on a resurgent LAFC team that has won 3 games in a row. For a team who has struggled in games against LAFC, having lost their last two away games to them by a combined 13-1, it won’t be an easy game. They will have to bring their A-game and then some on Saturday. 

We have not seen that in a while so let’s hope the Whitecaps can deliver. 

“There’s a feeling of a certain frustration that we could have won today. But there’s also a feeling of, ‘OK, it’s good. Let’s go!’ They’re disappointed, the players, of not getting that extra thing to win the game, but they’re not in a bad place.”

“We know the type of points we need to make the playoffs but you cannot think like that. Right now, you just have to think game by game, trying to get points, and not doing too much calculation and bringing anxiety.”

 

The Whitecaps face off against an in-form LAFC side at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT. You can catch the match live on TSN1/4 and ESPN+.

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Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps Finally Snap Eight Match Winless Streak with 2-1 Win Against LA Galaxy

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

A Colombian affair!! Deiber Caicedo and Cristian Dajome each scored two great second half goals to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-1 victory over LA Galaxy on Saturday night. Fielding their youngest roster of the season, the Whitecaps ended their rough winless streak with a comeback win. 

Although fans can celebrate the win, there is still a lot to work on. Once again the Whitecaps looked totally disorganized in every aspect of the game. They did not move for passes, they did not close down opposing players, they did not look like they knew what they were supposed to be doing.

Despite all that, they still clawed their way back into the game. It’s an impressive feat and fans can only hope this is the start of more positive results. 

 

Lineups

Vancouver Whitecaps: 4-3-3

LA Galaxy: 4-3-3

Match Stats

Scoring Summary

5′ – LA – Rayan Raveloson (assisted by VĂ­ctor Vazquez)

48′ – VAN – Deiber Caicedo

77′ – VAN – Cristian Dajome (assisted by Brian White)

Statistics

Possession: VAN 49.8% – LA 50.2%

Shots: VAN 11 – LA 9

Shots on Goal: VAN 4 – LA 2

Saves: VAN 1 – LA 2

Fouls: VAN 11 – LA 8

Offsides: VAN 5 – LA 2

Corners: VAN 4 – LA 1

Cautions

62′ – LA – Derrick Williams (Yellow)

69′ – VAN – Michael Baldisimo (Yellow)

Match Report

“I’ve been very impressed with the environment in the locker room in a very difficult moment,” Whitecaps head coach Marc Dos Santos said after the win. “It’s hard to be in our situation, being 8 games without winning, it’s difficult and very easy for stories to come out, for guys to be crying, so I’ve been impressed with the mindset”

With the Whitecaps entering the match with their ninth straight winless match staring them in the face, the odds were certainly stacked against them. Unfortunately for them, the first half made it seem like they were going to add to that streak.

It was a frustrating start for the Whitecaps as they conceded EARLY once again. Former Toronto midfielder, Victor Vazquez, found space as he delivered a well placed ball to the penalty area for an open Rayan Raveloson. The Whitecaps have now let in the first goal in 11 out of their 13 matches this season. 

The rest of the first half was all about the Galaxy as they chased their second goal of the game. The Whitecaps had a couple chances but nothing really to make note of unfortunately. The team looked uninspired and nothing seemed to be meshing.

This has been the case every single time the Whitecaps have had a long break for the past three years. What exactly are they doing with that time? They come back even more disjointed than normal. The Galaxy finished an absolutely brutal first half up 1-0.

“We’re trying to figure it out,” Dos Santos said of his team’s first-half struggles.

“We have to find solutions.”

While the Whitecaps seem to like to start off slow, they also like to turn it on after the break. Then seemingly out of nowhere, Deiber Ceicedo had the equalizer early on in the 48th minute. Javain Brown sent a dangerous cross into the box, but despite a decent stop from the Galaxy keeper, the ball went up in the air, and right to the boot the Caicedo. The young Colombian cashed in with a slick volley to make it 1-1. 

Not much happened for either team after the equalizer but the Whitecaps did have a little pep in their step.

It was the momentum boost the Whitecaps needed to continue to fight for the win. The team continued to press and cause problems for the Galaxy. This sudden burst would eventually pay off in the 77th minute thanks to some great play from Dajome and White. 

After some fantastic interplay between Dajome and White, White would find Dajome near the penalty spot. The Colombian came through with a nice cut back, and would make no mistake with his chance, blasting the ball over Bond into the net to secure the lead. 

With the goal, Dajome is cementing himself as the team leading scorer with five goals on the season. Ironic that our DP striker has less goals than one of our wingers, but I digress.

The Whitecaps would hold on for the rest of the match and swarm the Galaxy every time they had the ball. They looked like a different animal than previous matches. After having thrown away points in the late stages of games as of late, it was nice to see them finally hold onto a lead.

MDS summed the ending of the match perfectly,

“If you had many car accidents, you’d probably be afraid of being in a car,” Dos Santos said. “We’ve had moments where we conceded late, so of course we’re trying to manage this injury-time not conceding.”

Post Match Thoughts

It’s hard to know what to think of the match overall. Even though the Whitecaps got the win in the end, they started off the match worse than they have in a long while. Most matches have been rough to watch, but even with the extended break, nothing much had changed. 

Then again, the second half Whitecaps were a completely different kind of beast. They gave up almost nothing defensively and put up almost a full expected goal more than their opponents. If they did that every half they played, then they would easily be a playoff team. That is a fact. The potential is there, but there is still so much the team needs to work on. 

Now it’s time to focus on the next match. The Whitecaps turn their attention to a clash with the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday. With little to no rest before then, the Whitecaps need to find a way to keep this momentum going.

With this in mind, there was a wholesome moment with the team at halftime with MDS.

“You have guys that have never seen Vancouver,” Dos Santos said. “Who don’t have a clue what it is to play in a packed BC Place, so we shared with the group what awaits us.”

Whitecaps FC will look to keep the momentum going on Tuesday. They host Houston Dynamo FC at Rio Tinto Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. PT, live on TSN and ESPN+

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Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps Fall Deeper After Suffering 0-4 Loss To Real Salt Lake

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

After giving myself 36 hours to think about the match, I can finally dive right into it. The Whitecaps let in another extra-time goal but for some reason it did not sting as much as the previous four. They gave up a goal in the first and last minutes of the game as Real Salt Lake took control early. It was almost poetic. 

With one win in nine matches, the Whitecaps were hoping to build off of the little momentum of back-to-back road draws against the Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas. Unfortunately for the Whitecaps, it just did not happen. It’s not like they played terrible, they just did not look like a team. There appeared to be a plan set by Marc dos Santos, but no one seemed to be on the same page. The result showed that. 

Lineups

Vancouver Whitecaps: 4-3-3

Real Salt Lake: 

Match Details

Scoring Summary

1’ – RSL – Damir Kreilach (assisted by Aaron Herrera)

57’ – RSL – Damir Kreilach (assisted by Justin Meram)

74’ – RSL – Albert Rusnak (penalty kick)

90’+4 – RSL – Anderson Julio

Statistics

Possession: VAN 55.2 – RSL 44.8

Shots: VAN 10 – RSL 18

Shots on Goal: VAN 2 – RSL 8

Saves: VAN 4 – RSL 2

Fouls: VAN 7 – RSL 9

Offsides: VAN 0 – RSL 0

Corners: VAN 5 – RSL 4

Cautions

24’ – RSL – Pablo Ruiz (yellow)

81’ – RSL – Donny Toia (yellow)

 

Match Report

“We don’t deserve to have nine points, but we don’t deserve to have 16 points either. Maybe we deserve to have 12 or 13 points, so nine is heavy on us,” he said. “It’s a very difficult scenario we’re in. We have to find solutions, and we will for sure.

Image via Lucas Muller

The Whitecaps are officially on an eight match winless streak or only have one win in ten matches. Whichever way you spin it, it is not looking good for the Whitecaps. They cement themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference but now find themselves in a three team race for the bottom of the entire league. The only teams below them are Inter Miami and fellow countrymen, Toronto FC. Coach Marc dos Santos seems to think we deserve a better fate, but I’m not so sure on that one. 

To start things off, RSL got going early after a nice ball in behind the backline. Justin Meram did well to flick the ball to Damir Kreilach. From there the RSL #8 did well to get a toe to the shot, which deflected off of Erik Godoy and over Thomas Hasal to open the scoring for the visitors.

It was a tough blow to concede so early especially for Hasal who has not started since his injury last year. What a way to go in your first start, with a howler
 To be fair the defense did not do him justice as Godoy did not track back quick enough. You have to play a bit tighter with a player like Kreilach.

The rest of the first half was fairly uneventful despite a couple chances for both teams. The Whitecaps did a good job at holding possession, 55%,  and controlling the game for the most part. They were hoping to build momentum going into the break. They just needed to generate chances. 

Like most of the season, the Whitecaps went into the second half with a bit of fire under their asses. Brian White and Cristian Dajome had a couple of excellent chances but they just could not capitalize. These missing chances would prove to haunt them as RSL came knocking soon after. 

After a great stop from Hasal, RSL winger Justin Meram whipped in a wonderful ball into the box for an unmarked Kreilach who headed it right into the back of the net. Netting himself a brace in the process. Another defensive relapse where the player loses his man. This seems to be a trend as of late


After being down two goals in the second you would think most teams would be down and out. Especially against a solid defensive team like RSL. After some good saves from Hasal, it seemed as though the young keeper could help this team build some momentum for a comeback. 

Whitecaps came at RSL with a couple of incredibly close chances thanks to efforts from Deiber Caicedo and Brian White again. Caicedo helped set up both chances but White could not get the ball in the net. Despite having a 1v1 with the keeper. This is not the first time White has botched a couple chances. This is someone the FO paid $400k for by the way. 

Not taking your chances proves costly for the Whitecaps. RSL would once again punish them for their lack of cutting edge. Once again, it would be Meram, with the veteran doing well to win a penalty in the 73rd minute. Giving his team a chance for a third and the game ending goal. RSL DP Albert Rusnak stepped up to the spot, and he made no mistake with his effort, putting it past Hasal into the corner.

While it was a good penalty by Rusnak, I have to commend Hasal for having good awareness and positioning as he was almost able to get a hand on it. The young Canadian has potential, he just needs a little bit more time to grow. 

Not much happened for either team for the rest of the match. The next bit of action did not happen until the dying minutes of the game. After coming on as a substitute, Anderson Julio scores an absolute rocket in the 94th minute giving the fans a memorable victory.

Post Match Thoughts

I can’t say I am too happy about this loss. The last few matches have hurt a bit but this just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The Whitecaps have extended their winless streak to eight games now and are just one away from tying the clubs previous record of nine. I understand that without two of our main starters it would be a tough match but I did not expect this. 

There is something to be said about our Canadian neighbor Toronto FC though. I’m sure fans and neutrals alike don’t forget that they recently fired their coach after such a poor start of the season. It’s safe to guess that something like this for Marc dos Santos is in the minds of fans everywhere. We were all a bit surprised when Sportstalkonline’s Joshua Griffith asked point-blank if he thought he was the man to coach this team. 

Naturally he responded with: 

“One hundred per cent, yes. But it’s a question to ask somebody else.”

 

The Whitecaps have ten days to prepare for the next match thanks to the Gold Cup. They have two more games scheduled at Rio Tinto before hitting the road for the next three. With restrictions lightening up, and Toronto and Montreal announcing their returns to Canada, one of the biggest factors working against the Caps may be removed. 

Let’s hope this prospect of going home helps build momentum going forward. If not, I fear what could happen to the team otherwise. 

“First thing it’s gonna take for us (to turn it around) is to go back home. I think that’s such an important factor, and it’s been very hard on all of us to be here. That’s the No. 1 thing,” said Dos Santos. “It’s a big factor always playing away, but one thing is playing away. There’s no doubt that we have to make sure that we go back to Vancouver as fast as possible.”

“I’m gonna have to be creative, I’m gonna have to find solutions. And I’m gonna have to think about that very well but I’m incredibly motivated to prepare for the next game.”

 

The Whitecaps now enter a 10-day break between matches before another Western Conference contest against LA Galaxy on Saturday, July 17 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Kickoff  is set for 7 p.m. PT. You can catch the match live on TSN1/4 and ESPN+.

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Image via Vancouver Whitecaps Twitter
Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps Concede Late Yet Again to Earn a 2-2 Draw Against FC Dallas

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

Heading into a bottom of the table battle on Sunday night, it was important that the Whitecaps get literally anything from this match. They needed a way to stop from being even further down in the Western Conference standings. Which is hard considering they are at the bottom right now. 

Dallas has never been too kind to Vancouver as the Whitecaps have only picked up one win in the last 10 matches. History was not on the Whitecaps’ side heading into this one. 

After 90 minutes and eight minutes of extra time (MY GOD), the Whitecaps left Texas with a single point. Although it was a 2-2 draw, that felt like a loss after giving up their fourth stoppage time goal in four matches. Throwing away a half time lead that had seen Lucas Cavallini cancel out Ricardo Pepi’s opener and Andy Rose sending them into the break up by one. 

This seems to be becoming a trend for the Whitecaps as of late and I am not here for it. Their season is far from over, but it’s starting to hang in the balance here. Lost points, like the ones they saw slip away from them in this game, have played a huge role in that.

Lineups

Vancouver Whitecaps: 4-3-3

FC Dallas: 4-2-3-1

Match Details

Scoring Summary

22′ – DAL – Ricardo Pepi (assisted by JesĂșs Ferreira)

30′ – VAN – Lucas Cavallini (assisted by Cristian DĂĄjome)

45’+2 – VAN – Andy Rose (assisted by DĂ©iber Caicedo)

90’+4 – DAL – Ranko Veselinović (own goal)

Statistics

Possession: DAL 57.3 – VAN 42.7

Shots: DAL 17 – VAN 5

Shots on Goal: DAL 8 – VAN 2

Saves: DAL 0 – VAN 7

Fouls: DAL 11 – VAN 11

Offsides: DAL 0 – VAN 1

Corners: DAL 7 – VAN 5

Cautions

18′ – DAL – JĂĄder Obrian (yellow)

45’+3 – VAN – Lucas Cavallini (yellow)

67′ – DAL – Bryan Acosta (yellow)

72′ – VAN – Caio Alexandre (yellow)

’90’+1 – VAN – Patrick Metcalfe (yellow)

90’+5 – VAN – Jake Nerwinski (yellow)

 

Match Report

“I understand exactly where we are. I don’t want to give a rallying call or anything like that, but I hope the people see that and choose to stick with us. We need to become more consistent. In these last few weeks going up against good teams away from home, I think we’ve shown a lot of really encouraging passages of play. I think we’re getting really comfortable in this 4-3-3. There’s a real identity forming.” 

To start off the match, Marc Dos Santos only made one single change in the lineup for this one. Javain Brown coming back in at right back, with Janio Bikel moving back into the midfield, and Michael Baldisimo dropping out with an injury.

FC Dallas getting an early boost from their home fans really helped them settle into the match right away. Having started strong, Dallas’ Ricardo Pepi, managed first to pick up an excellent left-footed chance after a good pass, before getting a shot off the rebound after a Crepeau save. Then, despite the second point-blank chance, Crepeau’s heroics kept the game at 0-0 early on. 

It took only ten minutes for them to get the breakthrough and it was the young American, Pepi, who did the damage. After running between the two Whitecaps centre backs, he headed home a powerful Jesus Ferreira cross in the 23rd minute. Crepeau got a hand to it, and perhaps could have got a stronger one on it, but it was 1-0 Dallas.

While it was a frustrating goal to see, you have to commend the Whitecaps’ ability to fight right back. Many feared the worst but the Whitecaps made sure to end those fears moments later. 

Miraculously in the 30th minute, Cristian Dajome broke up the right, sending a low ball into the box that a Dallas defender failed to clear. The ball broke to Cavallini, who took a nice sideways touch to make room and fire home past Dallas keeper Jimmy Maurer to level the match and score Vancouver’s first, first half goal of the season. It’s taken them a while but I will take it.

That looked to be the last of the first half action as the game’s one minute of stoppage time came and nearly went. Suddenly, again from nowhere, from another Dallas defensive error, the Whitecaps found themselves in a shock lead. 

The Whitecaps found themselves a way to claw the game back in their favor. Deiber Caicedo stepped up to take a corner right at the 45th minute. He delivered in a beautiful cross finding Andy Rose for a towering header to give the Whitecaps a 2-1 lead heading into the break!

Going into the half with confidence, it felt as though the Whitecaps could pull through and snap out of this winless funk. A funk lasting 6 games might I add. But FC Dallas did not give in without a fight. Being down at the break sprung some life into the home team and they laid siege on the Whitecaps defenders. 

Unsurprisingly, the Whitecaps were having trouble getting out of their half and were unable to create anything. To be fair, they were also dealing with everything that Dallas was throwing at them. This continued for the rest of the half as the Whitecaps hunkered down and dried to defend their lead. 

The match settled down after a couple of Dallas chances but nothing really came of them. That was all until stoppage time came. After what has happened the last four games, we kind of knew what to expect from the Whitecaps in this situation. 

Dallas continued to push, and with that, the Whitecaps’ lead disappeared, as Dallas found their breakthrough in the 93rd minute. After a dangerous ball in from a wide area, defenders Rose and substitute Ranko Veselinovic crossed their signals at the near post, and the ball bounced off of Vesel and in for the own goal.

This one stung like a wasp. While it seemed as though things were starting to change, it just all came right back. Vancouver will breathe a sigh of relief at not giving up another stoppage time winner. The one goal they did give up will certainly have them leaving Texas with the feeling of two points tossed out the window. 

Questions have to be asked about the laps in judgement in extra time. The fact that there is now a pattern for Whitecaps defenders to just click off during extra time. This should not be happening so frequently. The team almost appears like they don’t want to shoot for that third goal but rather sit back and wait. 

The best form of defense is to attack, but despite MDS wanting this from his players, they just seem unable to get themselves out of these situations. Whether it’s the coaching or the players, something needs to change soon. 

Getting a point out of two tough opponents like Seattle and Dallas may be considered a win for some, but the Dallas draw feels like points lost as opposed to the latter. Every point is crucial at this stage of the season. Things are gearing up and it’s time for teams to step up. 

Some will say the Whitecaps are unbeaten in two, but all I see is one win out of ten matches. They are bottom of the table, six points off a playoff spot, and are still with a #10. So many factors go into this teams’ rough season and it’s a long road ahead. Let’s see if they can get back onto the right track. 

 

The Whitecaps find themselves with a mid-week match-up with Utah neighbors Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium this Wednesday, July 7. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT. You can catch the match live on TSN1/4 and ESPN+

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Vancouver Whitecaps

Cascadia Clash Ends in a Surprise Draw

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

It may have only been a draw, but taking a point from the league leaders? This must feel like a major win for the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

The Whitecaps took on league leaders and Cascadia rivals, the Seattle Sounders. Heading into the match the Sounders were undefeated and the Whitecaps were on a 5 match losing streak. All the odds were stacked up against the Whitecaps. 

Against the Sounders, a team that they haven’t beaten since 2017, it felt like anything but a loss would be seen as positive for a team that was quickly fading after a bright start. 

Lineups

Vancouver Whitecaps: 4-3-3

Seattle Sounders: 5-3-2

Match Details

Scoring Summary

40′ – SEA – RaĂșl RuidĂ­az (assisted by Brad Smith)

49′ – VAN – Cristian DĂĄjome (assisted by Caio Alexandre)

56′ – VAN – Lucas Cavallini (assisted by Cristian DĂĄjome)

71′ – SEA – Jimmy Medranda (assisted by Fredy Montero)

Statistics

Possession: SEA 61.6 – VAN 38.4

Shots: SEA 19 – VAN 11

Shots on Goal: SEA 5 – VAN 4

Saves: SEA 2 – VAN 3

Fouls: SEA 9 – VAN 13

Offsides: SEA 0 – VAN 2

Corners: SEA 2 – VAN 1

Cautions

22′ – VAN – Lucas Cavallini (yellow)

45’+4 – VAN – Caio Alexandre (yellow)

89′ – VAN – Maxime CrĂ©peau (yellow)

 

Match Report

“There’s two things that we addressed the last two days,” “It’s the why of coming out and sometimes lacking little things to dictate the game, and we also spoke about making big plays at the end of games.”

Image via Vancouver Whitecaps Twitter

It was that execution and determination that were most important for the Whitecaps. While it may not have been pretty, they fought hard and climbed their way back for the draw. This is not something that can be said for most of this 2021 season. 

Cristian DĂĄjome and Lucas Cavallini scored the goals for the Whitecaps they finally snapped a five-match losing streak. The first 45 minutes saw Vancouver and Seattle evenly matched. The Whitecaps came at the league leaders hard from the get go and did not make it easy. Again, something we really haven’t really seen much of this season.

Despite a strong showing to start the half, the Sounders opened up the scoring thanks to Golden Boot candidate, Raul Ruidiaz. The Peruvian nets it home to make 0-1 for the league leaders. 

The goal resulted from a poor giveaway in the midfield and some questionable positioning by goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.

The Whitecaps came out just as strong and surprisingly found a bit of life in the second half. Despite being down, away from “home”, AND against the team at the top of the league standings, they fought their way back into the game.

Vancouver found their opening goal in the 46th minute after a beautiful through ball from Alexandre to DĂĄjome. After making an incredible run behind the defense, DĂĄjome slips the ball around the keeper for an easy shot right on goal. This goal could not have come at a better time just as momentum was building.

Thanks to the momentum picked up after that first goal, the Whitecaps then picked up the lead in the 56th minute.  Dåjome continued his strong 2nd half. After a wonderful ball out wide from Andy Rose, Dajome looked up and whipped in a cross into the box. The cross came and bounced off of striker Lucas Cavallini and in. Truthfully the striker needed a little extra luck as he had to stick out a limb and just hope that the ball would roll in.

There it was, the Whitecaps were leading the league leaders 2-1 on their home turf! They had the chance to get their first win in 8 matches. Against their Cascadia rivals of all teams. No one would have expected that going into this match. Not even Whitecaps fans! 

Seattle had other plans


Immediately after the Whitecaps’ second goal, the Sounders turned it on and then came the onslaught. CrĂ©peau stayed busy in the second half with the Whitecaps holding onto dear life.  With three saves, the Canadian international was able to keep the Sounders off the board. 

It felt like a Sounders goal was inevitable and in the 71st minute, that proved to be the case. Jimmy Medranda found some space at the edge of the box with the ball being placed perfectly for him. After failing to close it down, he was able to settle and slam the ball home through a crowd of bodies to tie up the game for the Sounders.

It felt like a Sounders goal was inevitable and in the 71st minute, that proved to be the case. Jimmy Medranda found some space at the edge of the box with the ball being placed perfectly for him. After failing to close it down, he was able to settle and slam the ball home through a crowd of bodies to tie up the game for the Sounders. 

It was a gut wrenching goal as the Whitecaps dream of taking down the league leaders came crashing down. They sat back inviting pressure, so the goal was almost inevitable, but it still hurt. It is also hard to keep the Sounders down but everyone knows their quality. You never let them grow into the game. 

Surprisingly enough, the Whitecaps managed to hold off a late storm, keeping the match even at two a piece. Even more impressively, they almost scored a late winner! Cristian Gutierrez found Brian White with less than a minute to go, but the new striker’s header fell comfortably into Cleveland’s hands. 

Overall it was a solid showing from the boys. From a strong start, to being a goal down at the break, to coming back and taking points from the league leaders. Everything points to a solid performance. The Whitecaps were able to snap their 5-match losing streak. This will definitely be considered a positive performance all things considered. 

 

The Vancouver Whitecaps are back in action Sunday July 4th, when they visit FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. Catch the game live on TSN 1/3 and ESPN+  starting at 5:30 p.m. PT.

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