Whitecaps Defeat Sounders 3-0 Despite Illness and Call-Ups, Set New Record
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By Kaus Pandey
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Summary:
- The Vancouver Whitecaps extended their unbeaten MLS streak to 11 games on games, reaching a new a club record.
- Jesper Sorensen’s team defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-0 win despite missing nine players and dealing with a squad-wide illness.
- Jeevan Badwal scored his first MLS goal, while Seattle finished the match with just nine men after two red cards.
With a decimated lineup by international call-ups and illness sweeping through the soccer team and disrupting training all week, the Vancouver Whitecaps went against all odds and shut down the Seattle Sounders with a 3-0 win at BC Place.
New Club Record: 11 Unbeaten Games
“I think that the players, what they did today, was exceptional” said head coach Jesper Sorensen.
The result pushed Vancouver’s unbeaten streak in MLS to 11 games, a new club record, as they improved to 10-1-5 on the season.
Just days before kickoff, even playing the game was in doubt. Nine players were already away on international duty when a stomach virus spread through the team following their trip to Mexico City for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
Nearly half of the 75 players and staff on the flight back fell ill, and it wasn’t until Saturday morning, the day before the match, that the team could hold a proper training session.
Ranko Veselinovic: “It Was Tough”
It was tough. Honestly, we didn’t know (Saturday) afternoon whether we were going to have game or no… We all have our routines, and it’s hard to do something when you don’t know what’s going to happen. But we managed to.
Seven starters were officially listed as questionable, and the club had to call up seven Whitecaps FC 2 players on short-term deals to fill out the bench.
Despite the dominant result, Sorensen made it clear he still believed the game shouldn’t have gone ahead.
I would have preferred this game not to be played. I don’t think everything is perfect. I was very concerned about the players’ health.
The Whitecaps weathered a shaky first half and struck in the 40th minute when 19-year-old Jeevan Badwal redirected a pass into the net for his first MLS goal, right in front of a cheering section full of family.
In the second half, two quick red cards reduced Seattle to nine men. Vancouver took full advantage, with Daniel Rios and Damir Kreilach adding goals to seal the win.
Veselinovic said.
Honestly, it’s one of the nicest things this season for us. We found a way.
Up next, the Whitecaps will travel to face the Columbus Crew on Saturday, while the Sounders will gear up for the FIFA Club World Cup the following weekend against Brazil’s Botafogo.
