Resilient Vancouver Whitecaps proceed playoff push amid COVID-19 outbreak

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps’ street to the playoffs continues to be a bumpy trip.

A COVID-19 outbreak has left the ‘Caps (7-10-6) short-handed for Friday’s essential house matchup towards the Houston Dynamo (7-12-4).

The membership has not confirmed which gamers have entered Main League Soccer’s well being and security protocols, however a minimum of six regulars have been lacking from coaching on Thursday, together with ahead Cristian Dajome and midfielder Andres Cubas.

Regardless of the shortened bench, head coach Vanni Sartini mentioned he was assured heading into Friday’s recreation.

“We’ve at all times been superb once we’re below strain,“ he mentioned. ”And we’ve at all times been responding very well, the blokes actually gathering collectively and getting collectively in the direction of the brand new goal.

“This can be a little bump that we’re going to overlook some gamers (on Friday) however the gamers that may play, they’ve already performed with the workforce, they’ve already gained video games with the workforce, they’ve already performed of their place. So it’s nothing loopy, it’s nothing main.”

The COVID outbreak comes throughout a very vital stretch for Vancouver.

With 11 regular-season video games to go, the Whitecaps sit 5 factors out of a playoff spot. All the membership’s remaining video games are towards Western Convention opponents, making every outing a important matchup.

“We’d like the factors. There’s no different method to say it,“ mentioned defender Tristan Blackmon. ”You’ll be able to say it’s a should win. I believe the video games for the remainder of the yr are should wins.“

Houston can be chasing a playoff spot and sit two factors behind Vancouver.

Whereas the ‘Caps are coming off a hard-fought 1-1 draw towards Nashville SC on Saturday, the Dynamo suffered a 6-0 drubbing by the hands of the Philadelphia Union the identical evening.

“They might be hungry after the 6-0 loss, however we’re very hungry, very motivated,“ mentioned Vancouver striker Tosaint Ricketts.

Well being and security protocols aren’t the one situation holding some key Whitecaps gamers again from Friday’s recreation.

Striker Brian White is out after struggling a rib damage in Nashville and Lucas Cavallini, the membership’s main scorer, is nursing a quad damage that may probably stop him from taking part in a full 90 minutes.

Ricketts will tackle a much bigger presence of their absence. It’s a task the Canadian mentioned he embraces.

“I’m prepared,” he mentioned. “Bodily, I really feel nice. Mentally, I’m in a superb place. And really assured with the group that we have now.”

Varied illnesses have plagued the ‘Caps all season, limiting how usually Sartini has been capable of put his prime gamers collectively on the sector.

He credit the group’s depth with permitting the membership to climate the adversity and mentioned Friday will probably be no completely different.

“(The sport) will probably be an indication once more that the workforce is the chief,” the coach mentioned. “A very powerful identify that we have now on the jersey is the one on the entrance of the jersey, the Vancouver Whitecaps, and never the one behind.”

HOUSTON DYNAMO (7-12-4) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (7-10-6)

Friday, B.C. Place

LAST TIME OUT: The 2 sides have already met as soon as this season, with the Dynamo taking a 2-1 determination in Houston again on March 12.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Whitecaps are undefeated at house towards Houston (7-0-3), together with a recreation at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, the place Vancouver performed a part of the 2021 marketing campaign as a result of pandemic border closures.

NEW ADDITION: Vancouver’s latest acquisition, Alessandro Schopf, isn’t anticipated to go well with up for Friday’s recreation. The ‘Caps signed the 28-year-old Austrian central midfielder on Wednesday, and whereas he’s begun coaching with the workforce, he wants extra time to rise up to hurry. Schopf joins the Whitecaps after spending final season with Bundesliga aspect Arminia Bielefeld the place he began in 29 of 33 appearances throughout all competitions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Aug. 4, 2022.

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