VANCOUVER, BC – Onto the next one.
Following back-to-back losses on the road, Vancouver Whitecaps FC are returning to BC Place for four of their next five matches – starting this Saturday against league-leading FC Dallas (tickets: http://ow.ly/4mPkJE).
The friendly confines of BC Place might be just what this team needs right now.
There's no denying the 'Caps are going through a little bit of a "rough patch" at the moment, as Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted said following Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake.
The ‘Caps, who sit ninth in the Western Conference standings with seven points and a 2W-4L-1D record, have now been shut out in three straight matches. That said, they were looking for a positive response following a 4-0 loss to D.C. United, and in many ways, they got one against an RSL side that remain the only unbeaten team in MLS.
According to Opta Sports, Vancouver created 10 chances on Saturday – their second highest total this season – in a very tough place to play.
“We came out and did what we wanted to do and gave them trouble,” said midfielder Andrew Jacobson. “It’s a result we don’t want obviously, but this is something we can build off of.”
This upcoming stretch of matches will give them an opportunity to do just that. It certainly won’t be easy, though. First up are the league-leaders. Then, Sporting Kansas City. And then after a trip to New York City FC, the defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers come to town.
Talk about a stiff test.
If there’s ever a time to see what this team is made of, it might just be over the next month. Certainly, picking up points in these upcoming matches is going to be massively important – not only in the standings but also for the psyche of this team.
But it’s far too early to call them must-wins.
This is a long season. And as we’ve seen in the past, as recently as last year with Portland, it’s not about how you start – it’s about how you finish. Forgive me for the cliché.
“It’s a rough patch right now, but it’s about getting back out,” Ousted said. “It’s about sticking together now and grinding it out. We know with MLS seasons there are going to be rough patches once in a while and it’s about sticking together and pulling through.”
NEXT FIVE MATCHES
Saturday, April 23 vs. FC Dallas: 7:30 p.m. PT at BC Place
Wednesday, April 27 vs. Sporting Kansas City: 7:30 p.m. PT at BC Place
Saturday, April 30 at New York City FC: 1 p.m. PT at Yankee Stadium
Saturday, May 7 vs. Portland Timbers: 2 p.m. PT at BC Place
Wednesday, May 11 vs. Chicago Fire: 7 p.m. PT at BC Place
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! 2016 Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are on sale from $39/month all in. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
