VANCOUVER, BC – It wasn't a dream.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Ali Ahmed and forward Simon Becher were named to the MLS Team of the Matchday on Monday for their performances against CF Montréal in Matchday 6.
The pair, who became the first two players from the club's MLS NEXT Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 to sign with the first team this past offseason, played key roles as the 'Caps claimed a dominant 5-0 win over their Canadian rivals.
Ahmed recorded his first MLS goal and first MLS assist, while adding a team-high 10 successful duels, a team-high eight tackles won, and won possession back three times in the final third.
Ahmed becomes the third 'Caps player to be named to the MLS Team of the Matchday this season, joining Becher (Matchday 5) and Tristan Blackmon (Matchday 4).
Meanwhile, Becher tallied two goals and an assist, becoming the fastest player in league history to score his first four MLS goals, doing so in just 87 minutes of action.
The native of Brooklyn, Connecticut also tallied a team-high three chances created and a team-high three fouls won. After Saturday, Becher now has five goals as well as an assist in four appearances across all competitions for the first team.
The 'Caps continue their three-match homestand this week with one of their biggest matches of the season, as they host the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals this Wednesday, April 5 against LAFC at BC Place. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT live on OneSoccer, Channel 980 on TELUS, and AM730 radio, with the radio pre-game show starting at 6 p.m. PT.
The stretch concludes on Saturday, April 8 with a Cascadia matchup against Portland Timbers on the club's annual Vaisakhi Night, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT. You can catch the action live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, TSN1, TSN5, and AM730 radio, with the radio pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MLS Season Pass
The 2023 season sees the debut of MLS Season Pass, the unprecedented subscription service from Apple and MLS that will have every match of the regular season, Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, and Leagues Cup – all in one place and with no blackouts. As an exclusive benefit, Whitecaps FC 2023 Season Members will receive a subscription to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as significant savings over single match tickets.
