Over 50 thousand supporters were watching at BC Place Stadium in the 24th minute, when two Vancouver Whitecaps midfielders orchestrated a passing sequence that resulted in a cross at the top of the 18-yard box. The ball flowed smoothly across the air, and the striker vigorously headed the ball past Inter Miami’s goalkeeper. The entire stadium exploded in celebration as the Whitecaps scored. With the first goal going Vancouver’s way, the momentum has shifted towards them, setting in motion a crucial semifinal game in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
As one of the most consistent teams in all of North America, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC have made it to the finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the biggest soccer competition in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Although they were ranked the lowest of the 10 teams competing according to probabilities of winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup from the MLS, I confidently believe that they can win this competition if they continue their momentum.
Despite the low estimation that the MLS gives them to win, the Whitecaps have one of the best records heading into the CONCACAF Champions Cup. With nine wins, four ties, and a single loss in the MLS, the Vancouver Whitecaps have been in command of every single game that they have played. They managed to win their first four games in the league, becoming only the seventh team in MLS history to do so. During their run in the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Whitecaps defeated many teams with soccer legends, including Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos. They are also the only team in the tournament to be unbeaten since the round of 16 started, with two wins and four ties.
Entering this tournament as the underdogs, the Vancouver Whitecaps shocked fans and critics with their performances. After a first game loss against Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa, they bounced back with a victory in their second match, resulting in a 3-2 aggregate, referring to the combined number of goals in their two games. This would set the tone of an incredible campaign ahead for the team.
After the close fought series, the Vancouver Whitecaps went head-to-head against one of the favorites to win this tournament and continued to defy expectations. In the quarterfinals, they played against Mexican team Pumas UNAM, which they had Spanish soccer legend Sergio Ramos. With two ties against the Mexican team, the Vancouver Whitecaps advanced onto the semifinals after accumulating more away goals.
The semifinal matchup between the Whitecaps and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF was even more astonishing than the previous two games. With two impressive outcomes of the games, this gave hope to supporters that they could beat every team in the tournament. In both games, Inter Miami had more possession of the ball, meaning that they had pressured the Whitecaps more often. They also had more shots, but that did not stop the Whitecaps from defeating them and guaranteeing a place in the finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on June 1st, against Mexican soccer club Cruz Azul, in Mexico City.
“We’re close but still far away,” head coach Jesper Sorensen told a news conference. “We’re up against a good team where a lot of stuff can happen.”
Though Cruz Azul and the Vancouver Whitecaps have never played against each other, the Vancouver Whitecaps should win the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
With a brand-new coach at the Vancouver Whitecaps, they have become a completely different team than they used to by constantly winning. Their new coach Jesper Sørensen recently became the first ever coach in MLS history to accumulate 27 points in the standings within his first 12 games in the season. He has also integrated a classic 4-3-3 formation with four defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers, which is different from what the team is used to playing. This has benefited the Vancouver Whitecaps, causing them to create chaos to score many goals, and have a strong defense whenever they play.
With this new system of play style that Sørensen has introduced to the Vancouver Whitecaps, it has given them many tactical advantages. Coach and soccer analyst Rhys Desmond lays out an analysis of what Sørensen is bringing to the team on his blog The Mastermind Site. The factors he identifies, I believe, will be crucial in their specific contest against Cruz Azul.
One advantage he cites is when their opponent’s fullbacks push high up onto the pitch. The Vancouver Whitecaps can exploit the area that is left behind by the defenders and have their rapid wingers and fullbacks to overload it and create chances.
A second advantage is the Vancouver Whitecaps’ high pressing system that Jesper Sørensen has introduced to the team. They press their opponents aggressively in the final third of the pitch in hopes that they will fumble or fold under pressure, giving the ball away to the Whitecaps. I believe that this can be effective against Cruz Azul since they love to keep possession of the ball and play it in their own half while having free roaming midfielders, which can create turnovers in dangerous situations for the Whitecaps.
With Vancouver Whitecaps’ midfield trio consisting of Sebastian Berhalter, Andrés Cubas, and Pedro Vite, they offer control over the ball and a solid defense. Having to watch them play at BC Place Stadium, I am convinced that they can punish Cruz Azul if they are not careful or if they leave open space in their own half of the field. Additionally, when they lose possession of the ball, the Vancouver Whitecaps excel in quick counterattacks, which often leads to goals by attackers like Brian White, Jayden Nelson, Emmanuel Sabbi, and Ali Ahmed.
Lastly, the Vancouver Whitecaps have been a threat in set pieces. Recently in their 3-2 comeback victory against Real Salt Lake, Sebastian Berhalter delivers a corner kick and Brian White converts it with a strong header. Later on in the game, Berhalter crosses in another corner kick which led to a handball, resulting in a penalty where White scores. This game particularly showcases how much of a threat the Vancouver Whitecaps are having the ability to create set-piece opportunities that result in goals.
Including this year’s run, the Vancouver Whitecaps have only qualified for this tournament five times. The furthest they have ever gotten was to the semifinals during the 2016/2017 season where they lost both of their games in an aggregate score of 6-0.
If the Vancouver Whitecaps win the CONCACAF Champions Cup this time around, they will automatically qualify for this year’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029, which happens every four years. In the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, they will get to play against other teams who won their own continental championship and in the FIFA Cup World Cup, they will face off against 32 teams across the world. Qualifying for all these tournaments will put the Vancouver Whitecaps on the map, gaining recognition from the world. It could also expand their fan base, creating joy and excitement for all their fans who watch them play against the world’s best teams.
The Vancouver Whitecaps are one win away from creating history. They have destroyed all their opponents and have defied all odds to reach the final. Now, everything they have worked for comes down to one decisive match that can be remembered forever in the future.
“The job is not even close to being done,” says midfielder Ali Ahmed. “We’re going to have to dig deep”
Cover Image: whitecapsfc on Instagram
8forty.ca 
0 comments on “This is why a Canadian soccer team will win the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time ”