Vancouver Whitecaps vs St Louis Post Match Reaction: Playoffs here we come! (Technically)

Reaction

To be completely honest, this was probably one of the best games of the season for the Whitecaps and the overall well rounded performance all around the match was great. It never felt like momentum shifted to St Louis. I thought that almost every player in that Starting 11 had a role and played excellent fitting to their role in this match. I also comprehended that the Whitecaps were sensational on the defensive end including the backline being so calm and composed after the shaky and unstable performances we've saw in the recent matches. The backline was just so reliable not risky and just played their style and being very composed while building from the back. I saw multiple examples where Takaoka sees some pressure, and this game more often than not I see him not taking any risks or danger and just send the ball high and up forward usually to Brian White. Speaking of Brian White, his aerial duels were impressive tonight although I believe he struggled a bit when inside the box for the headers as he could've possibly gotten some goals with his head again but the St Louis defenders more so of Parker as he lost some aerial duels inside the area. But in terms of just winning headers that are necessary more so near the center line after a clearance, I thought he was great in that department. He used a header to give him a boost past the defender after successfully sneaking past Yaro. Other than that, St Louis wasn't really giving their full effort or their best possible 11 because they've already completed and clinched the first seed in the Western Conference. So they were resting a possible MVP candidate in Burki but they rotated I believe 5 out of the 11 players compared to their last match against Sporting Kansas City. I just can't be more pleased with this performance as the level of this performance and showing in front of their fans at BC Place and the great movements and understanding of the game and executing the game plan and strategies almost to perfection. I've mentioned this multiple times but this is a potential stepping stone for the remainder of the season although Cubas seems to gpt severely injured on his right shoulder and Vanni even stated that he is highly unlikely to play against Seattle despite that I believe they can still watch some film and improve on what could've been some possible marginal improvements as I believe that this team has shown the potential that they can produce here in this match. One more factor that I thought was sensational and exponential is the way how we responded after two VAR decisions going against us. The Whitecaps had a tackle where it was hugely debatable the referee took a long time looking and checking the monitor but the decision was no penalty that was debatable then Gauld scored a beauty of a goal that was ruled off for offside after also checking the monitor. But after two calls that didn't go your way and you could be up 2-0 but you are still deadlocked with your opponents they came out and regrouped kept their heads up listened to the leaders and continued to focus and there it was only 13 minutes later White with just a clever play all around. So I believe it was resilient and determination being done by this group to keep their heads up and executing the strategies.

Clinched

After this dominating match by the Whitecaps, they've officially clinched a playoff spot. To clarify, it is only the wildcard match and not the automatic playoff zone just yet. This is great news for the Whitecaps but I didn't think it's worth the celebration that it may be. Since this is not a spot that you would want to be in at the end of the season and do you really count the wildcard match as the playoffs? I believe if you lose in the wildcard I wouldn't say you have made the playoffs, and it's going to be a terrible result if Vancouver fails to make the First Round in the playoffs. So at some point, it would probably be beneficial to continue to focus on the remaining matches in the regular season as a automatic playoff position would be crucial and important to not waste fatigue get the full week of recovery and studying from instead the wildcard match would be played on probably October 25th-October 26th where it'll be a Wednesday or Thursday night if they play in the wildcard match. It will be intriguing to see if the Whitecaps can hold on and keep composure to clinch the playoffs against two very tough opponents in the rest of the season. If Vancouver wins on Saturday against Seattle away at Lumen Field and if I believe they would need some results to go there way to qualify as Vancouver is currently on 46 points and 5th place so if they want to clinch a automatic playoff position they will have to first of all get victories and secondly hope and rely on others dropping points to qualify for automatic playoff positions and relieve some pressure away from them if they could've just focus on performance instead of having to worry about the playoffs against LAFC on Decision Day. It is concerning in my opinion, as Seattle away and LAFC as a Decision Day opponent is really difficult and potentially if they lose both games, the Caps still might get in especially when 8th place is 4 points off us a bit of breathing room but it's better to just perform under the spotlights. It is shocking to me now it's really coming back with a little grudge with how we could've dropped points against D.C United and Colorado where I really hoped that we to get the full 3 points instead of only 2 out of 6 in those two matches against below par teams. Despite that, the Caps really stepped their game up and proficiently got through and won this game to give themselves a better position and build from this to Seattle.

Clean Sheet

This is the first time the Whitecaps have gotten a shutout against expansive side St Louis, with this being only the second time the Caps has gotten a clean sheet since May 24th against Pacific. Two clean sheets in 4 months is actually in my opinion unacceptable especially with how good the defence was in the beginning of the season. I have mentioned how well I thought the defence has done in this match. Much more calm and composed, just more trustable and consistent in this match where there weren't many shaky moments or huge giveaways and mistakes instead it was playing out the back with long balls and great creation and creativity from the back. This is a important moment in the season to tighten up in the back. Takaoka didn't have to do much, but he did make a important save in the beginning of the second half to prevent St Louis from going in front. The shutouts will be intriguing to see more often to see what kind of progression can the Whitecaps make into more defensive efforts like this one. A clean sheet that was long called for and it finally came with a package, as this was a essential performance to be top notch on the defensive side. So whenever our defending seems off, this match seems to be a good example to see what we did correctly and to make some adjustments.

Game Recap

St Louis heads into this matchup already clinching top seed as an expansive side, while Vancouver can and will clinch playoff berth in this game.

Parker with a massive giveaway in his own half, Ahmed to Gaulf who tried to play it to the far side but instead it falls for White who was running through and curls it just beyond the far post.

Around this time Brian White got the ball inside the box and tried to switch it to his right foot for a shot but Yaro may have given away a penalty. The crowd certainly believes so. The ref goes take a long look at VAR but decides no penalty was the concluding decision.

Laryea down the left flank, tries to play it in St Louis heads it out and Brown takes a driving shot that was deflected off White and it knocks off a defender and then Gauld with a spectacular effort like a overhead kick. That would've probably been Vancouver's goal of the season, but sadly after a further VAR review it was ruled offside. So unfortunate for Gauld as that would have been his 12th of the MLS campaign

Halftime and this match still somehow stays 0-0.

Beginning of the second half and St Louis City finally with some action as Schopf was neighboured by a lot of pink shirts and after some great pressure Markanich was with the ball and flicks it barely off the ground for Jackson and he shoots in a dangerous area inside the box but Takaoka makes a flexible denial that was probably decisive in this match, the shot admittedly was a bit central but it was still a good stop to prevent St Louis from going on top.

After that critical stop, Vancouver stopped St Louis and Veselinovic with the clearance and unintentionally or intentionally it somehow falls between White and Yaro but Brian White with an very good execution with his head bursting in pace the defenders couldn't catch up and he chips it past Lundt as he came off his line and White breaks the ice for the first goal in the game. Getting his 15th on the season and chasing that golden boot as it'll be a wonderful honour to get the MLS Golden Boot and being the second Vancouver player to win the Golden Boot inside the MLS as Camilo Sanvezzo has won the Golden Boot in 2013. White is two goals behind Bouanga.

A corner swung in by Gauld and Blackmon receives it and Lundt had to make a impressive diving stop to his right as that header was on point.

Gauld wit a original cross in St Louis clears only as far as Adekugbe who dribbles slightly down wide with a lofted ball where White chests down and bursted it with power but Lundt made a great stop on the near post to prevent Vancouver from doubling their lead.

Takaoka with a clearance, Gauld tries to win it over Parker and does get it to White with a soft touch to Vite, around the midway line right now and progresses forward on this opportunity a simple pass to Gauld who swings it wide to Laryea and takes a touch to get it wide of the box tries to cut it back into White who fails to get it as Nerwinski reacted slightly quicker but Whitecaps retain possession. Laryea with a pass to Gauld who passes it edge of the box to Berhalter who finesses it into the corner beated Lundt. Similar to the one he scored against Houston this time on his left foot to have a slight curve on your weaker foot is sensational for me and just struck so nicely. The build up to get there was nice, no excessive just passes and movement.

Here in stoppage time where the game was basically secured, Laryea with a wonderful move to make Lowen fall to the turf and plays it wide Hoilett was the initial one receiving but leaves it for Adekugbe inside the area with a cutback and Laryea with a left footed shot after dribbling more centrally around 14 yards and he scores it with his left.

The final whistle blows, after it seems like there was a possibility of the goal being disallowed but they counted it and the scoreline way in favour of the Whitecaps defeating Western Conference leaders 3-0 at BC Place.