Ali Ahmed wasnB次元官网网址檛 about to let distance and time zones keep him from cheering for his teammates.
While the 23-year-old wingback spent the past several weeks with the Canadian menB次元官网网址檚 soccer team at the Copa America, the Vancouver Whitecaps were never far from his mind.
B次元官网网址淚 was on the East Coast sometimes, so (I was) staying up, just watching the games, seeing the guys fight and stay together,B次元官网网址� Ahmed said.
What he saw was a Whitecaps (10-7-5) team in solid form. Vancouver is unbeaten in its last five games across all competitions (4-0-1), including a 1-0 victory over Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal last week.
The club will look to extend the streak Wednesday when it hosts Sporting Kansas City (6-13-5) in Major Soccer League action.
The two sides have already faced off once this season, with the B次元官网网址楥aps taking a 2-1 road win back on May 29.
Vancouver got off to a poor start in that game before buckling down defensively, said Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld.
B次元官网网址淚 think we were strong defensively,B次元官网网址� said the attacking midfielder, who scored twice against SKC. B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檙e going to need to be like that tomorrow against a good team thatB次元官网网址檚 started picking up results.B次元官网网址�
Head coach Vanni Sartini will have options when it comes to selecting his starters on Wednesday. After weeks of juggling a limited roster, Ahmed and Andres Cubas have returned from international duty, while other players, including Sam Adekugbe, are back from injury.
Sartini said heB次元官网网址檒l make good use of all the bodies in VancouverB次元官网网址檚 two final MLS games before the Leagues Cup break.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 beautiful because we know we have to push those last two games before the break,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f we do two good results, that could change the outlook of the season, to be honest.B次元官网网址�
Injuries have plagued Adekugbe this season, but after recovering from a calf strain, the 29-year-old Canadian defender came off the bench in the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� 4-1 rout of St. Louis City in Missouri on Saturday.
Re-adding Adekugbe to the roster is a huge boon for the B次元官网网址楥aps, Sartini said, calling the left-footed fullback one of the best players in the league at his position.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 powerful, technical, can defend,B次元官网网址� the coach said. B次元官网网址淪o when heB次元官网网址檚 back 100 per cent, he can help a lot.B次元官网网址�
Watching games instead of playing hasnB次元官网网址檛 been ideal, Adekugbe said, but heB次元官网网址檚 had an opportunity to see his team from a different perspective. During the recent run, the biggest difference has been how the B次元官网网址楥aps have persevered, he added.
B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檙e just a little bit more resilient. I think thereB次元官网网址檚 been times in the season where things havenB次元官网网址檛 gone well and weB次元官网网址檝e struggled to stay in the game,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think that comes with experience.B次元官网网址�
Adekugbe also watched the Canadian menB次元官网网址檚 national teamB次元官网网址檚 run at Copa America, albeit with mixed feelings. If not for the calf strain, he likely would have been part of the squad playing B次元官网网址� and impressing B次元官网网址� at the tournament.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to lie, I was obviously a little bit jealous. It was obviously unfortunate timing with the injury,B次元官网网址� he said.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 fourth-place performance at Copa America bodes well for the 2026 World Cup, Adekugbe added.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a sign of things to come,B次元官网网址� he said.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY (6-13-5) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (10-7-5)
Saturday, BC Place
INS AND OUTS: Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon remains out of the lineup with a groin injury.
HISTORY BOOKS: Sporting Kansas City holds a 12-7-5 edge in regular-season meetings between the two clubs. The B次元官网网址楥aps have been solid at BC Place, though, going 2-0-1 in their last three home meetings against SKC.
STILL WHITE HOT: Vancouver striker Brian White scored twice against St. Louis on Saturday and earned a spot on the leagueB次元官网网址檚 Team of the Matchday. The 28-year-old American has seven goals in his last four MLS games. He now sits at 12 tallies for the season, tied for third-most in the league with some prominent names, including superstar Lionel Messi.
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