A trip back to Austin, Texas, has Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed in a reflective state of mind.

ItB次元官网网址檚 been more than two years since the 23-year-old Canadian made his Major League Soccer debut in Austin B次元官网网址� a game that still holds mixed memories.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 crazy,B次元官网网址� Ahmed said, noting that heB次元官网网址檇 just been speaking with Whitecaps teammate Sebastian Berhalter about that game.

B次元官网网址淭hat was probably one of the worst games weB次元官网网址檝e both played. And I was joking with him, saying that game, I felt like it was tough B次元官网网址� it was hot, we really werenB次元官网网址檛 on the ball.

B次元官网网址淪o I told him after that game I was kind of scared. I said, B次元官网网址楾his is what the MLS is like?B次元官网网址� But here we are now.B次元官网网址�

Ahmed and the B次元官网网址楥aps (11-8-5) return to Austin (9-10-7) on Saturday to start the final stretch of their MLS campaign. With 10 games left on the regular-season schedule, the Whitecaps sit sixth in the Western Conference standings.

ItB次元官网网址檚 been six weeks since Vancouver has played a league match, but the team is coming off a major win.

The B次元官网网址楥aps blanked Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC 1-0 on Tuesday to earn a spot in the Canadian Championship final. TheyB次元官网网址檒l look to add a third-straight title on Sept. 25 when they host Toronto FC.

Austin, too, is in form, having resumed its MLS schedule with a 2-0 victory over Nashville SC last weekend.

B次元官网网址�(Austin is) a team that, in my opinion, is very dangerous because they can beat you even if theyB次元官网网址檙e not in control of the game,B次元官网网址� said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.

B次元官网网址淪o we need to be always very, very, very present. Even if weB次元官网网址檙e going to have some spell of possession, we need to be very present, because in transition, theyB次元官网网址檙e lethal. So the organization, both offensively and defensively, will be very important.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址楥aps will be without a key offensive weapon on Saturday. Brian White remains in concussion protocols after taking a ball to the face in TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 game. The American striker is the clubB次元官网网址檚 leading scorer with 11 goals on the season.

Fellow forward Levonte Johnson is also out of the lineup as he deals with calf tightness, Sartini said, so Ahmed and Berhalter will start against Austin.

Ahmed has been a steady presence for the B次元官网网址楥aps this season, contributing one goal and one assist in 18 MLS appearances. HeB次元官网网址� also saw action in five Canadian Championship matchups where he added another goal, and missed an extended stretch while playing for Canada in the Copa America.

All the experience has Ahmed feeling like a completely different player than the one who stepped out onto the field in Austin back in 2022.

B次元官网网址淗onestly, after every game you feel like you improve,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣ow that I have (42 MLS) games under my belt, I think if I look back at my first game, itB次元官网网址檚 a big difference.B次元官网网址�

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (11-8-5) AT AUSTIN FC (9-10-7)

Q2 Stadium, Saturday

HISTORY BOOKS: Vancouver holds a 4-1-2 edge in all-time meetings between the two clubs, including a 0-0 draw at BC Place back on May 4.

ROAD WARRIORS: Away games havenB次元官网网址檛 been a problem for the B次元官网网址楥aps this season. The club boasts a 6-4-3 record on the road, the best in the Western Conference.

GOING INTERNATIONAL: Six Whitecaps have been called up to their national teams for games next month. Ahmed and defender Sam Adekugbe will join the Canadian squad, while star midfielder Ryan Gauld returns to the Scottish team for the first time in 14 years. Striker Fafa Picault (Haiti), midfielder Pedro Vite (Ecuador) and defender Andres Cubas (Paraguay) will also go out on international duty, leaving Sartini short-handed. B次元官网网址淚 totally welcome that we can have a problem for one or two games if it means for the other 30 we have a really good roster,B次元官网网址� the coach said. B次元官网网址淪o IB次元官网网址檓 really happy.B次元官网网址�