Emil Gazdov already has plenty of memories of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 B.C. Place. The one heB次元官网网址檒l add Tuesday is likely to top them all.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper from North Vancouver, B.C., will take the field for Pacific FC as the Canadian Premier League club aims to upset Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really cool just being able to play against them, especially at B.C. Place,B次元官网网址� Gazdov said. B次元官网网址淏ecause as a kid, I would go and watch (Whitecaps) games there. B次元官网网址� So being able to play there and against them in my home city is really cool.B次元官网网址�
The six-foot-five netminder has faced the B次元官网网址楥aps before, including during the first leg of the two-game aggregate semifinal in Langford, B.C., back on July 10.
Vancouver ultimately took a 1-0 decision in that game, but Gazdov drew praise for a four-save performance that included a highlight-reel-worthy stop on B次元官网网址楥aps sniper Brian White in the 49th minute.
The American striker sent a blistering header in from the top of the six-yard box, only to see Gazdov dive sideways and poke the ball out of harmB次元官网网址檚 way. White responded with disbelief, simply shaking his head.
On the Pacific bench, goalkeeper Trevor Stiles could barely contain his glee.
B次元官网网址淚 was giddy. I had a big giddy smile,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ecause I know thatB次元官网网址檚 Emil. I know thatB次元官网网址檚 what Emil can be on a regular basis.
B次元官网网址淎nd I know a lot of people see that in Emil, but for him to showcase that in the Canadian Championship against the Whitecaps? Big players come out in big moments, right? And for me, thatB次元官网网址檚 showing to himself, to our club, to other clubs, MLS clubs, that this guyB次元官网网址檚 the real deal.B次元官网网址�
Part of what impressed Stiles about the save was GazdovB次元官网网址檚 non-reaction. ItB次元官网网址檚 taken the young B次元官网网址榢eeper a lot of work to get to a place where he can make an incredible save and act as if nothing happened, the coach said.
And reaching that level of focus and control shows Gazdov is on track to achieve big things.
B次元官网网址淚 truly feel he can be someone that could be CanadaB次元官网网址檚 No. 1 for years to come, he can find himself playing in a top league in the top four or five countries, in those leagues,B次元官网网址� Stiles said.
B次元官网网址淎nd as well, heB次元官网网址檚 a big, nice, happy young man. Sometimes a kid, but weB次元官网网址檒l call him a young man. Someone you want to see do well and hit those markers, hit those goals and make those achievements happen.B次元官网网址�
Gazdov came up through the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� academy system where he worked alongside some of the players heB次元官网网址檇 idolized growing up, including Danish B次元官网网址榢eeper David Ousted.
B次元官网网址淚 remember my first week there, I was working out in the gym B次元官网网址� and I was working out right next to him,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was a pretty critical moment for me, just to watch this guy on the field growing up, and now IB次元官网网址檓 in the same club, in the same gym, working out next to him.B次元官网网址�
Gazdov signed his first professional contract with Pacific as a 17-year-old back in June 2020, then went out on loan to FC Nurnberg in Germany in October of the same year.
The netminder returned to Vancouver Island in 2022 and took over the clubB次元官网网址檚 No. 1 spot to start the 2023 campaign, backstopping the team to a 11-10-7 regular-season record and an appearance in the CPL playoff semifinals.
The 2024 season has held mixed results for Pacific, who are 5-9-5 in league play and mired in a six-game (0-5-1) winless skid after dropping a 1-0 road decision to Cavalry FC on Saturday.
While the CPL side heads into TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 semifinal as the underdogs, Gazdov takes a lot of confidence from his personal performance in the first leg.
B次元官网网址淥bviously, I know in myself, I believe I can be at that level and play,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut then to be able to actually show it, for me that was really nice.B次元官网网址�
Another young B.C. B次元官网网址榢eeper will feature in TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 game, too, with Isaac Boehmer getting the start for Vancouver.
The 22-year-old from Penticton, B.C., came up through the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� academy with Gazdov.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e taken different paths but, look at that B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e playing against each other again,B次元官网网址� Boehmer said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 always exciting.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver boasts an 11-8-5 record in MLS play this season but hasnB次元官网网址檛 seen game action since Aug. 7 when they were ousted from the Leagues Cup with a 2-0 loss to Mexican side Pumas UNAM.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always strange when in the middle of the season, you have to do this long break. But it happens,B次元官网网址� Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini said of the layoff.
B次元官网网址淲e tried to do two different things: give some rest at the beginning, and then train a lot, push, push, push, and work on the way that we want to do things for the next 10 games in MLS, and then the Canadian Championship.B次元官网网址�
Boehmer wonB次元官网网址檛 have much rust to shake off after playing for MLS Next Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 during the break.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e full of confidence going into the second leg. TeamB次元官网网址檚 prepared, weB次元官网网址檙e ready to rock B次元官网网址榥B次元官网网址� roll,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵eah, weB次元官网网址檙e 1-0 up. But that doesnB次元官网网址檛 really matter anymore. We just want to focus, play a good game and get through to the next round.B次元官网网址�
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