Sunday night in Mexico City, the Vancouver Whitecaps lost to Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions Cup Final by a score of 5-0.
I’ll be honest, it’s difficult to know exactly what to say in moments like this. After doing so well and showing so much mental strength throughout the rigours of this tournament, the Whitecaps simply had no answers in this match, and it showed in the dominant display by Cruz Azul on the pitch.
I think everyone knew going into this match that Vancouver was going to have a mountain to climb. Whether it be the hostile environment, the lack of Berhalter and Gauld, the fixture congestion, or simply the quality Cruz Azul had to offer, the Whitecaps were always going to be the underdogs. Yet, none of that can fully explain the performance in this final, where Vancouver looked like a shell of the team they have been the entire season.
It started early on, as an uncharacteristic error in possession from Andres Cubas offered Cruz Azul an easy opening goal inside 10 minutes. From there, Jesper Sørensen’s side looked rattled, especially whenever they tried to build some momentum in possession, as they were outnumbered in the midfield and flummoxed by Cruz Azul’s pressing.
Chasing the game the way they were, the home side had Vancouver in a vulnerable position, and another Cubas error led to a second Cruz Azul goal in the 28th minute, an absolute wonder-strike from Lorenzo Faravelli.
Even after going down 2-0, it felt like the Whitecaps had an outside chance to recover, as this is something we have seen this side do many times already this season, albeit in slightly different circumstances. Once again though, the Whitecaps struggled to play basic passes or win contested balls, as composure, technique, and positioning all let the Whitecaps down in the closing stages of the first half.
This continued pressure led to the dagger goal for Cruz Azul in the 37th minute, as the competition’s golden boot winner Ángel Sepúlveda ghosted into the box and received a cross from Carlos Rotondi that put the home side ahead by three goals.
With Vancouver completely demoralized and reeling at this point, former LAFC man Mateusz Bogusz snuck in another goal, a deflected shot, just before the halftime whistle. With that, the match was basically over after 45 minutes of play.
There was very little to say about the second half, other than Cruz Azul managing to secure a fifth goal, Sepúlveda’s second of the night, while the Whitecaps were held without a single meaningful attempt on target, accomplishing a rare 0.00 xG total at fulltime.
This brings me to my biggest takeaway from the match – the demoralizing nature of this defeat.
I think it’s easy enough to accept that sometimes you simply get outplayed, or that the soccer gods are not in your favour. But losing the way the Whitecaps did leaves a feeling worse than the disappointment of defeat. It leaves a feeling of emptiness and disbelief that threatens to discredit the tremendous run the Whitecaps made to arrive at this final, as well as the remarkable football they have been playing in their MLS matches.
That’s a real shame, because I still believe that the Whitecaps are an excellent team, and deserve all the credit they have received for the progress they have made this season. It remains the truth that the Seattle Sounders are the only MLS club that has managed to lift this trophy since 2000.
The question now is this – how the Whitecaps will respond to this challenge? Their biggest aspirations, to win a Supporters Shield and to lift an MLS Cup, are still attainable summits. Vancouver will either be able to use this moment as motivation to help them reach another level, or it could undermine the internal confidence that has been so critical in their performances to date.
I think that when I look at a player like Andres Cubas, I have confidence that this team will be able to bounce back. This was undoubtedly Cubas’ worst night in a Whitecaps shirt, but there’s no player in this squad better suited to recover from that performance and bring his best football the rest of the season.
Simply put, this is a result that the Vancouver Whitecaps will have to live with for a long time, that’s the peril of the big moments. For me, it’s better to have risked falling a step short of greatness than to have never made it there at all.
New take on this: is it possible that Jesper suspected this was going to be a disaster and chose to keep the younger players, the ones who will be called upon in the next few weeks to produce results, perhaps the ones who would be most affected by being an active part of a rout, out of it as much as possible? Not much explains why Tate Johnston got no minutes or Boehmer didn’t come in at halftime or Priso didn’t get a chance; except perhaps, just perhaps, JS was protecting those with less experience and perhaps slightly more fragile confidence levels, knowing that the more experienced players would be able to put one bad match aside but the newer players might struggle for some time afterward.
Joke going around: who had a worse weekend than Vancouver Whitecaps or Inter Milan?
(Wait for it….)
The Russian Air Force!
I remember when Canada played in Mexico City in the 70s. I think they arrived at least a week prior to the match in order to acclimatize. The Caps were bagged, full stop. Thank you MLS. Playing two matches in the week before Cruz was insane.
Here is what Google AI said about preparing for endurance competitions in Mexico City:
Professional athletes should aim for at least 14 days of acclimatization before competing in Mexico City, which sits at an altitude of about 7,500 feet (2,286 meters). Some sources recommend a minimum of 3 weeks and even up to 6 weeks for more extensive acclimatization, especially for endurance events.
Old Soccer Coach
Excellent information!……….Professional athletes should aim for at least 14 days of acclimatization before competing in Mexico City, which sits at an altitude of about 7,500 feet (2,286 meters). Some sources recommend a minimum of 3 weeks and even up to 6 weeks for more extensive acclimatization, especially for endurance events.
CAN SOMEONE GIVE THIS INFO TO ALL PRESS?
So who is to blame the club?…..MLS?……I blame the club and the other MLS clubs for allowing all the dumb rules and idiots who try to run the League!…..
Whitecaps should inform MLS ….that they shall be a NO SHOW against Seattle with up to 8/9 players on International Duty!
I think it’s hard to put too much blame on individuals or tactics. Fixture congestion and elevation to me are the main culprits. The entire team looked like they were fighting for every step and breath. They looked physically and mentally exhausted. It was their 25th game in 101 days. Averaging a game every 4 days for over 3 months, combined with the limited acclimation to elevation, seemed to have finally caught up with them.
If I had to fault one personnel decision though, it would be playing Cubas for 90 mins midweek. That clearly drained his tank and he didn’t recover in time for this one.
It’s hard not to think of the last LAfC playoff game and remember who made an uncharacteristic mistake there – I wonder if he has an issue with clutch games that needs to be addressed. But overall whether Sam or Tate started doesn’t really matter – the performance was so uniformly bad. I blame MLS for refusing to support this team – if Miami had been in the final you can be sure their schedule would have been cleared. And I blame that stupid PK with Sergio Ramos that lost us the ability to host this game. That was not a PK. And ownership for thinking the team could play at this level with one DP when our only other DP has been off the entire season. My heart breaks for the boys and the timing couldn’t be worse given that we will be missing 10 starters against Seattle. At
An awful display sadly, which won’t help the slight buzz in the city getting to the final created amongst Vancouver sports-but-not-soccer fans.
I was the first time I thought Jesper got his team selection and tactics wrong. Yes we badly missed Berhalter, but I thought Priso should have started over Ngando.
Also playing Ahmed on the right and Nelson on the left just did not work from minute one. All the great wide play and crossing we get from Ahmed on the left and Nelson on the right was lost completely. And a high number of crosses has been a huge part of our success under Jesper.
Johnson probably should have started over Adekugbe too, as someone else has said. Sam didn’t show one ounce of what his experience should have shown.
Overall, a night to forget. Quickly.
I would have liked to see Johnson start or be put on right away after the second goal. To me there are 3 players on the Caps who lead by example with their extreme work rate and physical determination and they are Gauld, Berhalter and Johnson. We needed a spark to inspire. I do get why they thought Sam with experience could start then we bring Johnson to run rampant but turns out we needed the run rampant. And yes, Ahmed out left with Nelson or Sabbi right. Johson and Ahmed together would have been a nice combo. Not sure if Priso would have done much. Ngando has played well lately and is a big guy that goes for goal. We really missed Berhalter.
Priso wouldn’t have made any difference. It’s just that One Soccer assh*t who lobbies for him and Nelson because they are ex-TFC guys ftom the GTA.
It looked as if the high quality pitch played a factor. It looked to be hard and fast causing players to slip and not able to hit passes accurately. Some were under hit leading to turnovers while the majority were over hit. We even had trouble controlling these hard passes. Just one of many things the caps couldn’t cope with. And now we lose 5-6 players to international duty. Tough times ahead
The pitch was definitely something they were struggling with. Right away you could see the ball bouncing off it. I think the finals should be held on a neutral ground.
Re the “we lose 5-6 players to international duty…THINK UP TO 8?. ….Ownership should just say NO to Seattle game!!…..after last night…. the MLS credibility is being questioned around the world!….the “Mickey Mouse” rules have to change now!……….Ownership must show some ba–a / DISNEYLAND LEAGUE!
I doubt that anyone “around the world even knew that this match was being played.
There’s no way to know if the outcome would have been similar or not, but changing the starting XI from the group that won the games that got the team to the final to what we saw last night was a mistake. Two players, who only recently returned from injury, were added to the starting XI. Both have only played partial games leading up to this one. It boggles my mind. I keep saying, consistency matters.
I hope the powers who make decisions look at this game and amend the yellow card rule for teams entering the final. MLS should be ashamed for refusing to reschedule the midweek game for Vancouver.
Missing key players, altitude and fatigue – three strikes before setting foot on the pitch. The guys didn’t go out there and decide to play poorly. It was a hard game to watch, but imagine how the players feel.
My heart goes out to every player on the team. They all deserve our encouragement and continued support.
100% right- we are all disappointed and mostly SHOCKED at what happended last night- Cubas making mistakes that gave Club America 2 goals in the first 15 minutes led to an utter collapse of the entire Team (and then he gave them a 3rd off a poor clearance)- SHITE HAPPENS – Andres’ dismay showed in his eyes, but if you have ever played soccer, it happens to us all sometime
BUT look at all the thrills we got leading up to this Final– we cant throw in the towel or we are not really supporters – more than ever, we must all stick together
Salty
Good point about that midweek game. Should have been rescheduled
Trouble is, the Caps are already two games behind the rest of the West in games played, rescheduling another match would make it three and we haven’t even had the inevitable mid-America weather cancellation for lightning or rain or tornado warnings which seems to happen every year, forcing a reschedule that never seems to help. But that’s the logical position. The likely reality is that MLS was hell-bent on limiting their support for the team that KOed Inter Messi-iami and embarrassed them in doing so.
You’re referring to Sam starting over Tate? I’d have done the same btw having an eye on bringing Tate on in the 2nd half. Who’s the 2nd player?
I’m in the minority, but I don’t think Ngando should have started, and I also don’t think experience should be measured only by the number of years any given player has been in the league.
But, hey. I’m not a coach and have never been one. The decision making can’t be easy, and I, of course, don’t see how players are performing during training.
The most frustrating thing I noticed from the get go was how much time was given to the Cruz Azul’s goalie to set up his passes, and it happened over and over. There were few, if any, challenges.
Cruz Azul played exactly the way every pregame article described they would.
One game does not define a team, win or lose.
Gutted for Cubas. The guy has been such a difference maker during his entire time here, and to have this nightmare of a performance happen to him is such a shame. Having said that, too many other key guys came up “small” in this one. Ahmed was particularly disappointing throughout, while Vite an introverted nonfactor. The CBs looked shellshocked. Just awful to watch.
Now we have something in common with Inter Milan!….
.BOTH TEAMS SHALL BOUNCE BACK!
Of all the ways to lose this final, I did not consider Cubas playing his worst game ever as one of the possible outcomes
It’s okay to lose but it’s a shame to not show at least a glimpse of what it is that you can do when you’re on your game.
This was an embarrassment.
Dont like bring the subject up BUT did players have any issues with promised {hopefully} “bonus payment” for final? ………..READING Seattle Sounders players demand fair MLS payout for CWC