Good Monday morning Caps fans, hope you all have a lovely last week of November in store. And, for those of you who were at BC Place on Saturday, I hope your voice has returned.

Saturday’s match was so epic, it almost defies description but because this blog relies on the written word, I will try. Suffice to say, the slugfest between two Western Conference heavyweights is surelt on the short list of best MLS playoff matches ever.

Even when the Caps dominated LAFC in the first half and went 2-0 up, you knew the away side was going to have a response. And when Son Heung-Min’s stunning free kick hit the back of the net to equalize, more than one fan (this one included) thought “not again.”

But this team has an unbelievable mentality. Sure, there was some fortune that LAFC didn’t bury the game in extra time. But most teams with nine men would have folded their tents. Instead, the Caps fought tooth and nail, blocking shots, making clearances, and trying to do everything in their power to make it to penalties. It was an incredible display, one that will surely endear them even further to the partisans in Vancouver but also to neutrals across North America who have not experienced the full Jesper Sorensen experience.

Sorensen could have managed his substitutes a bit better and tried to roll with the punches once Steve Cherundolo changed his formation to try and get something going in the second half. But it is the belief and confidence that he drilled into this team that ultimately pushed them across the finish line. Mathias Laborda, Andres Cubas, Sebastian Berhalter … they all played like men possessed. That doesn’t happen with just any manager and with just any team.

Of all the magic moments this team has produced this season (the win at Pumas, the Philly 7-0), this one is undoubtedly the best. Beating LAFC in a must-win match after years of trying proves that this team is different, even if it doesn’t end with them lifting MLS Cup. It will have aftershocks next year, and beyond. And while it might have come at great cost to the Caps with Tristan Blackmon’s suspect red card and Belal Halbouni’s heartbreaking injury. But there is nothing about Saturday that was a phyrric victory, not in the playoffs. And even though we don’t yet know if Vancouver will host the Western Conference final, the Caps will play with the exact mentality, no matter who takes the field.

Shameless Self Promotion

We tried to sum everything from Saturday night up into a post-match analysis (and I think did a pretty good job!).

Best of the Rest

The BC Place crowd, which will go down as an MLS-era record, deserves credit as well — they were fantastic and created one of the best playoff environments I’ve seen in some time.

Hugo Lloris had some thoughts on BC Place’s turf field. While it might seem a bit like sour grapes, I don’t think this is anything any of us haven’t said before.

Valour FC have suspended operations in the latest blow to the Canadian Premier League.

The Canadian Women’s National Team has rolled out their roster for a pair of friendlies next week.