Striker Brian White has chance to make Whitecaps history against his old team
Striker Brian White isn't sure how he will celebrate if he makes Vancouver Whitecaps history by scoring against his old New York Red Bulls team.
White's next goal will be his 44th across all competitions, the most of any Whitecap in the Major League Soccer era.
“I'll see how the moment takes me,” the 28-year-old, who grew up in Flemington, N.J., said as the Whitecaps prepared to face the Red Bulls on Saturday in New Jersey.
“You try not to think about these kinds of things because they kind of take you out of the rhythm. For me, it's about how I can help the team win. That's no different this weekend.”
White, who played his college soccer at Duke, was drafted by the Red Bulls in the first round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He made 47 appearances with the team, scoring 15 goals, before being traded to Vancouver in 2021.
“Every time you leave a team, you kind of want to go back and maybe prove a point,” White said after a Whitecaps practice this week. “For me, it's about (the chance) of doing it in front of friends and family and having that experience with them. Hopefully we can make that happen.”
White is currently tied with Camilo Sanvezzo, a Brazilian who played with Vancouver from 2011-13. He said setting the record would “would mean a lot.”
“When I came into the club I was kind of seen as a backup,” said White, who leads Vancouver this season with four goals in seven MLS games. “Through hard work and through the trust of the coach and the club, I've been able to flourish. I feel mutual love.
“To put my name in the record book means a lot. Hopefully, it's something I can achieve this weekend.”
The Whitecaps beat the Seattle Sounders 2-0 last Saturday to improve to 5-2-1. Vancouver sat second in the Western Conference, two points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy and one ahead of Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids, heading into the weekend.
The Red Bulls are coming off a 2-2 draw with Los Angeles FC last weekend. They began the weekend second in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Inter Miami and three points ahead of FC Cincinnati.
Saturday's match will mark the first meeting between the two sides since May 2019, when White scored once for New York in a 2-2 draw.
Vancouver head coach Vanni Sartini said playing the Red Bulls at home, where they have not lost in three matches this season, will be a test for his club.
“It's going to be a hard game,” said Sartini. “It's really hard to break them down.
“We need to be on our top behaviour. We need to go with no fear.”
Sartini said the Whitecaps will need to keep the ball out wide to beat Red Bulls compact defence.
“It's more play from side to side, be patient with the ball in front of them, find some separation.”
Sartini isn't worried White will feel any extra pressure from the chance to set a record against his old team.
“He's going to be really very excited to play this game,” said the coach. “There is no need to load more of the importance of the game on him.
“He's such a team orientated guy. I know there won't be a problem.”
White said playing for the Whitecaps has allowed his game to mature.
“I have a coach that trusts me, a team that supports me,” he said. “You get better when you play a lot of games.
“I've been blessed to come to Vancouver and have the success we've had.”
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (5-2-1) AT NEW YORK RED BULLS (4-1-4)
Red Bull Arena
REVISITING HISTORY: The Whitecaps scored the most famous victory in their 50-year history just 15 minutes from Red Bull Arena when they defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 to win the NASL championship at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sept. 8, 1979.
PERFECT ON THE ROAD: The Whitecaps will look to improve their road record to 4-0-0. Vancouver holds the best road record in MLS in terms of points percentage since June 24, 2023 (7-3-3, 61.5 per cent). Vancouver is also second with 24 road points in that time span, behind only FC Cincinnati (7-3-4, 25 points).
KEEPING IT CLEAN: The Whitecaps have recorded clean sheets in two of their last three games while outscoring their opponents 7-3. Their 3-1 loss to the Galaxy was sandwiched between a 4-0 defeat of Toronto FC and the 2-0 win over Seattle.
NEW FACE: Vancouver acquired 19-year-old Australian wingback Giuseppe Bovalina via transfer from A-League side Adelaide United. Bovalina started 18 of his 23 appearances across all competitions for Adelaide, scoring once and adding two assists.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.