Vancouver Whitecaps push towards playoffs amid COVID-19 outbreak
The Vancouver Whitecaps' road to the playoffs continues to be a bumpy ride.
A COVID-19 outbreak has left the 'Caps (7-10-6) short-handed for Friday's crucial home matchup against the Houston Dynamo (7-12-4).
Six players have entered Major League Soccer's health and safety protocols, including forward Cristian Dajome, midfielders Caio Alexandre and Andres Cubas, and defenders Marcus Godinho, Florian Jungwirth and Luis Martins.
The club has signed Whitecaps FC 2 striker Simon Becher and wingback Ali Ahmed to short-term MLS agreements to bolster its ranks.
Despite the shortened bench, head coach Vanni Sartini said he was confident heading into Friday's game.
“We've always been very good when we're under pressure,” he said. “And we've always been responding really well, the guys literally gathering together and getting together towards the new objective.
“This is a little bump that we're going to miss some players (on Friday) but the players that will play, they've already played with the team, they've already won games with the team, they've already played in their position. So it's nothing crazy, it's nothing major.”
The COVID outbreak comes during a particularly important stretch for Vancouver.
With 11 regular-season games to go, the Whitecaps sit five points out of a playoff spot. All of the club's remaining games are against Western Conference opponents, making each outing a critical matchup.
“We need the points. There's no other way to say it,” said defender Tristan Blackmon. “You can say it's a must win. I think the games for the rest of the year are must wins.”
Houston is also chasing a playoff spot and sit two points behind Vancouver.
While the 'Caps are coming off a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Nashville SC on Saturday, the Dynamo suffered a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of the Philadelphia Union the same night.
“They may be hungry after the 6-0 loss, but we're very hungry, very motivated,” said Vancouver striker Tosaint Ricketts.
Health and safety protocols aren't the only issue holding some key Whitecaps players back from Friday's game.
Striker Brian White is out after suffering a rib injury in Nashville and Lucas Cavallini, the club's leading scorer, is nursing a quad injury that will likely prevent him from playing a full 90 minutes.
Ricketts will take on a bigger presence in their absence. It's a role the Canadian said he embraces.
“I'm ready,” he said. “Physically, I feel great. Mentally, I'm in a good place. And very confident with the group that we have.”
Various ailments have plagued the 'Caps all season, limiting how often Sartini has been able to put his top players together on the field.
He credits the group's depth with allowing the club to weather the adversity and said Friday will be no different.
“(The game) will be a demonstration again that the team is the leader,” the coach said. “The most important name that we have on the jersey is the one on the front of the jersey, the Vancouver Whitecaps, and not the one behind.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2022.
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.