Nov 3, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld (25) performs the ball within the first half in opposition to the LAFC in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Spherical One match at BC Place. Obligatory Credit score: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Photographs The Portland Timbers will open the Main League Soccer season the identical means they completed 2024, by enjoying host to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Timbers can solely hope the Sunday match goes higher.
The Whitecaps cruised to a 5-0 victory in a Western Convention wild-card recreation on Oct. 23 behind Ryan Gauld’s hat trick.
“We’re actually trying ahead to this recreation,” mentioned Timbers midfielder Diego Chara, who is ready to turn into the primary participant in league historical past to look in 400 regular-season matches for one membership. “Now’s totally different, however on the identical time, I believe the workforce is aware of what occurred up to now and this can be a nice alternative.”
The playoff loss led Timbers star Evander, who completed third in MVP voting with 15 objectives and 19 assists, to tear workforce possession and administration in postgame tweets. That precipitated his departure in a switch to FC Cincinnati final week for $12 million.
The Timbers used about half of that cash to finalize a switch for midfielder David Pereira da Costa from RC Lens (France) because the workforce’s new designated participant.
“I am constructing a workforce right here and a tradition to win,” mentioned Timbers coach Phil Neville, whose membership went 12-11-11 final season. “While you construct one thing and also you need to win, you want everyone on the bus heading in the identical route.”
Regardless of pushing Los Angeles FC to the restrict in a best-of-three first-round playoff sequence, the Whitecaps (13-13-8 in 2024) fired coach Vanni Sartini and changed him with Jesper Sorensen.
Gauld and ahead Brian White, who scored a team-leading 15 objectives in 2024, return to guide the Vancouver assault.
The Whitecaps may have one other large transfer forward, because the workforce is on the market.
“Clearly, that is an enormous factor occurring on the membership, but it surely does not actually have an effect on us in our day-to-day,” Gauld mentioned. “We have nonetheless bought an enormous season forward of us, and, chatting with all the blokes … it is not likely come up in dialog between any of us. We’re all right here simply to be centered on the soccer and ensure that we do our job.”
–Discipline Stage Media
