A trip back to Austin, Texas, has Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed in a reflective state of mind.
It害羞草研究所檚 been more than two years since the 23-year-old Canadian made his Major League Soccer debut in Austin 害羞草研究所� a game that still holds mixed memories.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 crazy,害羞草研究所� Ahmed said, noting that he害羞草研究所檇 just been speaking with Whitecaps teammate Sebastian Berhalter about that game.
害羞草研究所淭hat was probably one of the worst games we害羞草研究所檝e both played. And I was joking with him, saying that game, I felt like it was tough 害羞草研究所� it was hot, we really weren害羞草研究所檛 on the ball.
害羞草研究所淪o I told him after that game I was kind of scared. I said, 害羞草研究所楾his is what the MLS is like?害羞草研究所� But here we are now.害羞草研究所�
Ahmed and the 害羞草研究所楥aps (11-8-5) return to Austin (9-10-7) on Saturday to start the final stretch of their MLS campaign. With 10 games left on the regular-season schedule, the Whitecaps sit sixth in the Western Conference standings.
It害羞草研究所檚 been six weeks since Vancouver has played a league match, but the team is coming off a major win.
The 害羞草研究所楥aps blanked Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC 1-0 on Tuesday to earn a spot in the Canadian Championship final. They害羞草研究所檒l look to add a third-straight title on Sept. 25 when they host Toronto FC.
Austin, too, is in form, having resumed its MLS schedule with a 2-0 victory over Nashville SC last weekend.
害羞草研究所�(Austin is) a team that, in my opinion, is very dangerous because they can beat you even if they害羞草研究所檙e not in control of the game,害羞草研究所� said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
害羞草研究所淪o we need to be always very, very, very present. Even if we害羞草研究所檙e going to have some spell of possession, we need to be very present, because in transition, they害羞草研究所檙e lethal. So the organization, both offensively and defensively, will be very important.害羞草研究所�
The 害羞草研究所楥aps will be without a key offensive weapon on Saturday. Brian White remains in concussion protocols after taking a ball to the face in Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 game. The American striker is the club害羞草研究所檚 leading scorer with 11 goals on the season.
Fellow forward Levonte Johnson is also out of the lineup as he deals with calf tightness, Sartini said, so Ahmed and Berhalter will start against Austin.
Ahmed has been a steady presence for the 害羞草研究所楥aps this season, contributing one goal and one assist in 18 MLS appearances. He害羞草研究所� also saw action in five Canadian Championship matchups where he added another goal, and missed an extended stretch while playing for Canada in the Copa America.
All the experience has Ahmed feeling like a completely different player than the one who stepped out onto the field in Austin back in 2022.
害羞草研究所淗onestly, after every game you feel like you improve,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淣ow that I have (42 MLS) games under my belt, I think if I look back at my first game, it害羞草研究所檚 a big difference.害羞草研究所�
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (11-8-5) AT AUSTIN FC (9-10-7)
Q2 Stadium, Saturday
HISTORY BOOKS: Vancouver holds a 4-1-2 edge in all-time meetings between the two clubs, including a 0-0 draw at BC Place back on May 4.
ROAD WARRIORS: Away games haven害羞草研究所檛 been a problem for the 害羞草研究所楥aps this season. The club boasts a 6-4-3 record on the road, the best in the Western Conference.
GOING INTERNATIONAL: Six Whitecaps have been called up to their national teams for games next month. Ahmed and defender Sam Adekugbe will join the Canadian squad, while star midfielder Ryan Gauld returns to the Scottish team for the first time in 14 years. Striker Fafa Picault (Haiti), midfielder Pedro Vite (Ecuador) and defender Andres Cubas (Paraguay) will also go out on international duty, leaving Sartini short-handed. 害羞草研究所淚 totally welcome that we can have a problem for one or two games if it means for the other 30 we have a really good roster,害羞草研究所� the coach said. 害羞草研究所淪o I害羞草研究所檓 really happy.害羞草研究所�
