Emil Gazdov already has plenty of memories of Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 B.C. Place. The one he害羞草研究所檒l add Tuesday is likely to top them all.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper from North Vancouver, B.C., will take the field for Pacific FC as the Canadian Premier League club aims to upset Major League Soccer害羞草研究所檚 Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really cool just being able to play against them, especially at B.C. Place,害羞草研究所� Gazdov said. 害羞草研究所淏ecause as a kid, I would go and watch (Whitecaps) games there. 害羞草研究所� So being able to play there and against them in my home city is really cool.害羞草研究所�
The six-foot-five netminder has faced the 害羞草研究所楥aps before, including during the first leg of the two-game aggregate semifinal in Langford, B.C., back on July 10.
Vancouver ultimately took a 1-0 decision in that game, but Gazdov drew praise for a four-save performance that included a highlight-reel-worthy stop on 害羞草研究所楥aps sniper Brian White in the 49th minute.
The American striker sent a blistering header in from the top of the six-yard box, only to see Gazdov dive sideways and poke the ball out of harm害羞草研究所檚 way. White responded with disbelief, simply shaking his head.
On the Pacific bench, goalkeeper Trevor Stiles could barely contain his glee.
害羞草研究所淚 was giddy. I had a big giddy smile,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ecause I know that害羞草研究所檚 Emil. I know that害羞草研究所檚 what Emil can be on a regular basis.
害羞草研究所淎nd I know a lot of people see that in Emil, but for him to showcase that in the Canadian Championship against the Whitecaps? Big players come out in big moments, right? And for me, that害羞草研究所檚 showing to himself, to our club, to other clubs, MLS clubs, that this guy害羞草研究所檚 the real deal.害羞草研究所�
Part of what impressed Stiles about the save was Gazdov害羞草研究所檚 non-reaction. It害羞草研究所檚 taken the young 害羞草研究所榢eeper a lot of work to get to a place where he can make an incredible save and act as if nothing happened, the coach said.
And reaching that level of focus and control shows Gazdov is on track to achieve big things.
害羞草研究所淚 truly feel he can be someone that could be Canada害羞草研究所檚 No. 1 for years to come, he can find himself playing in a top league in the top four or five countries, in those leagues,害羞草研究所� Stiles said.
害羞草研究所淎nd as well, he害羞草研究所檚 a big, nice, happy young man. Sometimes a kid, but we害羞草研究所檒l call him a young man. Someone you want to see do well and hit those markers, hit those goals and make those achievements happen.害羞草研究所�
Gazdov came up through the Whitecaps害羞草研究所� academy system where he worked alongside some of the players he害羞草研究所檇 idolized growing up, including Danish 害羞草研究所榢eeper David Ousted.
害羞草研究所淚 remember my first week there, I was working out in the gym 害羞草研究所� and I was working out right next to him,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t was a pretty critical moment for me, just to watch this guy on the field growing up, and now I害羞草研究所檓 in the same club, in the same gym, working out next to him.害羞草研究所�
Gazdov signed his first professional contract with Pacific as a 17-year-old back in June 2020, then went out on loan to FC Nurnberg in Germany in October of the same year.
The netminder returned to Vancouver Island in 2022 and took over the club害羞草研究所檚 No. 1 spot to start the 2023 campaign, backstopping the team to a 11-10-7 regular-season record and an appearance in the CPL playoff semifinals.
The 2024 season has held mixed results for Pacific, who are 5-9-5 in league play and mired in a six-game (0-5-1) winless skid after dropping a 1-0 road decision to Cavalry FC on Saturday.
While the CPL side heads into Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 semifinal as the underdogs, Gazdov takes a lot of confidence from his personal performance in the first leg.
害羞草研究所淥bviously, I know in myself, I believe I can be at that level and play,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut then to be able to actually show it, for me that was really nice.害羞草研究所�
Another young B.C. 害羞草研究所榢eeper will feature in Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 game, too, with Isaac Boehmer getting the start for Vancouver.
The 22-year-old from Penticton, B.C., came up through the Whitecaps害羞草研究所� academy with Gazdov.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e taken different paths but, look at that 害羞草研究所� we害羞草研究所檙e playing against each other again,害羞草研究所� Boehmer said. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 always exciting.害羞草研究所�
Vancouver boasts an 11-8-5 record in MLS play this season but hasn害羞草研究所檛 seen game action since Aug. 7 when they were ousted from the Leagues Cup with a 2-0 loss to Mexican side Pumas UNAM.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 always strange when in the middle of the season, you have to do this long break. But it happens,害羞草研究所� Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini said of the layoff.
害羞草研究所淲e tried to do two different things: give some rest at the beginning, and then train a lot, push, push, push, and work on the way that we want to do things for the next 10 games in MLS, and then the Canadian Championship.害羞草研究所�
Boehmer won害羞草研究所檛 have much rust to shake off after playing for MLS Next Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 during the break.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e full of confidence going into the second leg. Team害羞草研究所檚 prepared, we害羞草研究所檙e ready to rock 害羞草研究所榥害羞草研究所� roll,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淵eah, we害羞草研究所檙e 1-0 up. But that doesn害羞草研究所檛 really matter anymore. We just want to focus, play a good game and get through to the next round.害羞草研究所�
READ ALSO:
