Ali Ahmed wasn91裸聊视频檛 about to let distance and time zones keep him from cheering for his teammates.
While the 23-year-old wingback spent the past several weeks with the Canadian men91裸聊视频檚 soccer team at the Copa America, the Vancouver Whitecaps were never far from his mind.
91裸聊视频淚 was on the East Coast sometimes, so (I was) staying up, just watching the games, seeing the guys fight and stay together,91裸聊视频� Ahmed said.
What he saw was a Whitecaps (10-7-5) team in solid form. Vancouver is unbeaten in its last five games across all competitions (4-0-1), including a 1-0 victory over Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal last week.
The club will look to extend the streak Wednesday when it hosts Sporting Kansas City (6-13-5) in Major Soccer League action.
The two sides have already faced off once this season, with the 91裸聊视频楥aps taking a 2-1 road win back on May 29.
Vancouver got off to a poor start in that game before buckling down defensively, said Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld.
91裸聊视频淚 think we were strong defensively,91裸聊视频� said the attacking midfielder, who scored twice against SKC. 91裸聊视频淚 think we91裸聊视频檙e going to need to be like that tomorrow against a good team that91裸聊视频檚 started picking up results.91裸聊视频�
Head coach Vanni Sartini will have options when it comes to selecting his starters on Wednesday. After weeks of juggling a limited roster, Ahmed and Andres Cubas have returned from international duty, while other players, including Sam Adekugbe, are back from injury.
Sartini said he91裸聊视频檒l make good use of all the bodies in Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 two final MLS games before the Leagues Cup break.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 beautiful because we know we have to push those last two games before the break,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚f we do two good results, that could change the outlook of the season, to be honest.91裸聊视频�
Injuries have plagued Adekugbe this season, but after recovering from a calf strain, the 29-year-old Canadian defender came off the bench in the Whitecaps91裸聊视频� 4-1 rout of St. Louis City in Missouri on Saturday.
Re-adding Adekugbe to the roster is a huge boon for the 91裸聊视频楥aps, Sartini said, calling the left-footed fullback one of the best players in the league at his position.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 powerful, technical, can defend,91裸聊视频� the coach said. 91裸聊视频淪o when he91裸聊视频檚 back 100 per cent, he can help a lot.91裸聊视频�
Watching games instead of playing hasn91裸聊视频檛 been ideal, Adekugbe said, but he91裸聊视频檚 had an opportunity to see his team from a different perspective. During the recent run, the biggest difference has been how the 91裸聊视频楥aps have persevered, he added.
91裸聊视频淚 think we91裸聊视频檙e just a little bit more resilient. I think there91裸聊视频檚 been times in the season where things haven91裸聊视频檛 gone well and we91裸聊视频檝e struggled to stay in the game,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 think that comes with experience.91裸聊视频�
Adekugbe also watched the Canadian men91裸聊视频檚 national team91裸聊视频檚 run at Copa America, albeit with mixed feelings. If not for the calf strain, he likely would have been part of the squad playing 91裸聊视频� and impressing 91裸聊视频� at the tournament.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not going to lie, I was obviously a little bit jealous. It was obviously unfortunate timing with the injury,91裸聊视频� he said.
Canada91裸聊视频檚 fourth-place performance at Copa America bodes well for the 2026 World Cup, Adekugbe added.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 a sign of things to come,91裸聊视频� he said.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY (6-13-5) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (10-7-5)
Saturday, BC Place
INS AND OUTS: Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon remains out of the lineup with a groin injury.
HISTORY BOOKS: Sporting Kansas City holds a 12-7-5 edge in regular-season meetings between the two clubs. The 91裸聊视频楥aps have been solid at BC Place, though, going 2-0-1 in their last three home meetings against SKC.
STILL WHITE HOT: Vancouver striker Brian White scored twice against St. Louis on Saturday and earned a spot on the league91裸聊视频檚 Team of the Matchday. The 28-year-old American has seven goals in his last four MLS games. He now sits at 12 tallies for the season, tied for third-most in the league with some prominent names, including superstar Lionel Messi.
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