Vanni Sartini says he has hope as Vancouver Whitecaps look to end their recent losing run against Portland Timbers in the MLS playoffs Western Conference Wild Card match.
The Whitecaps finished eighth in the table, only above Wednesday's opponents having secured more wins, but due to scheduling conflicts, will not have home advantage for this tie.
It is a disappointment to the club, who failed to win any of their last seven matches in the regular season, losing their last four on the bounce.
However, Sartini took heart from their playoff qualification and is confident his team can get back to winning ways in a game with so much resting on it.
"We need to be honest with each other," he told reporters. "We were honest when we had bad performances against Minnesota and Seattle, but the performances in the last two games were good.
"There were some moments [against Real Salt Lake] that make me really optimistic for Wednesday.
"Everything is not black now. It's a playoff game, everybody's happy to be in the playoffs, we're not moody. It will be a good game to turn up and play a good game against them."
Portland also slumped over the line at the end of the regular season, failing to win any of their last five, and failed to snatch a win at 10-man Seattle Sounders in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
They have not won at Providence Park since mid-September, and head coach Phil Neville is looking for improvements among his front line to get the better of their rivals.
"The front six, four in particular, have to do better for us," he said. "It falls on all of them to get us through the playoffs.
"Their effort is unbelievable, as is the concentration and discipline, but we need them to deliver in these big moments.
"Our forwards have been phenomenal this season, but they've got the challenge of working around the pressure, and the big players always step up, and we believe that ours can."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vancouver Whitecaps – Isaac Boehmer
The Whitecaps lost their final four matches of the regular season and will be the first team in MLS history to enter the playoffs on a four-match outright losing streak.
In that run, Isaac Boehmer conceded eight goals and scored an own goal that turned out to be the winner against Real Salt Lake last time out. He will be keen to put things right when they face Portland on Wednesday.
Portland Timbers – Evander
Evander recorded an assist on Portland's lone goal in their season finale, his 18th of the season to go along with 15 goals.
Evander's 18 assists and 33 goal contributions are both Timbers single-season club records, surpassing Diego Valeri’s assist total from 2019 (16) and goal contribution total from 2017 (32).
MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN
This will be the second MLS playoff tie between Portland and Vancouver after the Timbers defeated the Whitecaps 2-0 on aggregate in the 2015 Conference Semifinals.
Overall, the eight meetings since the start of the 2022 season have been split, with each side winning three times and drawing twice.
The Whitecaps are only narrow favourites to win this game and have been eliminated in six of their previous seven MLS Cup playoff ties, only advancing past San Jose Earthquakes with a 5-0 win in the 2017 First Round. Vancouver have scored five total goals in their other nine all-time MLS playoff matches.
Meanwhile, Portland have not lost any of their five one-leg playoff matches at Providence Park (W2 D3), though they were eliminated on penalties twice after draws in those matches. The Timbers failed to score in their last two home matches this season, their first back-to-back scoreless games at the venue since 2019.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Vancouver Whitecaps – 39.9%
Draw – 26.6%
Portland Timbers – 33.5%
Forsberg confident Red Bulls can hurt MLS Cup holders Columbus
Emil Forsberg believes the New York Red Bulls have the capacity to hurt the Columbus Crew in Game 1 of their MLS playoff tie, despite a poor end to the regular season.
The Red Bulls finished seventh in the Eastern Conference despite only winning one of 10 matches after the Leagues Cup break, finishing their campaign with a 3-2 defeat at home to the Crew, in which Forsberg scored.
They will now face the MLS Cup holders again in a three-match first-round series, and Forsberg believes they have shown they can get at Wilfried Nancy's champions.
"I think we were dangerous, we hurt them, we created chances and we showed them and ourselves what we can do when we play with that kind of intensity," Forsberg said.
"We're a really good team when we can do that, and we know we can hurt them. We have a lot to take with us into the playoffs.
"When it comes to the playoffs, it's small details, whether you have your day or not, whether you're mentally prepared for every situation that can occur.
"That's something I'm going to push with the guys."
Nancy, meanwhile, was pleased to see Columbus tested in their final regular-season game, as New York recovered from 2-0 down to level before Malte Andersen hit a last-gasp winner.
"Yeah, we had many highs, and after that, we had 10 minutes where we allowed New York to play their style, and they did it well," Nancy said after the match.
"I'm happy that it happened, to be honest with you, because we played a really good first half. After that, the second half was also interesting.
"This is perfect because sometimes we have to feel certain things to get better. We found a way to win the game, and this is also good for team spirit."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Hernandez's assist against the Red Bulls last week was his 32nd goal contribution of 2024 (19 goals, 13 assists), breaking Stern John's Crew record of 31 set in 1998.
The forward has five goal contributions against New York (two goals, three assists), only totalling more against Atlanta (eight) and Orlando (seven).
New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg
Forsberg scored both of the Red Bulls' goals in their 3-2 defeat to the Crew on Decision Day, and only Lewis Morgan (13) has bettered his nine strikes for the team in 2024.
MATCH PREDICTION – COLUMBUS CREW WIN
The Red Bulls won just 18 points from their final 18 regular-season matches of 2024 (three wins, nine draws, six defeats).
They were one of nine teams to collect 20 points or fewer since that run began in early June, but the only one of those nine sides to make the playoffs.
Having lost 3-2 to the Crew in their last game, they approach this one as major outsiders. The Red Bulls have lost each of their last six away playoff matches dating back to 2018, being outscored 15-5 in those matches.
The Crew, meanwhile, have won the MLS Cup in each of the last two seasons in which they made the playoffs (2020, 2023), advancing from eight consecutive playoff ties. This equals the best such run in MLS history, after D.C. United won eight straight ties from 1996 to 1998.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Columbus Crew – 64.3%
New York Red Bulls – 16.6%
Draw – 19.1%
'Top-class' Middlesbrough pass Norwich test, says Carrick
Michael Carrick was impressed with Middlesbrough's showing against another top opponent in the Championship after they played out an enthralling 3-3 draw with Norwich City.
Borja Sainz had given the Canaries a ninth minute lead before Tommy Conway's brace and Finn Azaz's close range effort had Boro in the ascendency at the interval.
Conway then saw his penalty saved by George Long after Jose Cordoba fouled Riley McGree, with that moment proving pivotal in the outcome of the contest.
Sainz doubled his tally two minutes after Boro's spot-kick with a stunning effort that kissed the underside of the crossbar, before an own-goal by Seny Dieng drew Norwich level.
The Canaries finished the game with a man less after captain Kenny McLean was shown a straight red card late on, but Middlesbrough were unable to find a winner.
Despite letting a two-goal lead slip at Carrow Road, Carrick was pleased with his players' efforts in a game he felt his side edged.
"I thought we were fantastic for the most part, we showed what a good team we are and played some really good football," Carrick told BBC Radio Teesside.
"We conceded three goals, the third wasn't nice at all but the other two, he put them in the top corner from distance and if they’re going to score like that from there, there's only so much you can do [to stop it].
"I thought we were pretty much the better team throughout, [although] the momentum swung a little bit towards the end.
"That’s two games against really good, top opposition in this league and we’ve been the better team in both games.
"Today was a test in terms of going a goal down but the confidence we showed and togetherness to get through that was top-class."
For Norwich, meanwhile, the draw ensured they maintained their 11-month unbeaten home record.
A win would have put them fifth in the table, but they remain eighth on the same number of points as ninth-placed Boro, both of them still one point adrift of the top six.
But it was a contest they were perhaps fortunate to claim a point from. The Canaries ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of just 1.1 compared to the visitors' 3.86.
"When a game is that hectic, with so many situations in it, then it's hard work for me from minute one to minute 90," Johannes Hoff Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk
"We had to be very specific at half-time about what was important for us [to do], very specific with in-game communication to the players because there were so many details to put focus on.
"The moments we have when we are calm on the ball, especially in their half, the spaces we highlighted before the game opened up and we created chances, or at least got into some dangerous positions."
Slot pleased with Liverpool comeback, but Arsenal 'the better team'
Arne Slot was pleased by Liverpool's resilience in coming from behind twice to earn a draw against Arsenal, but acknowledged the Gunners were the better team on the day.
Virgil van Dijk's header cancelled out Bukayo Saka's opener, before Mohamed Salah sealed a share of the spoils after Mikel Merino had restored Arsenal's advantage.
The Reds had their chances to return to the Premier League summit after Arsenal lost Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber to injury, but they were unable to find a winner.
Slot preserved his unbeaten away record during a pulsating encounter at the Emirates, but said the Gunners deserved their half-time advantage.
"Eventful, exciting. Both teams scored from a set piece. In my opinion, Arsenal were the better team than us," Slot said. "They deserved to be one up at half-time.
"We had less to recover and prepare for this game and if I look at how strong we were in the second half, that pleased me and most being two times down."
Slot is now the first Liverpool manager to not lose any of his first seven away matches in charge since William Connell in February 1923.
But Liverpool conceded twice in the first half of a Premier League game for the first time since December 2023 (two versus Fulham).
Indeed, 40% of the Reds’ goals conceded in the competition under Slot were scored by the Gunners today, but the Dutchman was keen to focus on the positives.
"Two times behind then it's pleasing to see we can come back into the game especially with one day less to recover," he continued.
"To be stronger in second half than first pleases me. You come here to win but maybe a draw was a result we can take with us, especially after the first half.
"You know coming here that they have many quality players, you can have difficult moments in the game. Pleased me to score from a set piece.
"We needed that because from open play we weren't dominant at all. They deserved to be up 2-1 at half-time. But the way we showed up second half was impressive."
It was also a memorable game for Van Dijk, who scored on his 100th appearance as the captain of Liverpool.
His goal was his 17th with his head, with only John Terry (27) now the only defender to have netted more headed goals in the Premier League than Van Dijk.
But away from his personal milestones, the Reds captain echoed the thoughts of his manager and was happy to leave the Emirates with a point.
"Listen, it's a very tough place to come. They created a solid team and make it difficult for everyone. To come back twice is a good thing, we take the point and we move," he said.
"You play here in London, they have the fans behind them and they created some momentum.
"You have to be ready to fight because you will have some tough moments. One point and we take it."
The Dutch defender was also asked about his ongoing contract situation at the club, with his current deal set to expire at the end of this season.
"I'm very calm. Let's see what happens towards the end of the season," Van Dijk said.
"I'm enjoying my football, physically and mentally. Keep enjoying the game because it's a beautiful game that we play and I play."
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