Report and Reaction: Classy ‘Caps give Colorado a lesson in control

Perfection is hard to come by. Few football teams reach it in matches, although some come close. Vancouver Whitecaps certainly had room for improvement against Colorado Rapids at BC Place on Saturday night, but they put in a confident, dominant, and controlled performance that belies just the 2-0 victory they got coming out of the match and offered so much promise for the rest of the season to come.

The ‘Caps were in control. They didn’t give up one shot on target to a Colorado side that would have jumped ahead of Vancouver in the standings with a victory and had played some nice stuff on the road this season. The Whitecaps allowed them nothing and first half goals from Brian White and Emmanuel Sabbi did the damage.

It could, and should, have been a bigger victory in the end, but they’ll take it. A big three points that saw them get back to winning ways, stay atop the Western Conference, and come out of the match unscathed injury-wise with a big CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg in Mexico City coming up on Wednesday.

Jesper Sorensen made two changes from the side that started the draw against Pumas on Wednesday and three from the last MLS match in Toronto last weekend. Sabbi was handed his first start after impressing in his recent substitute appearances, but the best news of all was that Andres Cubas had recovered from his shoulder injury and got the start.

The opening exchanges went from end to end, in a fast-paced encounter, without either side carving out any clear openings. The closest either came was a 12th minute chance for the ‘Caps that saw a great ball in from the right just elude White.

Ali Ahmed saw a fierce shot inside the box fisted parried away by Zack Steffen in the Colorado goal in the 15th minute, then three minutes later Sabbi was almost played in after a fortunate deflection fell into his path after he continued a run.

Vancouver got the breakthrough their play deserved in the 19th minute. Tate Johnson sent an inviting cross to the back of the box, which Sebastian Berhalter headed down perfectly to White and his deft finish gave the ‘Caps a deserved lead.

YOU ALREADY KNOW 👊 B White comes through with our opener!

📺 https://t.co/8qHKRbqzad #VWFC | #VANvCOL pic.twitter.com/1GGI3tolUM

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) April 6, 2025

The Whitecaps kept the pressure on and looked for a quick send, with Steffen coming up with a near post save to deny Edier Ocampo.

Vancouver got their second in the 38th minute and if the first goal was a well-worked team effort, this one was a thing of beauty.

Ahmed played a neat little give and go with Pedro Vite then perfectly slipped in Sabbi, who timed his run to perfection and tucked it away past Steffen with aplomb.

SABBI’S FIRST AS A ‘CAP!

📺 https://t.co/8qHKRbqzad #VWFC | #VANvCOL pic.twitter.com/6IjZo77rTF

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) April 6, 2025

That was how things stood at the break, but the Whitecaps thought they’d extended their lead four minutes into the second half when Vite blasted home a rocket from 20 yard out, but White was offside in the build up.

Ahmed went on a nice run in the 73rd minute, but his shot was turned around for a corner by Steffen at his near post.

And that was to be it as far as goal chances came and the ‘Caps comfortably saw out the match and got back on the winning trail.

It was an assured performance. They made it look easy and once again their passing, pressing, and recovering the ball game was on point. They were excellent to a man and considering the key pieces that are still missing from the line-up, it’s very promising for the long, tough season ahead. This was, on paper, the hardest test that the ‘Caps had faced in the league this year. And they passed it with flying colours.

FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 – 0 Colorado Rapids

ATT: 17,993

VANCOUVER: Yohei Takaoka; Édier Ocampo, Tristan Blackmon, Ranko Veselinović, Tate Johnson; Sebastian Berhalter (Ralph Priso 73’), Andrés Cubas, Pedro Vite; Emmanuel Sabbi (J.C. Ngando 70’), Brian White, Ali Ahmed (Daniel Ríos 73’) [Substitutes not used:
Isaac Boehmer, Belal Halbouni, Damir Kreilach, Giuseppe Bovalina, Mark O’Neill, Jeevan Badwal]

COLORADO: Zach Steffen; Keegan Rosenberry, Andreas Maxsø, Chidozie Awaziem, Ian Murphy (Sam Vines 55’); Josh Atencio (Omir Fernández 55’), Djordje Mihailovic, Cole Bassett (Sam Bassett 86’); Kévin Cabral (Calvin Harris 55’), Rafael Navarro, 8.Oliver Larraz (Darren Yapi 72’) [Substitutes not used: Nico Hansen, Wayne Fredrick, Michael Edwards]

SCORING SUMMARY:
19’ – VAN – Brian White (Sebastian Berhalter, Tate Johnson)
38’ – VAN – Emmanuel Sabbi (Ali Ahmed)

STATS:
Possession: VAN 50.6% – COL 49.4%
Shots: VAN 15 – COL 9
Shots on Goal: VAN 5 – COL 0
Saves: VAN 0 – COL 3
Fouls: VAN 10 – COL 12
Offsides: VAN 1 – COL 2
Corners: VAN 7 – COL 8

CARDS (ALL YELLOW):
45’+1 – VAN – Andrés Cubas
53’ – COL – Kévin Cabral
57’ – COL – Oliver Larraz
79’ – VAN – Ralph Priso
85’ – COL – Cole Bassett
90’ – COL – Chidozie Awaziem

REACTION:

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

JESPER SORENSEN

On the overall effort against Colorado:

“I think we played well. I think we were up against a team [Colorado] that press up high, and also did that today, but I think we kept cool, and played out of that pressure well. And maybe it was a little bit more of a counterattacking play, a little more direct play today, but we also showed that we could manage that type of game. And I was quite happy with the performance overall. I think we created a lot of opportunities and chances.”

On Emmanuel Sabbi’s first MLS and Whitecaps goal:

“I’m very happy for Emmanuel; it’s not been an easy time for him. After he joined, he came, he was fully fit from the French league, and he looked very strong the first couple of training sessions, and then he got injured. Now, he’s back. Getting to a new club, you want to show yourself immediately, and he was just unfortunate not to be able to. Now, I think he’s built himself up, and become stronger and stronger. And today, when you score a goal it’s always special.”

WINGER ALI AHMED

On the whether he’s surprised by the team’s success in the face of adversity:

“I don’t think we’re surprised. We know what we’re capable of. We know we have great talent on the squad. The core has been together for a long time, and every year I think we’ve been building up. And I think this year, we’ve all recognized that we’ve got to take another step towards our goal, and I think we’re doing that. Honestly, we’ve all believed it. Jesper [Sørensen], one of the first words he’s preached since pre-season is belief. If everybody is believing, then it’s going to be hard to stop us and I think we know what we’re capable of.”

Can you talk to us about what you saw of the team’s offensive performance?:

“I think we were much better building on the back, everything going forward, and even in the final third. To be honest, our first goal was literally right off the training grounds. That exact same action was being practiced on matchday minus one and it came off today, with Brian scoring the first goal.”

Talk to me a little bit about Sabby. What have you seen for him since he’s joined a team? And specifically, what did you see on that passage?:

“He’s been sharp and good ever since he’s got here. Obviously unfortunate the injury he picked up the first week, but ever since he’s joined us back in training, it’s another dynamic, another attacking threat going forward. He brings something different. He can beat a guy and play in the little tight spaces and and he can finish. And, you know, serve, serve the ball to our strikers and wherever up top. But he’s been good. And in the goal I was driving through the middle, was thinking to shoot, and I think the defence was thinking the same. And, you know, usually, when Gauld is on the field, he’s always great at making that run, so I always had my head up looking for him. But he did a great job timing his run and making that run behind the defence and as soon as I saw him I just put it in behind for him and he did the rest.”

You mentioned looking for shots. It seemed like that was something tonight that was definitely part of your game, just trying to get in the front foot and ripping it on occasion. I know we talked with you last year a little bit about the differences between thinking the game and just playing instinctive. Do you think you’ve been able to play a little more on instinct this year? And is, is taking shooting opportunities part of that?

“Yeah, absolutely. I think, just like you said, just playing off of instincts and not thinking too much, you know. And I think that’s been a big, big thing for me this year and everybody’s been on me for not shooting the ball, from uncles to friends. So, yeah, I just told myself I’m just gonna start shooting for fun now so they can stop getting on me. But like you said, just playing freely and not thinking too much, I think for me, is definitely more when I get into playing up there is just staying calm. The kind of mental side I don’t think it’s not that I can’t do it. I think it’s just more, not thinking twice and just play off instincts. Instincts, literally not thinking twice. Whatever happens.”

Yourself, Gauld, Jaden Nelson, Sabby, now you’ve got a lot of competition for those kind of wide spots in attack. What does that do in terms of just the competitiveness factor within the squad and how does that push you?

“Yeah, I think that’s a championship team. You look at how they’re built, and it’s similar. Similar to how we’re building right now, with competition in every spot and I think that’s how we are built right now… We have a good friendly competition thing going on over here. We’ve got like, 30 games in two weeks, so it’s good to have, it’s good to have all these bodies because I think right now we’re seeing a little of the effects a little bit, but it’s good to have, you know. Guys ready to step in when you got games every Wednesday, Saturday. So it’s good to have this competition, so you don’t have to rely on just 10, 11, guy.”

On the hunger in the team:

“Yeah, I think that another component of Jesper. One of the things he’s been emphasizing is the re-press. When we lose it, every guy’s got to be on the hunt and hungry to win the ball back and I think everybody’s executing that properly and it’s looking good and even when we are pressing too I think everyone is just in sync. Everyone’s all ready to go and everybody’s in sync and it’s working for us, right?”

On getting used to these match ups now with Mexican teams for club and country and what it’s like to play in them:

“It’s different. The Mexicans, man, they’re really experienced in the small little things Whether you breathe on them and they go down, you know, they’re smart, they’re wasting time, small things like that. They’re really experienced in those categories and they’re really aggressive. Really, really aggressive and I think that brings the best out of me… They’re trying to push you around and it’s not something I like to back down from. The games are really intense and it’s fun. I like those type of games.”

WINGER EMMANUEL SABBI

On his frustrating start to the season with his injury and coming back in style:

“Definitely a good feeling to score again, a first goal for the Whitecaps. Really good feeling. It’s been a rocky start, obviously, as you said, with the injury, but just been level-headed. Talking to the boys, the coaching staff has been helping me tremendously since I’ve been here and it’s been interesting to have been here. But like I said, they’ve been helping me and that showed today.”

On fitting in seemlessly with the team:

“The chemistry is great. It’s a great group of guys, like a brotherhood. When I came in, I didn’t know anyone, I talked to [Ryan] Gauld the first day here and it really felt like they wanted me here. I wanted to come and since I’ve been here, it’s tremendous. The boys are always together, we play the same way, same style but with different parts of our games. Everyone wants to fight for each other, so it’s been great.”

COLORADO RAPIDS

HEAD COACH CHRIS ARMAS

On the match:

“We want to quickly move on to the next one, which is a home game in our building next weekend. There are games that go this way, where we feel like it was a missed opportunity against a good team to climb the standings even more. All of us, the staff, the players, I think we know that wasn’t our best stuff, and against good teams, this is what can happen. Like always, in the wins or the losses, we always look hard at them. We learn from it, but we want to get home, get a good, proper week of training, and then get ready for next weekend.”

On what could have been better:

“Both [goals] came from us letting them off the side. So, often times we talk about forcing the ball wide and winning the ball wide. In a few of them, we outnumbered them, but they wiggled out in a few spots. They have good passers. They had clever movements in behind our back line. It’s just those little moments. I’ll have to look closer to analyze, but I think when we look at it, you’d say, “we want that back.” We have to get better in those decisive moments to deal with clever, good players, because this is what our league is. I think we’re coming off a game where we were really good at some of this stuff and really proactive and aggressive, and when we lose that a little bit, we lose a lot. With many losses come these moments that we have to do a little bit better with. But I take responsibility, because I knew some of the areas that could hurt us. I’ll have us better prepared.”

What wasn’t working and why were they so limited offensively?:

“They have good players, they got off the side a few times, and got behind us. So, it didn’t come from a lot of disorganization or anything. They made a couple of plays and I think when we look back at it, we can do better in those few moments that probably end up costing us the game. It’s a good team. It’s not just a one-trick pony too, right? You have Brian White up top, a strong midfield, and then they have speed on the flank. Just a few moments that that led to the goals and get them off the side. We didn’t handle that well, but it’s part of it. There wasn’t a whole lot that I think they were doing that upset us too much, but they won a lot of the individual duels and little moments that we we could have done better with so yeah, we’ll have to look at that and improve in those areas.”

DEFENDER SAM VINES

On the match:

“Yeah, I think we could have done a lot better. I think we created a few chances that we couldn’t capitalize on, but overall, I think we just weren’t at our best tonight. I think we’ve done well through this season. I obviously haven’t been involved much at all in the beginning of the season, but I think we’ve done well. I think we just have to be ready for next week, put this one behind us and go to San Diego.”

On his mindset to try and bolster the attack heading into the match down 2-0:

“I think that was the goal. We were down two-nil at half. It’s a difficult spot to be in, so I just tried to come in and give some energy to the team. I think we were just a little bit behind. A few steps behind the first half. The three subs that came in, I think we came in and gave some energy to help the attack go forward. Obviously, it’s not an easy spot to be in, two-nil down, but I think we came in and gave as much as we could.”