The Vancouver Whitecaps know onlookers have counted them out for weeks.
Losses to Nashville and San Jose and Colorado appeared to snuff out the club鈥檚 playoff hopes last month.
Heading into the final game of the regular season, though, the 鈥楥aps (12-14-7) are still alive 鈥� a win on the on the road against Minnesota United (13-14-6) Sunday and they clinch a post-season berth.
鈥淲e worked hard to get to this point,鈥� said defender Jake Nerwinski. 鈥淲e put ourselves in a great position, and now we get to go play free. And if we win, we know that we did everything we could. If we lose, you know, we did everything we could.鈥�
Making Sunday鈥檚 game count hasn鈥檛 been easy. The 鈥楥aps not only had to win three games in a row against opponents that beat them handily earlier in the season, but had to get a lot of help on the out-of-town scoreboard, too.
鈥淚t kind of seems like the stars are aligning a little bit,鈥� said striker Brian White. 鈥淣ot to jinx it, because obviously it鈥檚 going to be a big test, a big challenge in Minnesota.鈥�
Nerwinski admitted that the stretch has been 鈥渋mprobable.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 almost impossible and it鈥檚 something that we need to take advantage of,鈥� he said. 鈥淓verything went our way to get to this point. Now, hopefully, we can continue to make the most of it and make it worth it.鈥�
Finishing the job in Minnesota won鈥檛 be easy.
While the Whitecaps need all three points from a victory to secure a post-season berth, United simply needs a draw.
The road has been a struggle for the 鈥楥aps all season. The club鈥檚 away record is a woeful 2-10-4, with the last win coming on June 18 when Vancouver blanked Dallas FC 2-0.
Recent wins against the L.A. Galaxy, Seattle Sounders and Austin FC show, though, that the Whitecaps have what it takes to complete the task, Nerwinski said.
鈥淲e have to play the same that we鈥檝e been playing the last three games,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e continue what we鈥檙e doing, we鈥檙e defending well, we鈥檙e attacking with speed and with purpose, we鈥檙e scoring goals. I think that鈥檚 the key.鈥�
United already has a win over the 鈥滳aps this season, taking a 3-1 victory at B.C. Place on July 8. The game saw Vancouver cough up a 1-0 lead late in the second half.
Playing all 90 minutes on Sunday will be crucial, said head coach Vanni Sartini.
鈥淚 think (the July 8) game, for 75 minutes we were the best team and we were up 1-0, deservedly so,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut they have very high quality players up top and if you stop playing, if put your level of intensity and application tactically a little down, they鈥檙e going to be dangerous.
鈥淪o we need to be even better than we were in the first 75 minutes at B.C. Place.鈥�
While Vancouver comes into Sunday鈥檚 game on a three-game win streak, Minnesota is winless (0-5-1) in its last six outings.
The 鈥楥aps have confidence after fighting their way back into playoff conversation, White said.
鈥淭he discussions we had in the locker room were about playing for pride, playing for wins, playing for everything we can to the last moment,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檝e clawed our way back.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had fortunate results go our way, so we鈥檙e in a good position now where we win and we鈥檙e in. And I think everyone鈥檚 really excited motivated going into the weekend.鈥�
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-14-7) AT MINNESOTA UNITED (13-14-6)
Sunday, Allianz Field
INS AND OUTS: The Whitecaps will be without defender Cristian Gutierrez (abductor) and winger Deiber Caicedo (season-ending knee surgery). Minnesota midfielder Kervin Arriaga will miss the game due to suspension for yellow card accumulation and United forward Bongokuhle Hlongwane is out with a knee injury.
HISTORY BOOKS: Minnesota holds a 4-3-3 all-time edge over Vancouver in MLS play. While United is unbeaten (2-0-2) in four home matches against Vancouver, neither side has defeated the other twice in a single season.
GOLDEN GAULD: Ryan Gauld has been clutch for the 鈥楥aps offence recently. The 26-year-old Scottish attacking midfielder has factored into seven of the club鈥檚 last 11 goals, scoring four and assisting on three others.
鈥擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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