A trip back to Austin, Texas, has Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed in a reflective state of mind.
It含羞草研究社檚 been more than two years since the 23-year-old Canadian made his Major League Soccer debut in Austin 含羞草研究社� a game that still holds mixed memories.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 crazy,含羞草研究社� Ahmed said, noting that he含羞草研究社檇 just been speaking with Whitecaps teammate Sebastian Berhalter about that game.
含羞草研究社淭hat was probably one of the worst games we含羞草研究社檝e both played. And I was joking with him, saying that game, I felt like it was tough 含羞草研究社� it was hot, we really weren含羞草研究社檛 on the ball.
含羞草研究社淪o I told him after that game I was kind of scared. I said, 含羞草研究社楾his is what the MLS is like?含羞草研究社� But here we are now.含羞草研究社�
Ahmed and the 含羞草研究社楥aps (11-8-5) return to Austin (9-10-7) on Saturday to start the final stretch of their MLS campaign. With 10 games left on the regular-season schedule, the Whitecaps sit sixth in the Western Conference standings.
It含羞草研究社檚 been six weeks since Vancouver has played a league match, but the team is coming off a major win.
The 含羞草研究社楥aps blanked Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC 1-0 on Tuesday to earn a spot in the Canadian Championship final. They含羞草研究社檒l look to add a third-straight title on Sept. 25 when they host Toronto FC.
Austin, too, is in form, having resumed its MLS schedule with a 2-0 victory over Nashville SC last weekend.
含羞草研究社�(Austin is) a team that, in my opinion, is very dangerous because they can beat you even if they含羞草研究社檙e not in control of the game,含羞草研究社� said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
含羞草研究社淪o we need to be always very, very, very present. Even if we含羞草研究社檙e going to have some spell of possession, we need to be very present, because in transition, they含羞草研究社檙e lethal. So the organization, both offensively and defensively, will be very important.含羞草研究社�
The 含羞草研究社楥aps will be without a key offensive weapon on Saturday. Brian White remains in concussion protocols after taking a ball to the face in Tuesday含羞草研究社檚 game. The American striker is the club含羞草研究社檚 leading scorer with 11 goals on the season.
Fellow forward Levonte Johnson is also out of the lineup as he deals with calf tightness, Sartini said, so Ahmed and Berhalter will start against Austin.
Ahmed has been a steady presence for the 含羞草研究社楥aps this season, contributing one goal and one assist in 18 MLS appearances. He含羞草研究社� also saw action in five Canadian Championship matchups where he added another goal, and missed an extended stretch while playing for Canada in the Copa America.
All the experience has Ahmed feeling like a completely different player than the one who stepped out onto the field in Austin back in 2022.
含羞草研究社淗onestly, after every game you feel like you improve,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淣ow that I have (42 MLS) games under my belt, I think if I look back at my first game, it含羞草研究社檚 a big difference.含羞草研究社�
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (11-8-5) AT AUSTIN FC (9-10-7)
Q2 Stadium, Saturday
HISTORY BOOKS: Vancouver holds a 4-1-2 edge in all-time meetings between the two clubs, including a 0-0 draw at BC Place back on May 4.
ROAD WARRIORS: Away games haven含羞草研究社檛 been a problem for the 含羞草研究社楥aps this season. The club boasts a 6-4-3 record on the road, the best in the Western Conference.
GOING INTERNATIONAL: Six Whitecaps have been called up to their national teams for games next month. Ahmed and defender Sam Adekugbe will join the Canadian squad, while star midfielder Ryan Gauld returns to the Scottish team for the first time in 14 years. Striker Fafa Picault (Haiti), midfielder Pedro Vite (Ecuador) and defender Andres Cubas (Paraguay) will also go out on international duty, leaving Sartini short-handed. 含羞草研究社淚 totally welcome that we can have a problem for one or two games if it means for the other 30 we have a really good roster,含羞草研究社� the coach said. 含羞草研究社淪o I含羞草研究社檓 really happy.含羞草研究社�
