Emil Gazdov already has plenty of memories of Vancouver含羞草研究社檚 B.C. Place. The one he含羞草研究社檒l add Tuesday is likely to top them all.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper from North Vancouver, B.C., will take the field for Pacific FC as the Canadian Premier League club aims to upset Major League Soccer含羞草研究社檚 Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 really cool just being able to play against them, especially at B.C. Place,含羞草研究社� Gazdov said. 含羞草研究社淏ecause as a kid, I would go and watch (Whitecaps) games there. 含羞草研究社� So being able to play there and against them in my home city is really cool.含羞草研究社�
The six-foot-five netminder has faced the 含羞草研究社楥aps before, including during the first leg of the two-game aggregate semifinal in Langford, B.C., back on July 10.
Vancouver ultimately took a 1-0 decision in that game, but Gazdov drew praise for a four-save performance that included a highlight-reel-worthy stop on 含羞草研究社楥aps sniper Brian White in the 49th minute.
The American striker sent a blistering header in from the top of the six-yard box, only to see Gazdov dive sideways and poke the ball out of harm含羞草研究社檚 way. White responded with disbelief, simply shaking his head.
On the Pacific bench, goalkeeper Trevor Stiles could barely contain his glee.
含羞草研究社淚 was giddy. I had a big giddy smile,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淏ecause I know that含羞草研究社檚 Emil. I know that含羞草研究社檚 what Emil can be on a regular basis.
含羞草研究社淎nd I know a lot of people see that in Emil, but for him to showcase that in the Canadian Championship against the Whitecaps? Big players come out in big moments, right? And for me, that含羞草研究社檚 showing to himself, to our club, to other clubs, MLS clubs, that this guy含羞草研究社檚 the real deal.含羞草研究社�
Part of what impressed Stiles about the save was Gazdov含羞草研究社檚 non-reaction. It含羞草研究社檚 taken the young 含羞草研究社榢eeper a lot of work to get to a place where he can make an incredible save and act as if nothing happened, the coach said.
And reaching that level of focus and control shows Gazdov is on track to achieve big things.
含羞草研究社淚 truly feel he can be someone that could be Canada含羞草研究社檚 No. 1 for years to come, he can find himself playing in a top league in the top four or five countries, in those leagues,含羞草研究社� Stiles said.
含羞草研究社淎nd as well, he含羞草研究社檚 a big, nice, happy young man. Sometimes a kid, but we含羞草研究社檒l call him a young man. Someone you want to see do well and hit those markers, hit those goals and make those achievements happen.含羞草研究社�
Gazdov came up through the Whitecaps含羞草研究社� academy system where he worked alongside some of the players he含羞草研究社檇 idolized growing up, including Danish 含羞草研究社榢eeper David Ousted.
含羞草研究社淚 remember my first week there, I was working out in the gym 含羞草研究社� and I was working out right next to him,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t was a pretty critical moment for me, just to watch this guy on the field growing up, and now I含羞草研究社檓 in the same club, in the same gym, working out next to him.含羞草研究社�
Gazdov signed his first professional contract with Pacific as a 17-year-old back in June 2020, then went out on loan to FC Nurnberg in Germany in October of the same year.
The netminder returned to Vancouver Island in 2022 and took over the club含羞草研究社檚 No. 1 spot to start the 2023 campaign, backstopping the team to a 11-10-7 regular-season record and an appearance in the CPL playoff semifinals.
The 2024 season has held mixed results for Pacific, who are 5-9-5 in league play and mired in a six-game (0-5-1) winless skid after dropping a 1-0 road decision to Cavalry FC on Saturday.
While the CPL side heads into Tuesday含羞草研究社檚 semifinal as the underdogs, Gazdov takes a lot of confidence from his personal performance in the first leg.
含羞草研究社淥bviously, I know in myself, I believe I can be at that level and play,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淏ut then to be able to actually show it, for me that was really nice.含羞草研究社�
Another young B.C. 含羞草研究社榢eeper will feature in Tuesday含羞草研究社檚 game, too, with Isaac Boehmer getting the start for Vancouver.
The 22-year-old from Penticton, B.C., came up through the Whitecaps含羞草研究社� academy with Gazdov.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e taken different paths but, look at that 含羞草研究社� we含羞草研究社檙e playing against each other again,含羞草研究社� Boehmer said. 含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 always exciting.含羞草研究社�
Vancouver boasts an 11-8-5 record in MLS play this season but hasn含羞草研究社檛 seen game action since Aug. 7 when they were ousted from the Leagues Cup with a 2-0 loss to Mexican side Pumas UNAM.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 always strange when in the middle of the season, you have to do this long break. But it happens,含羞草研究社� Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini said of the layoff.
含羞草研究社淲e tried to do two different things: give some rest at the beginning, and then train a lot, push, push, push, and work on the way that we want to do things for the next 10 games in MLS, and then the Canadian Championship.含羞草研究社�
Boehmer won含羞草研究社檛 have much rust to shake off after playing for MLS Next Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 during the break.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e full of confidence going into the second leg. Team含羞草研究社檚 prepared, we含羞草研究社檙e ready to rock 含羞草研究社榥含羞草研究社� roll,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淵eah, we含羞草研究社檙e 1-0 up. But that doesn含羞草研究社檛 really matter anymore. We just want to focus, play a good game and get through to the next round.含羞草研究社�
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