Van v SDFC preview 6/25,2025

RANT

International break and MLS are like Bonnie and Clyde, except ten times worse.

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Last time on the Sorensen show, Vancouver fell 2-1 in bizarre fashion to the Columbus Crew. Sure, they deserved the win, but if it was full strength squad to full strength squad, it would for sure be a different story. That is one of the most frustrating things about this season, the players are facing injuries and call ups yet we stay competitive even with heavily rotated squads. Our only two losses in MLS play happened during International breaks. Sure, both teams are missing players but when one of the best teams in the league is forced to play against strong teams without DPs and All-star candidates, it becomes really hard to appreciate and respect the league. If MLS is going to make some teams play during the break why do others like LAFC and Miami get to relax? And why are so many important games played during this period? Important games that are potentially season defining? The league shows its true colours every week, unless you’re Giroud or Messi, they don’t give a hollering hoot.

IT’S NOT SO LONELY AT THE TOP

Halfway through the season, the western conference race is tightening up, with the Whitecaps leading the race for first on 37 points and San Diego chasing closely behind in second with 35 points. Although there is only a two point gap between the two, it is important to note San Diego (as well as Minnesota in 3rd and Portland in 4th, both on 30 points) have played one more game over the ‘Caps. It feels as though Vancouver and San Diego are carrying the west in the shield rankings, being the only two western teams in the top 7.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

No one expected Vancouver to be as good as they are, sure, we’ve heard that dozens of times this season (it somehow never gets tiring), but did anyone seriously think San Diego would be up there with them? These Californian boys come out of nowhere and turn the league on its head. San Diego’s successes can be traced to 3 main reasons;

1. Investments and Funds - Launch ownership (Mohamed Mansour and Sycuan Band) paid a league‑record $500 million expansion fee and backed it with another $150 million in state‑of‑the‑art training facilities in El Cajon
2. High risk, High reward - Gambles were taken on unproven players, first time job for their newly appointed head coach, and a young sporting director which ended up paying off in the long run
3. Smart Recruiting & Play Style - Senior signings like Chucky Lozano, Anders Dreyer, and Luca de la Torre injected immediate impact. They adopted a proactive, possession-heavy approach with quick transitions and high pressing, reducing defensive lapses and maximizing goal impact.San Diego’s go to formation this season has been a 4-3-3, which they keep out of possession. In possession, the formation molds closer to a 4-4-2 with the wingbacks pushing high and wingers drifting centrally. Their possession based football has seen them outplay some of the leagues finest. A great example of one of their best team goals has to be in their MLS debut away at the defending champions, LA Galaxy. In the 52nd minute, San Diego’s high press forced a clumsy pass out from the Galaxy’s goalkeeper into center back Carlos Garces, who took a heavy touch and gave it away to Lozano. Lozano anticipated the error, stepped in, and played the ball through to Andres Dreyer who gave a classy finish to put SDFC 1-0 up. This is textbook Varas ball: win the ball in transition with intense pressure. This goal perfectly represents San Diego, high press into giving the ball away. We’ve seen them do this so many times throughout the season, and it’s paid off heavily.

INJURY WOES

SD

• OUT: Luca De La Torre (international duty)
• OUT: Hamady Diop (lower body)
• OUT: Anibal Godoy (international duty)
• OUT: Marcus Ingvartsen (lower body)
• OUT: Willy Kumado (lower body)
• OUT: Paddy McNair (lower body)
• OUT: Andrés Reyes (lower body)
• OUT: Anisse Saidi (lower body)
• QUESTIONABLE: Hirving Lozano (lower body)VancouverOUT: Sam Adekugbe (Achilles)
• OUT: Ali Ahmed (ankle)
• OUT: Sebastian Berhalter (international duty)
• OUT: Giuseppe Bovalina (illness)
• OUT: Ryan Gauld (knee)
• OUT: Jayden Nelson (international duty)
• OUT: Brian White (international duty)

Both San Diego and Vancouver will be missing crucial players, mostly due to injuries. Ryan Gauld has been banished to the shadow realm. We’ve had no real news in what feels like forever as of when the Scot will be available to play again. If you ask Jesper Sorensen, he’ll just tell you ‘a couple more weeks’ should do the trick, as he has been saying since March. Brian White, Sebastian Berhalter, Jayden Nelson are on Int’l duty, with young Seb restoring pride into the Berhalter name after being tarnished by Gregg ball for years. White and Nelson have mostly been stuck on the bench, which frustrates me even more as to why they were called up in the first place. Is it a plot just to see us suffer? Ali Ahmed and Sam Adekugbe were both representing Canada before they suffered injuries, Sam out for the rest of the season and Ali out for potentially 6-8 weeks. If he’s lucky. San Diego’s been plagued with recent injuries more than Vancouver, with only two of their nine unavailable players being on Int’l duty.

Both San Diego and Vancouver will be playing some sorts of a B team, yet I think both teams will play competitive football in a thrilling match. I’m going for a 3-1 win for the Whitecaps, cementing their dominate western conference lead.

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