New York Red Bulls at Vancouver Whitecaps, May 28th 2011

 Live Event #10

Empire Field

My second visit to Empire Field was for a beautiful Saturday afternoon match between the last place Whitecaps and the New York Red Bulls. The disappointment of the day was the absence of former Arsenal and Barcelona star Thierry Henry, who was held back with a swollen right knee. Many fans had purchased tickets solely because of Henry’s presence and even though he wouldn’t be playing, every seat was filled. Since their thrilling opening day win against Toronto FC, the Whitecaps have been incapable to add another game in the win column in league action; adding that elusive victory against the Red Bulls would be a challenge.  

The Whitecaps enjoyed an energetic start. They had a goal disallowed for offside and continued to press hard and test the Red Bulls defence. In the 24th minute midfielder Camilo won a penalty and Whitecaps star Eric Hassli put Vancouver up 1-0 from the spot. Following the goal, New York began to find their legs and came close a few times before Englishman Luke Rodgers equalized from just outside the six yard box. The goal shifted the momentum in New York’s favor and they finished the first half vigorously. The second half was equally as entertaining; there were dynamic chances at both ends but neither team could secure the winning goal. The addition of the Whitecaps to the Vancouver sports scene has been nothing but positive. The support is superb and as Grant Wahl recently documented in his article “A Pacific Passion Play” from the May 23rd issue of Sports Illustrated, there is a real passion for soccer in the Pacific Northwest. That being said, it is impossible to compare the MLS to the majority of the football being played overseas. 

New York Red Bulls at Vancouver Whitecaps

The difference between the quality of play in the MLS and in top flight European football is staggering. The most visible difference: the passing. Short passes and sustained attacks built through the heart of the midfield are noticeably absent from MLS play; the majority of the scoring chances created are from long balls sent down the wing or from set pieces. Eric Hassli, Vancouver’s designated player, is easily identifiable on the field because of his superior technical ability. His ball control far exceeds that of his teammates which makes him a valuable player. The game also lacks the general pace of the English Premier League and feels much more disjointed. It is highly unlikely that Major League Soccer will ever challenge, let alone surpass, top flight European football, but there is still room to grow. Clubs have found success in the Pacific Northwest, the rivalry between the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders has the substance to establish itself as the league’s first real marquee matchup, an essential concept for an aspiring sports league. As a proud native of the proposed Republic of Cascadia (no matter where I live I will always identify myself with the Pacific Northwest), it’s wonderful to recognize the importance of the Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps to the success of Major League Soccer.