'Caps look to continue strong home form during crucial stretch

Since returning to BC Place last year, Vancouver Whitecaps FC are 8W-2L-2D at home.

Their .750 winning percentage at their home venue is the best in the league over the course of the past two seasons, tied with New England, Philadelphia, and Colorado.

But now, more than ever, the Blue & White will need to find their best home form to kickstart their 2022 season. That starts on Sunday when they play host to a nationally televised match on CTV against Toronto FC (1 p.m. PT, whitecapsfc.com/tickets, CTV/TSN2 and AM730).

"I told the team that we get another big chance in front of a good crowd with high broadcast ratings to show another face, and to continue where we ended last season," said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. "And also what we did already in a few home games [this season]."

Sunday's match kicks off a busy May, including four home matches within two weeks time.

"We need to really focus on what is in front of us," head coach Vanni Sartini told media last week. "We have a big chance with these four games in a row at BC Place to really get back on the right track immediately, and we need to take this chance."

The 'Caps come into this stretch with only three home matches played so far in 2022, carrying a 1W-1L-1D record.

After grinding out a 0-0 draw against defending MLS Cup champions NYCFC, the team earned a 1-0 win over Sporting KC. Their lone defeat came 3-2 to Portland, the only team to beat them at home over the last 12 matches, despite outshooting the Timbers 19-6 with a 2.51 to 0.98 xG advantage.

"I think that our home games overall have been ok," noted Schuster. "Against NYCFC we got an ok point, we played a good game against Kansas [City], and we have been unlucky against Portland. We have to continue on that."

With two weeks in-between matches, the team is hoping to see the return to full health of several key players, including midfielder Ryan Gauld who left early in Montreal and missed the match in Austin.

But Schuster was clear that it will take a full team effort to turn things around.

"We want to be a team that nobody likes to play, a team you cannot break down, a team that comes with a lot of effort, and mentality, and spirit, and discipline. We were lacking a little bit of that in the last two games," noted the German. "Only if that really turns around and we do better on that, then obviously having Ryan Gauld full in shape, Brian White full in shape, and Caio at some point... having more quality players available and game ready will help us. But I don't want to use any of that as an excuse."

"Right now, and that was a clear message to the team, we really have to wake up and we have to focus on the basics of the game."