“It’s just a one to nothing lead…but, it feels like five to nothing,” declared Apple TV analyst Blake Price with nearly 25 minutes remaining in the Loons’ penultimate matchup for this season against the 7th seed Vancouver Whitecaps, sitting just a single point from overtaking the ‘Caps spot in the standings.
By the end of the night, it would be the Loons that would rise to occasion, striking early, and holding late, to tough out a gutsy 1-0 victory at BC Place. And with that win, they would take three more points back with them south of the border, as they rise in the Western Conference standings to overtake the 7th seed with a single game remaining before the postseason.
Ultimately, MNUFC midfielder Hassani Dotson would strike the most critical blow to Vancouver’s spot in the standings, converting his first-ever penalty kick attempt when called upon in the 24th minute of play following a foul in the box from the ‘Caps Mathias Laborda. While his score would be the flashiest of his statline in the evening, Dotson would serve as the Loons’ utility knife throughout the game, regularly cutting off passing lanes and making his presence felt at whichever end of the pitch he was needed.
The Loons were up to the task of keeping up the ‘Caps out of the net, as Loons’ keeper Dayne St. Clair would see little in the way of serious danger, en route to notching a fourth consecutive clean sheet. And, while there were a couple of tense moments for a defensive third that was without the services of captain Micael Boxall as he served his one-game suspension due to the egregious yellow card issued (somehow) after being spit on by RSL’s Brayan Vera on Wednesday, the defensive third would bend without breaking in his absence, with Jefferson Díaz once again showing how valuable he may prove to the Loons’ current and long-term plans in the defensive third.
Now, with three points in hand, a spot up in the standings, and currently out of wild card territory, the Loons head home with hopes of continuing their ascension in the West when they face St. Louis CITY at Allianz Field on October 19 in their regular-season finale.
