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The Vancouver Whitecaps star ended Pacific FC’s Canadian Championship run win the game-winner, celebrating his Scotland call-up in style.
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Published Aug 27, 2024 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 4 minute read
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Vancouver Whitecaps forward Brian White (24) celebrates with midfielder Ryan Gauld (25) after scoring a goal during MLS match against Minnesota United in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Photo by Abbie Parr /AP
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Ryan Gauld woke up from a dream at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday to find out he’d finally be living another: getting called up to Scotland’s national soccer team.
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“Obviously the squad was announced like midday there, so it was during our night here,” he said. “I knew when the squad was being announced, so just kind of woke up in the middle of the night and checked my phone. I was like, ‘OK, there we go. Call up. Back to bed.’ And that was pretty much it.”
Fifteen hours after that nonchalant reaction to the recognition he’d been chasing for a decade, Gauld wrecked the Canadian Championship dreams of Pacific FC, scoring the game’s only goal in the second-leg semifinal at B.C. Place. Gauld also scored the only goal in Vancouver’s 1-0 first-leg win at Starlight in July.
Now the team’s all-time leader in CanChamp goals, the 28-year-old lead Vancouver into the final where they’re looking to join Toronto FC as the only team to win three or more Voyagers Cups consecutively. And TFC will serve as opposition in that game: 7 p.m. on Wednesday Sept. 25 at B.C. Place. The Reds were 1-0 winners over Forge FC earlier Tuesday, and going through on away goals with the two-leg series ending 2-2.
Gauld roofed a ball that Pacific’s Emil Gazdov had initially saved 11 minutes into the game, putting Vancouver in the driver’s seat and they dominated the opening 45 minutes, finishing with nearly 80 per cent possession.
He continued to be a relentless pressing figure, with both the offence and defence flowing through him. Scotland has faltered recently on the international stage, including a painful crashing out of the Euro 2024 tournament, and coach Steve Clarke knew he had to try to change things up as Scotland gets set for their upcoming Nations League fixtures (vs. Poland on Sept. 5 and Portugal on Sept. 8).
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Gauld hadn’t seen a senior team call-up since 2014 when he was tabbed by then-manager Gordon Strachan, but didn’t see any playing time and remained uncapped. That meant there remained an outside chance that he could one day suit up for Canada — it stays alive if he doesn’t see the field for Scotland — but always maintained his dream was to play for his native country.
“It’s a nice feeling to be to be recognized again, and to get a chance to to train with everyone and be around it. It’s gonna be a good week, and just looking forward to it,” he said. “I appreciate the support and the recognition from everyone back home that feels that I should be in the squad. All I can do now is try and show that I should be back again.”
There’s been a groundswell of support on social media from his compatriots for Gauld to be included in Scotland’s team ever since he started playing at an MVP calibre level in Vancouver.
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In the MLS era, he has more goal contributions across all competitions (37 goals and 43 assists) than any player in club history, including his team-best 11 goals and nine assists this season.
“I’m very happy for him,” said Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini. “He’s probably been nonchalant with you, but he’s very happy.”
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sam Adekugbe tackles Pacific FC defender Kunle Dada-Luke during the first half of their Canadian Championship semifinal soccer match in Vancouver on Tuesday. Photo by Darryl Dyck/CP /PNG
The Scot will miss the ‘Caps MLS regular season home match against FC Dallas on Saturday, Sept. 7, as will Ali Ahmed and Sam Adekugbe, called up for Canada for a friendly against the USA. Fafa Picault is joining Haiti, Andres Cubas has been summoned by Paraguay, and Pedro Vite might still be called up by Ecuador.
“I’m proud of Gauld, and I’m proud of the team,” said Sartini. “We have already five players, and Pedro is in the supplemental list of Ecuador. There would be almost six players in that would be called in the national team. It’s indicative of the quality of this team, because it never happened before.”
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The call-ups mean the Caps will have an extremely thin roster in the next few weeks, especially after Brian White suffered a suspected concussion on Tuesday night.
Just moments after Gauld’s 11th-minute goal, the Whitecaps striker took a powerful clearing attempt straight to the face, knocking him prone to the turf, seemingly unconscious. His teammates waved frantically for the trainers to come on, and he eventually recovered his senses and walked straight to the locker-room under his own power.
He was evaluated for a concussion but not taken to hospital, and the team didn’t immediately have an update on his status.
“Me and Sam were right there when it happened. It was a bit, a bit scary,” said Gauld, adding he saw White at halftime and his teammate appeared to be in much better shape.
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“But I think he’s doing all right. He’ll just need to rest up now and take care of himself.”
NOTES: The TFC-Forge game was a contentious one — Lorenzo Insigne, who scored the winner, earned a yellow card and a legion of new enemies for his tug of Beni Badibanga’s beard after a hard first-half tackle. Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis didn’t feel the result truly reflected the game.
“That’s football, the game is played on margins,” he told media after the game.
“One team won one game, one team one another one. We still count away goals, the only confederation in the world. If we’re playing in UEFA, we’d be in penalty shots right now, but we’re not. This is where we are.”
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/whitecaps-1-pacific-0-ryan-gauld-dashes-dreams-while-living-his-own