VANCOUVER — Ryan Gauld didn't expect to be the Vancouver Whitecaps' biggest cheerleader this season.
The Scottish attacking midfielder has been the team's top playmaker since he arrived in Vancouver in 2021, and put up 10 goals and 15 assists in Major League Soccer play last season.
He's been limited to just three league games this year, though, after going down with a knee injury on March 8 — and when he'll rejoin the team remains unclear.
His absence hasn't slowed the 'Caps.
Vancouver (9-1-4) heads into Wednesday's matchup with Minnesota United (7-3-5) riding a 14-game unbeaten streak (7-0-7) across all competitions.
The game will be a tune-up for a Whitecaps side that's set to play one of the biggest games of the club's history on Sunday when Vancouver meets LIGA MX club Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico City.
Missing big games — including a pair of Champions Cup clashes against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami — hasn't been easy, Gauld admitted.
"I think at any point it's tough to be injured, but even more so when we're winning a lot of games," he said.
"It does make it hard for myself, because you want to be involved. But it also makes it easier with everyone in good spirits … Hopefully I’m back soon, but until I am, I hope the winning continues."
Gauld likes what he's seen from his teammates so far this year.
The 'Caps sit atop the MLS standings and hold a four-point cushion for No. 1 spot in the Western Conference.
Even in recent games where the team hasn't had the best performance, the group has shown a lot of resilience, Gauld said.
“Yeah, people can say it’s not been our best performances. But the boys have dug in and got results out of them," he said.
The Whitecaps have already downed Minnesota once this year, taking a 3-1 road victory back on April 27.
The Loons have been in good form since, and head to Vancouver undefeated in their last three games (2-0-1) after drawing Austin FC 1-1 on Saturday.
“It's a very solid team," Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said of Minnesota. "They have a distinct style of play, and they have very strong set pieces. They're very strong in the counter attacking moments. We know that it's a team that doesn't beat themselves up."
Last month's game between the two clubs saw several players separated by officials after Minnesota's Joseph Rosales allegedly hurled racially insensitive remarks at Vancouver's Emmanuel Sabbi, who is Black.
Rosales was later suspended three games for violating the league's non-discrimination policy.
Emotions will be high heading into Wednesday's rematch, Sabbi said.
"It's unacceptable the comments that he made. And we just look to get past it as humans," he said.
"We’ve talked about keeping a cool head. And that’s what we need to do for this game, myself included."
Sorensen said he may also issue a reminder to his players ahead of kickoff, but that it "shouldn't be a thing that fills the room too much."
Sabbi added that Rosales has not reached out or apologized for the incident.
It's surprising that Black athletes still have to deal with these situations, he said.
“It’s tough, of course," Sabbi said. "And we all hope that one day it won’t be a thing that we have to keep going through."
MINNESOTA UNITED (7-3-5) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (9-14)
B.C. Place, Wednesday
HISTORY BOOKS: The regular-season record between the two sides is even at 6-6-4. Vancouver holds a 4-3-0 edge when hosting the Loons at B.C. Place.
HELLO AGAIN: Minnesota's lineup features a pair of former 'Caps. Defender Michael Boxall played for Vancouver in 2011 after being selected first overall by the club in the supplemental draft that year, and midfielder Julian Gressel spent part of the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Whitecaps.
WHITE GOLD?: Striker Brian White scored twice in Vancouver's 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday and now has 10 goals in league play this season. He sits second in the MLS golden boot race, three shy of Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
