Emil Gazdov already has plenty of memories of Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 B.C. Place. The one he香蕉视频直播檒l add Tuesday is likely to top them all.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper from North Vancouver, B.C., will take the field for Pacific FC as the Canadian Premier League club aims to upset Major League Soccer香蕉视频直播檚 Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really cool just being able to play against them, especially at B.C. Place,香蕉视频直播� Gazdov said. 香蕉视频直播淏ecause as a kid, I would go and watch (Whitecaps) games there. 香蕉视频直播� So being able to play there and against them in my home city is really cool.香蕉视频直播�
The six-foot-five netminder has faced the 香蕉视频直播楥aps before, including during the first leg of the two-game aggregate semifinal in Langford, B.C., back on July 10.
Vancouver ultimately took a 1-0 decision in that game, but Gazdov drew praise for a four-save performance that included a highlight-reel-worthy stop on 香蕉视频直播楥aps sniper Brian White in the 49th minute.
The American striker sent a blistering header in from the top of the six-yard box, only to see Gazdov dive sideways and poke the ball out of harm香蕉视频直播檚 way. White responded with disbelief, simply shaking his head.
On the Pacific bench, goalkeeper Trevor Stiles could barely contain his glee.
香蕉视频直播淚 was giddy. I had a big giddy smile,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ecause I know that香蕉视频直播檚 Emil. I know that香蕉视频直播檚 what Emil can be on a regular basis.
香蕉视频直播淎nd I know a lot of people see that in Emil, but for him to showcase that in the Canadian Championship against the Whitecaps? Big players come out in big moments, right? And for me, that香蕉视频直播檚 showing to himself, to our club, to other clubs, MLS clubs, that this guy香蕉视频直播檚 the real deal.香蕉视频直播�
Part of what impressed Stiles about the save was Gazdov香蕉视频直播檚 non-reaction. It香蕉视频直播檚 taken the young 香蕉视频直播榢eeper a lot of work to get to a place where he can make an incredible save and act as if nothing happened, the coach said.
And reaching that level of focus and control shows Gazdov is on track to achieve big things.
香蕉视频直播淚 truly feel he can be someone that could be Canada香蕉视频直播檚 No. 1 for years to come, he can find himself playing in a top league in the top four or five countries, in those leagues,香蕉视频直播� Stiles said.
香蕉视频直播淎nd as well, he香蕉视频直播檚 a big, nice, happy young man. Sometimes a kid, but we香蕉视频直播檒l call him a young man. Someone you want to see do well and hit those markers, hit those goals and make those achievements happen.香蕉视频直播�
Gazdov came up through the Whitecaps香蕉视频直播� academy system where he worked alongside some of the players he香蕉视频直播檇 idolized growing up, including Danish 香蕉视频直播榢eeper David Ousted.
香蕉视频直播淚 remember my first week there, I was working out in the gym 香蕉视频直播� and I was working out right next to him,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t was a pretty critical moment for me, just to watch this guy on the field growing up, and now I香蕉视频直播檓 in the same club, in the same gym, working out next to him.香蕉视频直播�
Gazdov signed his first professional contract with Pacific as a 17-year-old back in June 2020, then went out on loan to FC Nurnberg in Germany in October of the same year.
The netminder returned to Vancouver Island in 2022 and took over the club香蕉视频直播檚 No. 1 spot to start the 2023 campaign, backstopping the team to a 11-10-7 regular-season record and an appearance in the CPL playoff semifinals.
The 2024 season has held mixed results for Pacific, who are 5-9-5 in league play and mired in a six-game (0-5-1) winless skid after dropping a 1-0 road decision to Cavalry FC on Saturday.
While the CPL side heads into Tuesday香蕉视频直播檚 semifinal as the underdogs, Gazdov takes a lot of confidence from his personal performance in the first leg.
香蕉视频直播淥bviously, I know in myself, I believe I can be at that level and play,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut then to be able to actually show it, for me that was really nice.香蕉视频直播�
Another young B.C. 香蕉视频直播榢eeper will feature in Tuesday香蕉视频直播檚 game, too, with Isaac Boehmer getting the start for Vancouver.
The 22-year-old from Penticton, B.C., came up through the Whitecaps香蕉视频直播� academy with Gazdov.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e taken different paths but, look at that 香蕉视频直播� we香蕉视频直播檙e playing against each other again,香蕉视频直播� Boehmer said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 always exciting.香蕉视频直播�
Vancouver boasts an 11-8-5 record in MLS play this season but hasn香蕉视频直播檛 seen game action since Aug. 7 when they were ousted from the Leagues Cup with a 2-0 loss to Mexican side Pumas UNAM.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 always strange when in the middle of the season, you have to do this long break. But it happens,香蕉视频直播� Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini said of the layoff.
香蕉视频直播淲e tried to do two different things: give some rest at the beginning, and then train a lot, push, push, push, and work on the way that we want to do things for the next 10 games in MLS, and then the Canadian Championship.香蕉视频直播�
Boehmer won香蕉视频直播檛 have much rust to shake off after playing for MLS Next Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 during the break.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e full of confidence going into the second leg. Team香蕉视频直播檚 prepared, we香蕉视频直播檙e ready to rock 香蕉视频直播榥香蕉视频直播� roll,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淵eah, we香蕉视频直播檙e 1-0 up. But that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 really matter anymore. We just want to focus, play a good game and get through to the next round.香蕉视频直播�
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