Vancouver Whitecaps boss Vanni Sartini looking for 'miracle'

Less than a month ago, the Vancouver Whitecaps were enduring a run of just four points from six games, culminating in a three-game losing streak.

If you'd have asked even the most optimistic supporter back then, even they would have been considering throwing in the towel when it came to VWFC's MLS Cup Playoffs hopes.

But since then, Vancouver have embarked on a three-game winning streak, beating the LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, and Austin FC by a 7-1 combined scoreline to remain just two points outside the top seven in the Western Conference.

The chances remain incredibly slim, but the Playoffs dream is still alive.

“We’ve always known that we’re a lot better than what we’ve shown throughout the season,” Scottish playmaker Ryan Gauld said after Saturday's latest victory over Austin. “For one reason or another, we couldn’t put performance and results together.

“We’re finally getting the results to back that up. It’s good to have three wins in a row. I don’t know if we’ve had that all year.”

In a way, a large part of the Whitecaps' destiny is in their own hands. Vanni Sartini's side head to Allianz Field on Decision Day to face a Minnesota United side currently occupying the seventh and final post-season spot in the West.

Victory their would take them above the Loons and the Portland Timbers, should the latter lose against Real Salt Lake - the team that sits between Vancouver and RSL in the table.

Following all that? It's a hot mess in the West and should Vancouver pull it off, it'd be nothing short of miraculous.

“If we are still alive, [compared to] what we were two weeks ago, three weeks ago, it’s got to be a miracle,” Sartini said. “In Italy, we say when you do 30, the only way to have a reason for why you’re doing 30, let’s do 31. Let’s try to win. We’ll try to do everything we can and finish at 46 [points].”

Saturday's match-winner Lucas Cavallini is not giving up hope and says he and his teammates are fully focused on 'proving everybody wrong'.

“Anything could happen toward the end of the season,” he said. “A lot of teams tend to lose a lot of important points and that’s where we need to come in and prove everybody wrong and be the underdog here.

“Hopefully we show a surprise. Hopefully, the results go our way, but we still have one more final in Minnesota. That’s not going to be easy, but we just have to worry about our game.”

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