Whitecaps vs St Louis City: What we learned from their 3-1 loss


Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini sounds off on the officiating after his team’s road loss to expansion side St. Louis City.

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“It’s hard to win when the other team has 12 men. So that’s the initial thought.”

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And with that, Vancouver Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini was off on an incendiary post-game tirade, completely livid over the refereeing in his team’s 3-1 loss to St. Louis City SC on Saturday night at CityPark Stadium.

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He wasn’t just heated in his comments. He took a flame-thrower to the body of work by MLS official Sergii Boiko.

“If we don’t receive a letter from the league that apologizes for the shameful performance of the referee … it’s something that the league can do and should do because it’s for the good of the league, because we export this product away,” he said. “And when there’s something that is completely shameful, unfortunately shameful, because it looked like the referee was a player for them. It’s really hard to comment on the game with … trying to get into the things that happen on the field.

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St. Louis CITY SC goalkeeper Roman Burki
St. Louis CITY SC goalkeeper Roman Burki makes a save against Vancouver Whitecaps forward Simon Becher during the first half at CITYPARK May 27, 2023. Photo by Scott Rovak /USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

“We didn’t have any fouls. Every foul was for them. Every half and half … it was always two different measurements, never the same. Jake (Nerwinski) should have been sent off. The first free kick … it’s not a free kick. At the end, it’s a free kick for us. .. And they scored a third goal.  … The management of the game was on one way. Probably (Boiko) had a bad day and I’m sorry for him. But if the league doesn’t recognize that, there’s a problem.

“I didn’t want to talk to him (post-game) because I would have been angrier than I am now and I would have said things that I would later regret. … I think it’s a game that should be cancelled because the referee was a shame.”

For the record, total fouls on the night were 12-11 for Vancouver, with the Caps getting four yellow cards to St. Lou’s three.

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There will, undoubtably, be a very hefty fine coming Sartini’s way from the MLS head office, but he’ll be willing to take the heat. Especially if it deflects heat away from his starting goalkeeper on Saturday.


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Houston Dynamo vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

7:30 p.m., B.C. PlaceTV: TSN, Radio: AM730


Thomas Hasal, the No. 1 last year before being supplanted by off-season transfer Yohei Takaoka, had a night he will want to forget. Shots were 16-12 in favour of the hosts, who also had a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal. The Whitecaps had 62 per cent possession.

The game’s first goal, off a 45-yard free kick that was just yards from the touchline, curled over and past Hasal into the corner for SLCSC’s Eduard Löwen, leaving the keeper and his teammates stunned.

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St. Louis CITY SC midfielder Indiana Vassilev (
St. Louis CITY SC midfielder Indiana Vassilev battles for a header against Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter during the first half at CITYPARK May 27, 2023. Photo by Scott Rovak /USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

St. Louis went up 2-0 in the 45th minute when Hasal and Triston Blackmon failed to communicate on a long cross. Blackmon sent a glancing header back toward the goal off a cross, but Hasal had vacated the net, anticipating the ball dropping for him to gather.

The third, off another free kick in the 94th minute, was stopped by Hasal, but he spilled the rebound and SLCSC eventually powered it home. It put the game to bed after Brian White had made it close with his fifth league goal of the season in the 83rd minute.

“Unfortunately, he made one error on the (first) goal. The second goal, he was unlucky. It was a miscommunication. I don’t know if he called the ball for Tristan,” said Sartini. “He grew into the game. It’s hard to play once every three months. That’s the reason why we didn’t play him in the Cup, we didn’t put him under pressure in the Cup. But besides the first mistake after two minutes, I think he responded well, and he put in a good performance.

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“We need to focus on the positive. We need to focus on what he did later, but also not be … shy to tell him when he did the mistake. That’s the only way in order to grow. He’s a fantastic professional, we trust him. And when we’ll need him again, he will play again. Unfortunately plays in a position when he does a mistake, a goal is guaranteed.”


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