Latest news with #RankoVeselinovic
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Vancouver Whitecaps juggle lineup ahead of battle with Sporting Kansas City
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, right, collects the ball with Colorado Rapids midfielder Cole Bassett in pursuit in the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) VANCOUVER — Another major injury is forcing the Vancouver Whitecaps to once again rotate their lineup as the club tries to climb back atop the standings. The 'Caps (12-5-6) announced Tuesday that stalwart centre back Ranko Veselinovic will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. 'It's, of course, horrible for Ranko. I feel, we all feel, with him and for him, because getting an ACL rupture is very bad,' said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen. 'Ranko is doing OK. But of course, we have to figure out what to do without him, because he's been also a key part of the season so far.' The injury means Sorensen will field a different defensive corps when Vancouver hosts Sporting Kansas City (6-11-6) on Saturday. The 'Caps head into the game sitting second in Major League Soccer's Western Conference standings, just one point behind San Diego FC — a club they battled to a 1-1 draw last week. Lineup changes have become routine for Vancouver's first-year bench boss as the Whitecaps weather a string of long-term injuries. Attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld has been sidelined with a knee injury since March 8. Canadian defender Sam Adekugbe saw his season cut short when he tore his Achilles tendon playing for the national team last month, and midfielder Ali Ahmed has been sidelined since spraining his ankle while playing for Canada. Several of Vancouver's players have also missed league games while competing for their national squads. A deep player pool has helped fill the holes, Sorensen said. 'We have players who know what to do when they step on the pitch,' he said. 'And I think that's the most important thing, that we work with them in the daily work, and give them the best options to do well when they play on the pitch by having teammates around them in a good structure who can help out.' Four crucial pieces are expected to return to the 'Caps lineup for Saturday's game after representing the club at MLS all-star festivities in Austin this week. Striker Brian White, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, defender Tristan Blackmon and goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka all returned to training with their teammates on Thursday. Getting back into the swing of team play can be a challenge, White said. 'I think it's a bit difficult. Obviously, you go from playing games a lot with guys you're familiar with to really not playing a whole lot, to come back, and then you find that rhythm again,' he said. 'I think it takes a little bit of time, but it's not like learning how to ride a bike again, you know? You try to pick up where you left off.' The Whitecaps sent a league-high four players to the all-star game, and the players had an impact, with White scoring to lift the MLS all stars to a win over their Liga MX compatriots. Takaoka also hit the crossbar in a skills competition to secure an MLS win. There's a high standard at an all-star event, Blackmon said, and the players all want to bring that mindset back to Vancouver — starting with a strong outing against SKC on Saturday. 'Obviously, you're playing with, arguably, the best in the league this year so far. So you try to come back and show that you have that quality,' he said. 'We had four guys there, that was incredible. But how can we all come back here and try to help as much as possible, keep that same level and increase it going into this final stretch?' SPORTING KANSAS CITY (6-11-6) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-6) Saturday, B.C. Place HISTORY BOOKS: Sporting holds a 12-8-5 edge in all-time matchups between the two clubs, but the 'Caps won both meetings last season by a 2-1 margin. HOME SWEET HOME: The Whitecaps have played their last five league games on the road and will close out the regular-season campaign with seven of their next 11 matchups at B.C. Place. The team is 6-2-2 on home turf this year. FULL SLATE: Saturday will mark Vancouver's 35th game this year across all competitions, including league play, the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Canadian Championship. The MLS regular-season campaign consists of 34 matchups. This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press, was first published July 25, 2025.
Canada News.Net
5 days ago
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Whitecaps vie to regroup vs. visiting Sporting Kansas City
(Photo credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images) The Vancouver Whitecaps endured a stretch of five straight MLS road matches and now look to focus on their pursuit of first place when they host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night. The Whitecaps (12-5-6, 42 points) are one point behind first-place San Diego FC in the Western Conference. The two foes played to a 1-1 draw in San Diego last Saturday. Vancouver went 2-2-1 during the road stretch, and the roughest night came against San Diego FC. Not just because a 1-0 lead got away, but because defensive stalwart Ranko Veselinovic was lost for the season with an ACL tear in his left knee. The 26-year-old Whitecaps' captain has six goals in 161 MLS matches over six seasons in Vancouver. 'It's genuinely heartbreaking for Ranko,' Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a news release. 'He has not only been an extremely consistent and high performer on the field, but also a compassionate and supportive presence in the locker room. 'He's been a true cornerstone for us this season, and it's incredibly difficult to see his year cut short. The entire organization is behind him as he begins his recovery.' Veselinovic's defense has been part of the reason behind Vancouver's surprise stellar season. The Whitecaps had four players in Wednesday's All-Star Game, with star Brian White scoring one of the goals as the MLS All-Stars recorded a 3-1 win over the LIGA MX All-Stars in Austin, Texas. White has a team-leading 11 goals. The squad's other representatives were goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka (MLS-best 10 shutouts), defender Tristan Blackmon (two goals) and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter (two goals, four assists). 'Everyone is making us better,' Berhalter said after the All-Star Game. 'We could have honestly had 11 guys here.' Sporting Kansas City (6-11-6, 24 points) sits in 13th place in the West but is just five points shy of the conference's final playoff spot. Second-leading goal scorer Daniel Salloi (six goals) said Kansas City can make a run. 'In this league, anything can happen,' he said. 'Anyone can beat anybody. But it really doesn't matter who we beat. We have to win half our games to make the playoffs.' Goalkeeper John Pulskamp touched on the campaign being a 'transition season' for the club. However, he is bullish that a strong finish could be in store. 'We want to keep climbing that table this year, not just next year,' Pulskamp said. 'That's all our focus in the locker room is making the most of it this year.' Star striker Dejan Joveljic leads Sporting KC with 13 goals. Salloi scored the tying goal in the second half last Saturday as Sporting KC played to a 1-1 tie against visiting New York City FC.
Toronto Star
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinovic suffers season-ending knee injury
VANCOUVER - Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinovic will miss the rest of the Major League Soccer season after suffering a knee injury. The 26-year-old centre back left the field after getting hurt in the 34th minute of Vancouver's 1-1 draw with San Diego FC on Saturday, and did not return to the game.
Hamilton Spectator
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinovic suffers season-ending knee injury
VANCOUVER - Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinovic will miss the rest of the Major League Soccer season after suffering a knee injury. The 26-year-old centre back left the field after getting hurt in the 34th minute of Vancouver's 1-1 draw with San Diego FC on Saturday, and did not return to the game. The club announced Tuesday that he has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury that will end his season. The Whitecaps say Veselinovic and the club's medical staff will determine next steps 'in the coming days.' The Serbian defender is in his sixth year with the 'Caps and has acted as captain for much of the campaign, filling in for midfielder Ryan Gauld who has been recovering from a knee injury since early March. Veselinovic made his 200th appearance for Vancouver on Saturday, equalling Jordan Harvey for the second most in the MLS era. Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster says the injury is 'genuinely heartbreaking.' '(Veselinovic) has not only been an extremely consistent and high performer on the field, but also a compassionate and supportive presence in the locker room,' Schuster said in a statement. 'He's been a true cornerstone for us this season, and it's incredibly difficult to see his year cut short. The entire organization is behind him as he begins his recovery.' The Whitecaps have experienced a series of long-term injuries this season, including Gauld, who has been out since March 8. Canadian defender Sam Adekugbe saw his season cut short when he tore his Achilles tendon playing for the national team last month, and midfielder Ali Ahmed has been sidelined since spraining his ankle while playing for Canada. Several of Vancouver's players have also missed league games while competing for their national squads. The 'Caps (12-5-6) hope to get some bodies back into the lineup before they host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Vancouver Whitecaps, expansion side San Diego FC to battle for top of the West
Vancouver Whitecaps' Emmanuel Sabbi vies for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Seattle Sounders in Vancouver, on Sunday, June 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns The Vancouver Whitecaps were the team to watch through the first half of the Major League Soccer season, earning gutsy, offensively dominant victories against some of the continent's top teams. And the 'Caps (10-2-5) know their journey is far from over as the second half of the campaign begins Wednesday. 'It's been amazing, the first part of the season,' said veteran defender Ranko Veselinovic. 'We know we did a good job, but also we know that that's passed. Now we cannot look at that any more. That's done. 'New games are coming, and only the next game is the most important, so we need to keep going. Because if you don't continue like in the first part, no one's going to care about the first part of the season.' Outside expectations for the Whitecaps are higher heading into the second half of the season, said head coach Jesper Sorensen, but the team remains realistic and focused. 'What I think this team needs to do going forward is we need to be even more disciplined in how we want to play,' he said. 'If we want success, we have to be very clean in how we want to play the game, how we want to approach the game, and the style of play. We just have to continue work getting there.' Vancouver's next matchup will be a crucial one. The Whitecaps head into Wednesday's home game against expansion side San Diego FC (10-5-3) sitting atop the Western Conference standings — but San Diego could steal that mantle with a win. 'Big game for us. We want to stay there in the first spot, fight for the supporters shield,' Veselinovic said. 'So we need a good performance on Wednesday. They're a really good team.' Anders Dreyer has been key to San Diego's early success. The 27-year-old Danish midfielder has eight goals and a league-leading nine assists in 18 games this season. 'We know he has a good left foot, he likes to come inside and play the switches that can hurt the teams,' Veselinovic said. 'He's really good player, but we faced already this season pretty good players on a lot of teams, and we know how to handle them. We don't focus just on one player, we need to focus on all their team because they can hurt you from many aspects.' While the MLS international break has come to an end, the Whitecaps will still be without some of their top talent for Wednesday's matchup. The team's leading scorer, Brian White, is still playing for the United States in the Gold Cup alongside 'Caps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter. Canadian midfielder Jayden Nelson is taking part in the same tournament, while teammate Ali Ahmed was sent back to Vancouver on Tuesday for further evaluation of the ankle injury he suffered in Canada's 1-1 draw with Curaçao on Saturday. The absences could be an opportunity for Emmanuel Sabbi. The 27-year-old forward joined the Whitecaps in February from French side Le Havre AC and has two goals and two assists in 12 MLS games. But Sabbi feels his personal performance 'could be better, definitely.' He knows this week is an opportunity to show he deserves a permanent spot in Vancouver's starting 11. 'Every player wants to be a starter, and I just need to show more what I can do,' Sabbi said. 'It's just day by day, day by day in training.' While everyone is vying for minutes, the sense of unity among the Whitecaps' players overrides each player's individual goals, he added. 'I feel like this is the first team I've been on where everyone seems at the same level mentally,' he said. 'And of course, we all have our personal goals, but we never let that affect the team's effort, and all of us go 100 for each other. It's very unique.' SAN DIEGO FC (10-5-3) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (10-2-5) Wednesday, B.C. Place LAST TIME OUT: Both teams are coming off a week-and-a-half long international break. San Diego's last game was a 4-2 road win over Minnesota United on June 14. Vancouver played the same day, falling 2-1 to Columbus Crew for their first away loss of the season. DEEP OFFENCE: Seventeen players have scored for Vancouver across all competitions this season, while 15 have assists. SUMMER ROAD TRIP: Following Wednesday's game, the 'Caps play their next five league games on the road. The club is schedule to play just two matches at B.C. Place next month — a Canadian Championship quarterfinal against Canadian Premier League side Valour FC on July 9, and a regular-season fixture against Sporting Kansas City on July 26. This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025.
