Just seconds after his team handed him his first postseason victory as a head coach, Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Carl Robinson was already looking ahead to the upcoming Cascadia clash in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs against the defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders.
"We’ll be prepared,” Robinson told TSN’s Kristian Jack, after the Whitecaps knocked off the San Jose Earthquakes 5-0 in a Western Conference Knockout Round match. "We know they're a top team. They’re the champs. I like knocking champs off perches.”
The ‘Caps compiled a 1-1-1 record against Seattle during the regular season, going unbeaten at home (2-1 win on April 14 and 1-1 tie on August 23) before dropping a 3-0 result at CenturyLink Field on September 27.
Although the No. 2-seeded Sounders finished above the No. 3-seeded Whitecaps in the Western Conference standings, it was by a mere point (53 vs. 52). Nonetheless, Robinson sees the Sounders as the definitive favorites going into the series.
"I’m delighted for the [Whitecaps] players because they give me everything every single day,” Robinson said. "As I said, listen we’re the underdog. Write us off at your peril.”
That might be tough to do after Robinson’s crew dismantled the Quakes on Wednesday night, earning the organization its first MLS Cup playoff win.
"It took [me] four attempts at [a playoff win], but I think we've thoroughly deserved it,” Robinson told TSN. "And we should’ve done that to San Jose, who are a good team, two weeks ago [in the regular season]. We didn’t [1-1 tie]. We learned our lesson. Fantastic performance from the guys."
