‘Caps open up preseason with first match in Spain

January 18, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release

SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA, SPAIN – Vancouver Whitecaps FC played their first match of the 2023 preseason on Wednesday, taking on German side Hamburger SV at the Marbella Football Center in Spain.

Hamburg opened the scoring on four minutes, when 6-foot-4 striker Robert Glatzel headed it in.

The ‘Caps steadily grew into the match in the first half. In the 10th minute, Andrés Cubas played a give-and-go with Brian White before firing a shot wide.

A planned substitution in the 32nd minute saw Ali Ahmed come on for Luís Martins at left back.

In the 34th minute, a cross from Ryan Gauld was headed on by a Hamburg defender which sailed just over the bar.

A minute later, Tristan Blackmon did well to cut into the box and set up a shot from Alessandro Schöpf that was cleared before it could reach the goal line.

The ‘Caps continued to find their rhythm, and in the 42nd minute a well played counter set up a shot from Pedro Vite which sailed high over the net.

Just before halftime, ‘Caps goalkeeper Thomas Hasal would stop a Hamburg free kick as the score would remain 1-0 for the Germans going into the break.

Whitecaps FC would make wholesale changes at halftime, with only Hasal remaining from the starting lineup.

The second half saw a good shot from Sebastian Berhalter saved, and a short corner to Ryan Raposo ending with a well-placed cross that was headed just wide from Giovanni Aguilar in the 58th minute.

Hamburg would find a second goal in the 60th minute. A quick attack from Jean-Luc Dompé resulted in a pass across goal from Miro Muheim and a brace for Glatzel.

Hasal would come up with one more big save in the 67th minute to stop a close range header.

In the 69th minute, Hamburg would come close to further extending their lead as Yeboah Königsdörffer hit the crossbar from close range.

Simon Becher came close to putting Vancouver on the board in the 89th minute, but his shot was saved by Hamburg goalkeeper Matheo Raab.

The ‘Caps now look ahead to their second match of preseason this coming Saturday, January 21 when they take on Austrian Bundesliga club Wolfsberger AC at the Marbella Football Center. Kickoff will be at 7 a.m. PT with updates on Twitter at @WhitecapsFC.

MATCH DETAILS

Scoring Summary

4′ – HAM – Robert Glatzel (Moritz Heyer)

60′ – HAM – Robert Glatzel (Miro Muheim)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

1.Thomas Hasal; 6.Tristan Blackmon (27.Ryan Raposo HT), 4.Ranko Veselinović (12.Karifa Yao…