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Under Teitur Thordarson and Todd Wawrousek's tutelage, the 2009 Vancouver Whitecaps saw tremendous turnover, trained in Tanzania, overcame turmoil and almost tasted triumph again.
The Caps' reign as United Soccer Leagues' First Division champions ended with a 3-1 Saturday loss in Montreal where the Impact completed the two-game, total goals final 6-3. For Montreal, it was revenge because the 2006 and 2008 champion Whitecaps beat the Impact in semifinals both years.
"We were written off early, as well maybe the Whitecaps were," said ex-Cap Joey Gjertsen. "We showed once you make it into the playoffs, one through seven, you're equal."
Vancouver cast-off numerous veterans after winning the 2008 title to prepare for the 2011 move to Major League Soccer. A June clash on-field between teammates Charles Gbeke and Wesley Charles was the low-point. The club eventually grabbed the seventh and last playoff spot, Gbeke won the league scoring title with 12 goals and nine-goal scorer Marcus Haber edged out teammate Wes Knight for rookie of the year. The Caps upset the Portland Timbers, the top squad in regular season, in the semifinal to set-up the first all-Canadian clash.