Article content

If there is a criticism of the Vancouver Whitecaps — and there seems to be plenty these days — the one most pertinent to their current situation is that the squad doesn’t have the moxie or, perhaps, the skill, to win the so-called Big Games.

Cue the indignant coach.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or J.J. Adams: If Whitecaps are a 'big-game team,' Sunday is perfect time to prove it Back to video

“I’ve listened to people who’ve said, when big games come around, these players can’t quite get over the hurdle, and what I have to say to that is yeah, it was a big game on Saturday … and yeah, it was a big game last season in the playoffs against Seattle when we lost,” said Caps coach Carl Robinson.

“It was also a big game against San Jose at home when we won. It was also a big game against NYFC when we went away, or when we went to Portland away and we won.

“These guys know how to handle big games. Some you win and some you don’t. It’s easy to talk about the ones you don’t, because if you win all your big games, you go and win the quadruple, like Toronto. And we’re not in that boat.”

It’s true that Vancouver went away and got results against New York City FC — a 2-2 tie in the toughest road stadium in Major League Soccer — and snapped the Timbers’ 15-game unbeaten streak at Providence Park the following week.

But those were tough games, not the Big Games. Those were games where nothing was expected of the Caps, and freed from the burden of expectations, the squad played with an underdog’s carefreeness.