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One minute you’re sitting tight hoping for an opportunity to emerge from an idle 18-game run on the bench, the next you’re thrust into action in a fierce north-west rivalry match-up.
That’s the likely scenario that’s about to befall Evan Bush this weekend following his move from Montreal Impact to Vancouver Whitecaps.
Of course it won’t be the usual boisterous cacophony of noise without fans present, but the intensity of a heated Cascadian derby between rivals at opposite ends of the scale will still be tangibly felt.
Perhaps Whitecaps fans should not worry. Bush’s record in games facing the Sounders stands up to scrutiny. A positive 3-1-1 record and two clean-sheets are testimony to that. But it will be no easy Saturday night-in for the former long-serving Impact ‘keeper.
Sounders, MLS Champions, have been scoring for fun lately with Ruidiaz, Morris and Lodeiro contributing goals and assists aplenty. Vancouver have been anything but watertight in defence. Evan will be hoping to help shore them up.
Vancouver’s goalkeeping problems are well-documented. With injuries to Max Crepeau and Thomas Hasal, they opted to go with third choice Bryan Meredith who hadn’t seen action in MLS for over two years. His first game back was a 0-6 demolition by LAFC, who scored only once after the 33rd minute.
Now they may turn to the more experienced Bush, who’s last professional appearance was in Impact’s 1-2 defeat to LA Galaxy (and Zlatan, who scored) just over a year ago.
“Due to the uncertainty around our goalkeeper position, this is a move we needed to make,” Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement. “Max Crepeau is still a few weeks away from returning to full training and Thomas Hasal is out indefinitely. We explored a number of possibilities and Evan Bush is an experienced professional who will provide us another strong option in net along with Bryan Meredith.”
The Whitecaps have not beaten their great rival since April 2017, when Fredy Montero’s brace won the day. That was nine derbies ago, in which defeat was avoided on only three occasions.
There’s not so many Whitecaps fans over Montreal way, but there will be quite a few in the East tuning-in on Saturday night hoping the best for their former last line of defence.