Emil Gazdov already has plenty of memories of Vancouver鈥檚 B.C. Place. The one he鈥檒l add Tuesday is likely to top them all.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper from North Vancouver, B.C., will take the field for Pacific FC as the Canadian Premier League club aims to upset Major League Soccer鈥檚 Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool just being able to play against them, especially at B.C. Place,鈥� Gazdov said. 鈥淏ecause as a kid, I would go and watch (Whitecaps) games there. 鈥� So being able to play there and against them in my home city is really cool.鈥�
The six-foot-five netminder has faced the 鈥楥aps before, including during the first leg of the two-game aggregate semifinal in Langford, B.C., back on July 10.
Vancouver ultimately took a 1-0 decision in that game, but Gazdov drew praise for a four-save performance that included a highlight-reel-worthy stop on 鈥楥aps sniper Brian White in the 49th minute.
The American striker sent a blistering header in from the top of the six-yard box, only to see Gazdov dive sideways and poke the ball out of harm鈥檚 way. White responded with disbelief, simply shaking his head.
On the Pacific bench, goalkeeper Trevor Stiles could barely contain his glee.
鈥淚 was giddy. I had a big giddy smile,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause I know that鈥檚 Emil. I know that鈥檚 what Emil can be on a regular basis.
鈥淎nd I know a lot of people see that in Emil, but for him to showcase that in the Canadian Championship against the Whitecaps? Big players come out in big moments, right? And for me, that鈥檚 showing to himself, to our club, to other clubs, MLS clubs, that this guy鈥檚 the real deal.鈥�
Part of what impressed Stiles about the save was Gazdov鈥檚 non-reaction. It鈥檚 taken the young 鈥榢eeper a lot of work to get to a place where he can make an incredible save and act as if nothing happened, the coach said.
And reaching that level of focus and control shows Gazdov is on track to achieve big things.
鈥淚 truly feel he can be someone that could be Canada鈥檚 No. 1 for years to come, he can find himself playing in a top league in the top four or five countries, in those leagues,鈥� Stiles said.
鈥淎nd as well, he鈥檚 a big, nice, happy young man. Sometimes a kid, but we鈥檒l call him a young man. Someone you want to see do well and hit those markers, hit those goals and make those achievements happen.鈥�
Gazdov came up through the Whitecaps鈥� academy system where he worked alongside some of the players he鈥檇 idolized growing up, including Danish 鈥榢eeper David Ousted.
鈥淚 remember my first week there, I was working out in the gym 鈥� and I was working out right next to him,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a pretty critical moment for me, just to watch this guy on the field growing up, and now I鈥檓 in the same club, in the same gym, working out next to him.鈥�
Gazdov signed his first professional contract with Pacific as a 17-year-old back in June 2020, then went out on loan to FC Nurnberg in Germany in October of the same year.
The netminder returned to Vancouver Island in 2022 and took over the club鈥檚 No. 1 spot to start the 2023 campaign, backstopping the team to a 11-10-7 regular-season record and an appearance in the CPL playoff semifinals.
The 2024 season has held mixed results for Pacific, who are 5-9-5 in league play and mired in a six-game (0-5-1) winless skid after dropping a 1-0 road decision to Cavalry FC on Saturday.
While the CPL side heads into Tuesday鈥檚 semifinal as the underdogs, Gazdov takes a lot of confidence from his personal performance in the first leg.
鈥淥bviously, I know in myself, I believe I can be at that level and play,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut then to be able to actually show it, for me that was really nice.鈥�
Another young B.C. 鈥榢eeper will feature in Tuesday鈥檚 game, too, with Isaac Boehmer getting the start for Vancouver.
The 22-year-old from Penticton, B.C., came up through the Whitecaps鈥� academy with Gazdov.
鈥淲e鈥檝e taken different paths but, look at that 鈥� we鈥檙e playing against each other again,鈥� Boehmer said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 always exciting.鈥�
Vancouver boasts an 11-8-5 record in MLS play this season but hasn鈥檛 seen game action since Aug. 7 when they were ousted from the Leagues Cup with a 2-0 loss to Mexican side Pumas UNAM.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always strange when in the middle of the season, you have to do this long break. But it happens,鈥� Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini said of the layoff.
鈥淲e tried to do two different things: give some rest at the beginning, and then train a lot, push, push, push, and work on the way that we want to do things for the next 10 games in MLS, and then the Canadian Championship.鈥�
Boehmer won鈥檛 have much rust to shake off after playing for MLS Next Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 during the break.
鈥淲e鈥檙e full of confidence going into the second leg. Team鈥檚 prepared, we鈥檙e ready to rock 鈥榥鈥� roll,鈥� he said. 鈥淵eah, we鈥檙e 1-0 up. But that doesn鈥檛 really matter anymore. We just want to focus, play a good game and get through to the next round.鈥�
READ ALSO:
