The Whitecaps' <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2011/3/26/2074050/philadelphia-union-vs-vancouver-whitecaps-carlos-ruiz-puts-union-up-1">1-0 loss</a> to the Philadelphia Union Saturday afternoon will be disheartening to the team both from a momentum standpoint and a points-lost standpoint, but from a larger-picture perspective, it's not all that bad. Vancouver had plenty of chances and could easily have come away with a draw with a few different breaks; the Whitecaps weren't outclassed, and they demonstrated that they can play at a high level even with <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1413-Whitecaps-Union-Preview-Can-Vancouver-keep-this-up">significant roster attrition</a> thanks to injuries and international call-ups. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
In the end, it was the sending off of Eric Hassli with over 30 minutes left to play that proved disastrous for Vancouver. It's up for debate if the foul he was called for was really worth another yellow or not, but Hassli was playing rather recklessly for a man who had already been booked; if he didn't pick up the second yellow there, he might have earned it shortly thereafter. Hassli's fearless style and strength both on and off the ball are critical assets for him, but he's going to need to find a way to play under control when it's required.
Vancouver held their own in the midfield and possession battles until Hassli was dismissed, but they understandably fell back into more of a defensive shell afterwards. That worked for a time, and Joe Cannon made some terrific saves, but Philadelphia put up enough pressure that a goal seemed inevitable. The way it eventually came also carries some questions, both about Vancouver's poor man coverage in the box (Carlos Ruiz was wide open) and the potential for an offside call, but if the goal hadn't come there, it seems likely Philadelphia would have found another way to punch one in before the end; there was just too much pressure for the Whitecaps to hold out indefinitely.
There obviously will be plenty of room for discussion this week on everything from the refereeing to personnel moves to tactics, but this doesn't seem like a critical loss for Vancouver. It's a missed opportunity, sure, but it's one that seems to highlight correctable issues (discipline, depth, better marking, better set-piece plays) rather than glaring permanent flaws. It also shows that MLS life isn't going to be a complete cakewalk for Vancouver, and that may prove a valuable lesson too.