MLS talking points: How Vancouver became elite and no rest for Leo Messi
by Joseph Lowery, Graham Ruthven, James Nalton and Al from US news | The Guardian on (#6WEXR)
A single play has led Charlotte FC to multiple wins, while Minnesota United's strikeforce is thriving
The Vancouver Whitecaps weren't supposed to be here, perched on top of the Western Conference.
They lost Stuart Armstrong, a key Designated Player, over the offseason. Star attacker Ryan Gauld has missed the last month with a knee injury. They're still alive in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-finals, and Concacaf success and regular season success don't tend to mix well for MLS teams. And yet, here they are. On top of the West. The Vancouver Whitecaps.
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