FC Edmonton’s rivals in the NASL post-season race — the ones who have yet to clinch their spots, that is — all endured miserable weekends. Miami FC lost. The New York Cosmos got hammered. Minnesota was beaten by the Ottawa Fury for the second consecutive time.

“He whistled for a penalty and then he was influenced by the fourth official who said he didn't think it was,” Schallibaum said following the game. “For me it's a scandal because a decision was made and then all of a sudden it's not a penalty. It was something that changed the game even though we did not play a strong first half and we were unlucky on the penalty to Hassoun.”

The Brazilian banged home the winner on 48 minutes, but Matt Watson played a big role in generating the PK, tapping the ball away from Bill Hamid in the area before getting clattered by the goalkeeper.

A 2-1 triumph over the Red Bulls was more than just three points for Vancouver; it was a statement to the fans back in British Columbia that this team wasn’t going to roll over.

“Two deflections that we’ve lost goals from,” head coach Martin Rennie said of Dallas’s goals. “So that’s very frustrating."

Three goals from Camilo — one on a penalty — gave the Whitecaps a comfortable 3-0 preseason win over the NASL’s Carolina RailHawks in Cary, N.C. Sunday.

We all know that there isn’t a soccer manager alive who doesn’t want as much depth as possible in a roster. But, could the Whitecaps be getting to the point where they have too many players for coach Martin Rennie to manage?

Yet again, Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie has brought one of his former RailHawks charges to Vancouver. American defender Brad Rusin will join former Carolina players Matt Watson, Jun Marques Davidson and goalkeeper Brad Knighton on the Whitecaps roster.

In fact, anyone who had never seen the Whitecaps before Thursday’s playoff game would have likely said that Matt Watson — a guy who played in NASL last season — must be a Designated Player, not Robson or Miller.

But, the Whitecaps later found out they would become the first Canadian franchise to qualify for the playoffs after all, as FC Dallas couldn't capitalize on the Whitecaps slip-up, losing 3-1 to Seattle.