The next MLS star? Jayden Nelson fits Alphonso Davies' record in the debut in Vancouver Whitecaps

Jayden Nelson had one thing in his head when he scored a goal in his outstanding Vancouver Whitecaps FC debut: “I'm here.”

The 22-year-old Canadian achieved the highest performance of the week in the Major League Soccer on Sunday and scored a goal and three templates when the Whitecaps scored their Cascadia Cup competitors, the 10-man-timbers 4: 1.

Nelson was the first Canadian to score a goal, and three templates for the Whitecaps, since FC Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies against Orlando City SC did.

“I'm happy for him and for us,” said head coach Jesper Sørensen and also claimed his first MLS victory as a manager. “[Nelson] Has a good ability to do some things that he does really well, and then he has to have the work morality to continue working to round off his game even more. “

After Ryan Gaul, Pedro Vite and Sam Adekugbe scored goals, Nelson dribbled past two defenders and added his own marker, stamped his feet and explained his place in MLS before he was put off.

“I'm here. It's just so easy,” said Nelson after the match. “I didn't want to expect the fans and I wanted that [soccer] To do talking, right? So yes, I'm here. “

Nelson's Whitecaps era is still in the early 20s and is his second MLS stint. He returns to the league after he had no influence with the first team of Toronto FC, where he played from 2020 to 2022 after graduating from the TFC Academy.

In 2022 he left TFC to test himself in the 2nd Bundesliga, and then moved to the Norwegian top side of Rosenborg before returning to North America this low season.

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Now that he returns to MLS after the experience of the European game, he has a better idea of ​​how his skills can be successful with the Whitecaps, which, according to him, can play a system similar to his former Norwegian association.

“When I went [to Europe]I realized that many things can change and some things are outside of their control, ”he added. “I just try to take the bull here on the horns and then really take it for what it is and I am grateful for this opportunity. I don't want to make it less. “

While a red card in the 11th minute to the Portland Center Back Kamal Miller allowed more space for the attack of the Whitecaps, Nelson stabbed the remaining players.

The strong start of his time with the Whitecaps could also start a return to Jesse Marsch's Canmnt, which will occur in March in March in the Concacaf Nations League against Mexico and possibly in the USA or Panama in Concacaf Nations League.

“If you are a young player and the way he did at the beginning of his career, then everyone starts to make hype about players, and suddenly it is difficult to do justice,” added Sørenseeon . “It is normal and it is common that there are difficulties in one [soccer] Career.”

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Nelson already had five Canmnt caps, played on the right wing and quickly proved that he could torture an MLS defense and do better to fight Canmnt goalkeeper Maxime Creepeau.

Nevertheless, it's just a game for the young Canadian and it is up to him to maintain things. But if Alphonso Davies is comparable, things will probably go pretty well.

Nelson added: “It's just a match, and everyone knows it is [soccer]And there is no memory of it [soccer]Right? So that's my mentality and just to go to the next game to do it again. “

As much as Nelson's performance is the primary, the Whitecaps also gave an indication of the exciting and dynamic team that they could be in 2025. While she dropped her opening-Concacaf Champions leg against Deportivo Saprissa 2-1, she dominated her dominance in a high-hig. The press and forcing mistakes from Portland were obvious.

“I was happier and easier … every time you win, you build up your belief in yourself, and that is a good thing. If you lose, you sometimes lack a little trust, or you start to doubt a little, ”said Sørensen, who was brought along to increase the Whitecaps roster from his eighth place in the MLS Western Conference 2024 MLS.

“I know that we all cannot always look as we did today, but the intentions with which we have to play and how we want to go forward and build a playing style if we look better and better”, he ended.

After considerable travel delays from Costa Rica, all of this success came to the northwest's Pacific. Nevertheless, the early journey is now behind you because on March 2 against the reigning MLS Cup Champions La Galaxy you can return home with Saprissa and your MLS Home Opener.

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