Jordan Harvey was not going to let anyone spoil his moment.
The former Whitecaps defender was serenaded as he left late in Friday's game as his new team, Los Angeles FC, blanked Vancouver 2-0 at B.C. Place Stadium.
“It meant a lot,” said Harvey. “It took me by surprise,
obviously. I’m not sure which (Vancouver) player it was, but he tried to get me
to get off the field. But regardless of what anybody did, I was gonna take that (ovation)
in, because that meant a lot to me."
Many in the crowd were standing as he subbed off in the 86th minute, showing appreciation for his seven seasons of mostly unspectacular, but solid service with the Whitecaps.
"It means a lot to my family," he continued. "I’m just very
grateful to have spent the years here and (for) the memories that
I have.
“It was up there with every moment that I’ve had with the
Whitecaps.”
Harvey, 34, arrived unceremoniously in Vancouver in 2011 as a result of a mid-season trade from Philadelphia and went on to become the Caps' all-time leader in Major League Soccer minutes, games played and appearances. He signed with expansion side L.A. as a free agent in the off-season after losing his starting spot late in the 2017 campaign.
He made his first start with L.A. on Friday after Joao Mourinho was suspended for taking a pair of yellow cards in the club's previous match. The Whitecaps paid tribute to him briefly before the game.
“It’s been kind of strange from the moment that we were
about to land, just seeing the landscape and then landing and coming in,” said Harvey.
“It was really amazing. The fans were so nice. I’m just so grateful for my time
here and the memories that I have, and I really appreciate the support that I
got tonight.”
His new team should also appreciate the support that he provided on the back line. The Whitecaps never threatened offensively as L.A. used five defenders in its formation.
“The staff really prepared us well, and that’s what, I
think, calmed the group,” said Harvey. “We felt prepared when we went into it and
we were sound defensively, which was good for me personally. It was kind of a
whirlwind of emotions because, coming back here, this being my first time with
a new club, I wanted to make a good first impression. All those things built up
and I was able to just spend another night on the field. I felt really good. I had
a lot of support from my teammates.”
L.A. earned its clean sheet after allowing nine goals in its previous two games, which both resulted in losses.
“We went back to the basics," said Harvey. "The first game that we played
against Seattle was more like this performance. We get a goal on the road and
then defend soundly and defend properly.”
Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi scored second-half goals for L.A., and Tyler Miller earned his second shutout of the season.
The Whitecaps dearly missed top striker Kei Kamara, who was sidelined due to a groin injury suffered in training Thursday.
"I could say (Kamra's absence) didn't affect (the outcome)," said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson. "Clearly, I would be lying."
According to the Caps coach, L.A.'s switch to five defenders also made a difference.
"They adjusted their formation, and credit to them
because they got their tactices spot on," said "We weren't sort of in the
game. We weren't much in the game.
"They kept going. We weren't good enough."
And, in the end, Jordan Harvey stole the show.
