Whitecaps’ Christian Dean thrilled to be playing after a year away with injury
VANCOUVER — The match ended in a draw. But returning to the pitch was a victory for Vancouver Whitecaps defender Christian Dean.
Dean made his first Major League Soccer start since Aug. 29, 2015, in Vancouver’s 0-0 tie against the Philadelphia Union Sunday night. The 23-year-old from East Palo Alto, Calif., admitted to some nerves prior to the match.
“Before the game, I had some butterflies for sure,” he said. “That’s a good thing. My dad always said if you don’t feel it, you don’t care.”
The Whitecaps took the left-footed centreback third overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. In 2015 Dean made three starts in five regular season appearances.