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Posted by
Harjeet Johal,
September 23, 2017 |
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@HarJournalist
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VANCOUVER, B.C - Whitecaps FC concluded a four-match home-stand with a 2-1 win over the floundering Colorado Rapids. Vancouver scored in each half before a sell-out crowd of 22,120 spectators at B.C. Place. The Caps improve to 14-9-6, and remain atop the MLS western conference. Colorado slips to 7-17-5 and sit at the bottom of the MLS table.
Fredy Montero, and Yordy Reyna each had a goal, and an assist for Whitecaps FC. Dominique Badji scored for Colorado. In his 150th start for Vancouver, David Ousted made 3 saves to earn his 13th win of the season.
"I’m not thinking about spots," said Carl Robinson, "I’m thinking about three points every game, that’s all I’m thinking about. We’ve got a great game on Wednesday against our neighbours and we know it’s going to be huge, it’s going to be a great challenge, it’s an opportunity to pick up another three points. It’s not going to be easy, it wasn’t easy today but we just want to get as many points on the board as we can. As I said, sometimes the games against the teams at the wrong end of the table are as hard as the teams at the top end. I made them aware of that and the four-game home stand we picked up three wins and a draw. The whole squad deserves a lot of credit."
"Sometimes I feel like we want to make all the games interesting for the fans," admitted Fredy Montero. "They can get their season tickets for the next year. It’s a soccer game, we were winning and they came back with that goal at the end of the first half. We said in the break that we need to put more pressure, and we came out in the second half and we scored that goal."
Colorado Rapids, keeper, Tim Howard didn't have his best match of the season against Vancouver. The visitors knew they would face a tough challenge, and they showed that the match was a lot closer than most people probably would have predicted.
"We played a tough team obviously at home," Howard said. "Top of the table in the west, so they made it tough on us. We probably weren’t great at times, but I thought the second half was much better.”
The Opening 45
Colorado was quickly under siege in the opening moments of the match. Vancouver's high press, and quick counter-attacking style was on display early. Yordy Reyna sent in a beautiful cross to the Rapids back post. Montero out raced his marker, and smashed home an open header. Goalkeeper, Tim Howard was caught flat-footed, and remained frozen as Whitecaps FC jumped out to an early lead just 4' minutes in.
The Caps quick tally allowed them to sit back, and settle into the match. Colorado lacked ideas getting forward, and did not show enough creative urgency on offence. After opening the scoring, Vancouver was content around Tim Howard. Both teams had trouble maintaining possession, and stringing passes together.
Colorado was gifted the equalizer just before halftime. A loose ball pinged around the Vancouver box. Rapids striker, Dominique Badji snuck around Caps skipper, Tim Parker and poked the ball through David Ousted's legs. Colorado was riding a high.
Whitecaps FC scored early, but a momentary lapse helped Colorado tie the match at the interval. Colorado ruled possession by a 56% - 44% margin.
The Second Half
Carl Robinson's halftime talk must have inspired his team, as Vancouver came out looking to take back the lead, and they did exactly that.
Fredy Montero sent a long ball over the top, and Yordy Reyna was off to the races. He ran past Swedish international, Axel Sjoberg and was 1v1 with Tim Howard. The U.S. goalkeeper showed his indecisiveness as he did not fully commit to going for the ball. The Peruvian dynamo slotted the ball past Howard for his 5th MLS goal of the season.
Vancouver picked up their intensity in the second half, and it helped them restore their lead as they snatched away all three points vs Colorado. Vancouver got complacent after scoring first, but they focused on the task at hand, and took care of the falling Rapids.
Whitecaps FC will look to keep momentum going as they embark on a three-match road trip against Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City, and New York Red Bulls. Vancouver is after a coveted playoff bye, and they are looking to indeed do the trick.
Man of the Match
Yordy Reyna was fantastic once again. A healthy Reyna clearly makes Vancouver Whitecaps FC a completely different football club. He is dynamic on offence, and his creativity allows him to score goals, and setup his teammates. Vancouver's options are that much more vast when Reyna is in the lineup. The Caps would not be atop the MLS western conference without his phenomenal first year performances.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Starting XI: David Ousted; Marcel de Jong, Tim Parker(C), Andrew Jacobson, Jake Nerwinski; Tony Tchani, Aly Ghazal; Brek Shea, 77 (Alphonso Davies), Yordy Reyna, Cristian Techera, 70 (Bernie Ibini); Fredy Montero, 82 (Erik Hurtado). 4-2-3-1
Colorado Rapids Starting XI: Tim Howard(C); Mekeil Williams, Kortne Ford, Axel Sjoberg, Eric Miller; Jared Watts, 76 (Bismark Boateng), Michael Azira; Joshua Gait, 64 (Alan Gordon), Mohammed Saeid, Marlon Hairston, 60 (Stefan Aigner); Dominique Badji. 4-2-3-1
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