SportsSoccer

3 Kicks: Whitecaps surrender at the death

Rituro
Rituro
|
Jul 10 2016, 9:13 am
3 Kicks: Whitecaps surrender at the death

Hello? Is this the Vancouver Whitecaps FC defence? I’d like to formally lodge a complaint.

Ahem.

PLEASE STOP CONCEDING GOALS IN STOPPAGE TIME.

At least this one didn’t cost you the Voyageurs Cup, just a full three points. Small steps, right?

The Whitecaps took an early lead off a Kendal Waston header, which lasted until Kevin Doyle tied the match for the Rapids in 59th minute. Cristian Techera earned a penalty and scored his first of the season in the 87th minute. That looked like the winner until Axel Sjoberg broke Whitecaps’ hearts when he levelled the match in the 5th minute of time added. Vancouver had to settle for a 2-2 tie.

“I don’t think we deserved to win the game if I’m being honest,” Robbo told reporters after the match. “The way it panned out in the last minute was disappointing but it was probably a fair result.”

And on that positive note, let’s take a look at our three kicks.

1. I still love Fraser Aird, but…

Fraser Aird, you’re on notice.

It’s not too much of a stretch to say Jordan Smith has not exactly won himself many supporters since his arrival in Vancouver. Tonight, he may have undone some of that damage.

Some. Not all. Some.

Smith was billed as an attacking fullback/wingback upon his arrival and tonight we saw what surely must’ve endeared him to Robbo’s scouting team. In the more frenetic moments of the first half, Smith could be seen providing service, linking up with the midfield and generally being, well, an attacking fullback/wingback.

Did he still give up far too many chances on defence? Oh my, yes. Kevin Doyle and Shkelzen Gashi had their way with the Costa Rican defender time and again. If Smith really wants that starting job to remain his once Aird is ready for action, he needs to be sharper when he’s not attacking.

Love that long throw, though.

2. Knocked off the Scooter

Kekuta Manneh, we hardly knew ye.

Robbo’s big decision to bench the speedy winger known as “Scooter” last week caused ripples of fear around Whitecaps land. Was Manneh on the trading block? Was he injured?

As it turned out, neither was true.

The coach wanted to “send a message” to the exciting yet inconsistent winger. Manneh seemed to get the message to start the game, causing a brief moment of excitement as he attempted to duplicate his goal in Philadelphia. The chance was well defended, though, leading to audible groans from the sellout crowd at BC Place.

Sadly, that was not the worst thing to happen to Manneh on the night. As he attempted to latch onto a long ball, putting on the jets and nearly clear of all markers, Colorado defender Jared Watts fouled Manneh hard, earning a yellow card for the cynical challenge.

This led to the second audible response from the assembled crowd: a collective sharp inhaling as Manneh stayed on the ground, clearly in pain.

Oh, no. Not again. Please no.

Manneh attempted to stay in the game but ultimately the injury got the best of him and he was subbed out for Erik Hurtado. (Guess how well that worked out… But that’s for another time.)

Mercifully, it appears Manneh’s troublesome left ankle was spared. Sideline reporter Perry Solkowski claimed the injury was a right foot sprain. The ‘Caps would latter confirm it.

I’m not sure if that’s bad, better or about the same. Either way, it’s another knock that Manneh – and his teammates – certainly didn’t need.

3. Rebuilding the tower of power

The other Costa Rican Whitecap on the hot seat, Kendall Waston, did himself plenty of favours tonight.

In a season riddled with suspensions and international absences, Kendall Waston has fallen far from grace in the collective eyes of Vancouver supporters. He needed to come up big tonight against one the Western Conference’s top teams (and I still can’t believe I’m referring to the Colorado [expletive] Rapids when I say that).

A goal will do that.

A goal-line clearance will do that.

An unblocked cross leading to a heartbreaking goal will not do that.

Well, at least Waston recovered from that horrible aerial duel that led to Colorado’s first chance early in the game. Waston losing aerial duels is like a fish drowning; it shouldn’t happen because you do the opposite of that for a living.

Free Kick: David Edgar

EDGARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! WHEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

AND MARCEL DE JONG?!? #WhitecapsLoveCanada

See also

Match Details

Man of the Match: Kendall Waston
Referee: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 22,120

Scoring Summary
10′ – VAN – Kendall Waston (Christian Bolaños, Pedro Morales)
59′ – COL – Kevin Doyle (Shkelzen Gashi, Marco Pappa)
87′ – VAN – Cristian Techera (Penalty Kick)
90′ + 4′ – COL – Axel Sjoberg (Kevin Doyle)

Stats
Possession: Vancouver 40.2 % – Colorado 59.8 %
Shots: Vancouver 13 – Colorado 17
Shots on Goal: Vancouver 6 – Colorado 9
Saves: Vancouver 7 – Colorado 4
Fouls: Vancouver 9 – Colorado 11
Offsides: Vancouver 0 – Colorado 1
Corners: Vancouver 3 – Colorado 4

Cautions
37′ – COL – Jared Watts
56′ – COL – Shkelzen Gashi
74′ – COL – Marco Pappa

Ejection
71′ – COL – Eric Miller

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 6.Jordan Smith, 4.Kendall Waston, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 7.Christian Bolaños, 17.Andrew Jacobson, 15.Matías Laba, 77.Pedro Morales © (13.Cristian Techera 80′); 23.Kekuta Manneh (19.Erik Hurtado 43′); 27.Blas Pérez (11.Nicolás Mezquida 65′)

Substitutes not used
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 9.Masato Kudo, 14.Cole Seiler, 30.Ben McKendry

Colorado Rapids
1.Tim Howard; 3.Eric Miller, 33.Jared Watts, 44.Axel Sjoberg, 5.Mekeil Williams; 6.Sam Cronin ©, 22.Michael Azira; 10.Marco Pappa (4.Marc Burch 74′), 8.Dillon Powers (21.Luis Solignac 84′), 11.Shkelzen Gashi (94.Marlon Hairston 79′); 9.Kevin Doyle

Substitutes not used
18.Zac MacMath, 14.Dominique Badji, 19.Conor Doyle

RituroRituro
+ Offside
+ Soccer

SUBSCRIBE TO THE HIVE

Get the latest news sent to your inbox and stay in the loop