MLS – A week of ups and downs for the Whitecaps.

The Vancouver Whitecaps finished their two game mini road trip on Saturday with a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew.

Head coach Teitur Thordason elected to go with strikers Omar Salgado and Camilo to start the game due to injuries and suspensions to Atiba Harris and Eric Hassli.

Vancouver played the game very defensive for a better part of the first half when both teams were scoreless after 45 minutes.

In the second half Columbus was awarded a penalty shot when Caps keeper Jay Nolly came off his line to challenge a forward and unfortunately took the man down for a PK.

The Crew then quickly increased its lead with another goal from striker Emilio Renteria to make it 2-0 on the hour mark.

Vancouver then would score to tie the game as MLS first overall draft pick Omar Salgado beautifully finished a cross from Terry Dunfield to cut the lead to 2-1.

The Caps would then continue to press, however there were without any luck as after 90 minutes the score would remain 2-1 for the Columbus Crew.

Earlier in the week the Whitecaps were able to beat the Montreal Impact 1-0 in their first leg of the Nutralite Canadian Championships.

Terry Dunfield was the goal scorer for Vancouver as winger Russell Teibert found Dunfield on the end of his cross to give the Caps a 1-0 win but also an important away goal.

The two teams return to Vancouver on Wednesday night in their return leg.