Davies delights upon return to Whitecaps' lineup

Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath was visibly frustrated Saturday night – and Alphonso Davies was to blame.

Davies scored two goals and added a pair of assists as the Vancouver Whitecaps doubled Minnesota United 4-2 in Major League Soccer action.

“If you look at this game today, there’s really nothing in it – apart from a couple of bitter moments when Alphonso Davies has just changed the course of the game,” said Heath.

Davies, the 17-year-old Canadian international who is becoming a global name in soccer, thrived as he returned to Vancouver’s starting lineup after missing two games while his transfer to German powerhouse Bayern Munich was being finalized.

The transfer, worth up to US$22 million, an MLS record fee, will take effect in January.

“Now, the kid, Davies, had a great night, and he’s what he is,” said Heath. “He’s a special talent, the kid. … But in between the goals – and I know this actually sounds stupid – I thought we were actually the better team.”

That claim was highly debatable, but there was no doubting Davies’ impact – or his desire to play after he found the negotiations with Bayern Munich “kind of boring” due to inactivity.

"I love playing (soccer),” said Davies. “It's my passion. Being away for two weeks, sitting on the side, when I got my opportunity, I took it."

The Loons (9-12-1) went without a win for the first time in four games as their road record fell to 1-9-0. Minnesota defender Michael Boxall, a former Whitecap said the Loons were able to stop Davies in the first half, when Vancouver’s Yordy Reyna, on a spectacular individual effort, was the lone scorer. But, Boxall added, the visitors, as has been their custom this season lacked concentration and died in the second half.

“Obviously, tonight, if you died again, then (Davies) was going to make you pay,” said Boxall.

In the first half, Boxall and other Loons knocked Davies around, usually without fouls being called. However, Boxall did receive a yellow card for pushing him down in the Minnesota box after the ball went out of play for a goal kick.

But Davies took the contact in stride, contending that he was not concerned about being targeted.

“It's a man's sport,” he said. “As a kid coming into a man's sport, I'm expecting that. So, yeah, I'm ready for it. I'm going to take it on – just do what I do."

The youngster said he feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders now that the transfer deal with Bayern Munich has been finalized. Heath called Davies a “special talent,” noting that he looks bigger and stronger than he did a year ago.

With his two goals Saturday, Davies has five goals, exceeding the three that he scored in 17 games last season. His two assists gave him 10 on the season – two more than he managed in all of 2017.

"I think this time is different because I have a little more confidence on and off the ball,” said Davies.
“Every time I step on the field, I try to do my best for the team. Every time I get the ball, I want to be positive."

Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said Davies off his game in the first 20 minutes, possibly because of his whirlwind of off-field activities and layoff. But the coach wanted Davies to play through his difficulties – and he did.

Davies put the Whitecaps ahead 2-0 in the 55th minute as he intercepted a pass outside of the Minnesota box – right after a Vancouver turnover – and deked his way straight through five defenders and put between goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth’s legs.

Kei Kamara put the Whitecaps up 3-0 in the 65th minute – only two minutes after subbing in – as he converted a pass from Davies on a two-on-one. Ibson and Abu Danladi threw a scare into the Whitecaps by scoring five minutes apart, in the 87th and 89th. But only two minutes after Danladi's goal, Davies deked his way through defenders again and lifted a shot into the top right corner of the net.

"We know he's a wonderful talent,” said Robinson. “We know he's got ability. He's got potential. But when he plays like that, that's not potential – that's reality."