The Vancouver Whitecaps coach has begun a search for more firepower in advance of the international transfer window that opens July 7. Vancouver's need for more offensive talent was evident in Vancouver's 1-1 tie Friday with Toronto FC.
"The run they've made (in May) has been fantastic," said Dos Santos, noting the Caps (4-6-6) have earned 17 points in their last 11 games. "There's a lot of positives. But, now, it's obvious that you need to reinforce what's here already."
Toronto FC (5-6-3) rallied to tie the game in the 90th minute as second-half substitute Nick DeLeon's attempted cross deflected in off a Vancouver defender. The goal came after Fredy Montero had given the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead on a penalty-kick in the 84th minute.
He suggested the Whitecaps were fortunate to earn a point .
"We have to admit that the tie is fair," he said. "That's a fair result for both teams. If we don't admit that, then we're delusional and we don't progress as a team."
Vancouver's offence was disjointed most o the night, even though the Caps held an edge in ball possession (approximately 52 per cent to 48 per cent) in the first half. Toronto enjoyed a 63-per-cent to 37 per cent edge in the second half.
"I have to rewatch the game, but
looking at it and thinking about it quickly, I think that once we got
possession in their half (of the pitch), especially in the first half,
it was sloppy, bad decision-making on the ball, missed passes," said Dos
Santos. "It wasn't good, in my opinion. I think it was probably our
worst first half this year, and that made it obvious that it was
difficult for us then to create chances."Whitecaps goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau prevented Toronto from turning the game into a rout as he made three difficult saves in a three-minute span in the second half before any scoring occurred. DeLeon's goal came at a time when Dos Santos was looking to sub off midfielder Hwang In-Beom, who had been hurt in the first half and was cramping and very fatig
Dos
Santos said he wanted to sub off Hwang In-Beom because he "was cramping
a lot and was very fatigued" before Toronto scored, but he was not able
to because the ball did not go out of play.
"And
then there's a lack of pressure on our left side, their right side,"
said Dos Santos. "From there, the play comes in. I didn't see the goal
yet. I think it got deflected, and it's unfortunate because we wanted to
make the sub. ... I felt they got in easy there and got the cross in
that deflected in."
"We're solid defending crosses and I don't have no words for this play when the ball is on DeLeon's
foot coming in, Ali (Adnan) is doing his job trying to block the cross
and then it's going past me (and) kisses the post really close," said
Crepeau. "It's difficult to end up the game like that. It's
heartbreaking."
Vancouver received a chance to steal a win as Montero converted his penalty-kick after second half substitute Yordy Reyna was taken down in the Toronto box on a breakaway by Reds defender Drew Moor. But the Whitecaps let up in the five minutes after the goal as the Reds became much more desperate, and DeLeon emerged as the hero.
“A loss really
would have deflated a lot of guys," said DeLeon. 'Just to fight back with how much time
was on the clock, I think, was big for us.”
He said the Reds, who have struggled for much of the season while star striker Jozy Altidore battled injury, can build off the comeback tie heading into the three-week international break.. In the meantime, the Whitecaps were left to ponder what might have been on a night when they feted their 1979 Soccer Bowl championship team.
Many of the 1979 team's stars, including Willie Johnston and former coach Tony Waiters, were honoured before the game.
"It was a special night," said Dos Santos. "Unfortunately, we didn't give them the win."
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