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."

Harvey feels the fans' love in return to Vancouver

Jordan Harvey was not going to let anyone spoil his moment.

The former Whitecaps defender was serenaded as he left late in Friday's game as his new team, Los Angeles FC, blanked Vancouver 2-0 at B.C. Place Stadium.

“It meant a lot,” said Harvey. “It took me by surprise, obviously. I’m not sure which (Vancouver) player it was, but he tried to get me to get off the field. But regardless of what anybody did, I was gonna take that (ovation) in, because that meant a lot to me."

Many in the crowd were standing as he subbed off in the 86th minute, showing appreciation for his seven seasons of mostly unspectacular, but solid service with the Whitecaps.

"It means a lot to my family," he continued. "I’m just very grateful to have spent the years here and (for) the memories that I have.

“It was up there with every moment that I’ve had with the Whitecaps.”

Harvey, 34, arrived unceremoniously in Vancouver in 2011 as a result of a mid-season trade from Philadelphia and went on to become the Caps' all-time leader in Major League Soccer minutes, games played and appearances. He signed with expansion side L.A. as a free agent in the off-season after losing his starting spot late in the 2017 campaign.

He made his first start with L.A. on Friday after Joao Mourinho was suspended for taking a pair of yellow cards in the club's previous match. The Whitecaps paid tribute to him briefly before the game. 

“It’s been kind of strange from the moment that we were about to land, just seeing the landscape and then landing and coming in,” said Harvey. “It was really amazing. The fans were so nice. I’m just so grateful for my time here and the memories that I have, and I really appreciate the support that I got tonight.”

His new team should also appreciate the support that he provided on the back line. The Whitecaps never threatened offensively as L.A. used five defenders in its formation.

“The staff really prepared us well, and that’s what, I think, calmed the group,” said Harvey. “We felt prepared when we went into it and we were sound defensively, which was good for me personally. It was kind of a whirlwind of emotions because, coming back here, this being my first time with a new club, I wanted to make a good first impression. All those things built up and I was able to just spend another night on the field. I felt really good. I had a lot of support from my teammates.”

L.A. earned its clean sheet after allowing nine goals in its previous two games, which both resulted in losses.

“We went back to the basics," said Harvey. "The first game that we played against Seattle was more like this performance. We get a goal on the road and then defend soundly and defend properly.”

Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi scored second-half goals for L.A., and Tyler Miller earned his second shutout of the season.

The Whitecaps dearly missed top striker Kei Kamara, who was sidelined due to a groin injury suffered in training Thursday.

"I could say (Kamra's absence) didn't affect (the outcome)," said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson. "Clearly, I would be lying."

According to the Caps coach, L.A.'s switch to five defenders also made a difference.

"They adjusted their formation, and credit to them because they got their tactices spot on," said "We weren't sort of in the game. We weren't much in the game.

"They kept going. We weren't good enough."

And, in the end, Jordan Harvey stole the show.

 

 

Whitecaps get rare taste of life at the top

The Vancouver Whitecaps have traditionally been climbers, but now they hope to avoid a fall.
The Whitecaps (13-9-5) sit first in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference heading into Saturday’s home game against the Columbus Crew (13-12-4) at B.C. Stadium. The Caps usually find themselves battling for a playoff spot at this time of year, with the end of the regular season approaching, but they have avoided their seemingly annual summer swoon – and displayed more consistency than expected.
However, Vancouver coach Carl Robinson and his players are not making a big deal of their success.
 “We’ve just got to keep ticking along,” said Robinson.
The Whitecaps are coming off a 3-0 thrashing of expansion side Minnesota United on Wednesday at home, where they made amends for squandering a 2-0 lead earlier this season in the Twin Cities and settling for a tie.
They have climbed up the standings by going 7-2-2 in their past 11 games
“It feels good, but we want to be there at the end of the season,” said Caps rookie defender Jake Nerwinski. “It’s good to be in first now, but we’ve got seven games left.”  
Saturday’s tilt is likely to be much more difficult for the Whitecaps. The Crew is 3-0-2 in its last five games and arrived early to watch Wednesday’s game at B.C. Place. After the game, many Whitecaps renewed acquaintances with former popular teammate Kekuta Manneh. The popular Gambia native, who has played both striker and midfielder, was traded to Columbus early in the season for Tony Tchani, who has performed well albeit with less flair.
“I hope he does well against us, but I hope we get the win,” said Whitecaps striker Erik Hurtado.
On Wednesday, Hurtado scored in a starting role against Minnesota after rarely seeing the pitch for most of the season as Robinson elected to go with other players. Hurtado could finding himself watching again Saturday. The Caps will likely draw heavily again on Yordy Reyna, a player who has provided the consistency that was often lacking with Manneh, who struggled with injuries in Vancouver and never quite lived up to expectations after his play hinted that he could earn a large transfer fee from a European club.
Reyna, a Peurvian international who missed much of the season with a broken foot suffered in the preseason, has three goals and an assist in his past five games. He scored a brilliant goal against Minnesota on a long lead ball from Canadian midfielder Marcel de Jong and also provided a helper.
“He’s such an exciting player,” said Nerwinski. “He’s explosive, he’s quick, he’s skillful and he makes things happen.”
And, if he continue to make more things happen on a regular basis, the Whitecaps may just avoid a fall from first place.