Whitecaps hope different lineup spells same resolve

The Vancouver Whitecaps will not look the same when they take on Orlando City in Florida today.

“We’ll have different players playing in different positions on the weekend,” said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson.

Robinson only made one lineup change for the Whitecaps’ last game – an adversity-filled 1-1 comeback draw with Seattle – as he looked at a busy schedule and the season's "big picture." But this time he has no choice but to make a number of moves. The Caps lost midfielder Tony Tchani to a suspension after he took two yellow cards and an automatic red against the Sounders.

Robinson will also try to manage fatigue as his team plays its third game in eight days after making a cross-continent flight.

The lengthy trip means that players, like midfielder Brek Shea, who watched from the bench Wednesday will see action. Shea will likely replace Tchani, while Jake Nerwinski appears likely to return to his right back post after Sheanon Williams committed the foul that led to Seattle’s goal on a penalty-kick.

It will be interesting to see how Robinson adjusts his attackers. It would not be a surprise to see midfielder Yordy Reyna get a rest for at least part of the game. Robinson will likely want to keep going with striker Fredy Montero, who might be in need of a break but has five goals in five games after scoring Vancouver’s lone goal against his former Sounders side on Wednesday.

“It’s about concentration levels,” said Robinson. “When balls come into the box, he becomes alive.”

Alphonso Davies, 16, who suffered an injury while with the Canadian squad at the Gold Cup, could see more action after he came on as a substitute and made a brilliant move to assist on Montero’s goal Wednesday. But Robinson, who has limited Davies’ playing time, given his youth, recent injury and inconsistency, was coy about the youngster’s status.

“I still don’t think that he’s 100 per cent,” said Robinson. “Maybe we’ll get to see on Saturday whether he is. He needed a break – a mental break, a physical break – and you’ve gotta remember how old the boy is. There’s lots of things going on, but we support him. You’ll respect my decisions and listen, because I know what’s going on with the boy.”

While Robinson uses a different lineup, the Whitecaps will try to play with similar resolve that they displayed after Tchani was sent off against Seattle.

“Forget the point, forget the game,” said Robinson. “The mentality and character shown in this group (were) phenomenal (against Seattle), and they deserve a lot of credit.”

“It is like a win,” added Montero. “We were playing one of the best teams in the MLS with one man down. It was very tough for us. But at the end of the day that (ejection) sparked us. We got that goal. We got one point.”

Montero said the Whitecaps, who held the sixth and final Western Conference playoff berth heading into the weekend, will try to make up for losing two points against Seattle. However, it will be difficult to earn points against an Orlando squad that has lost only one game at home while going 6-1-0.

The Whitecaps will need to hold off Canadian international Cyle Larin and some other offensively gifted players, including Brazilian legend Kaka.

“They’re very good at home, especially their front four,” said Vancouver  goalkeeper David Ousted. “It’s (a) fantastic (group of) players, and we know the offensive threat they pose. They’re gonna put us under a lot of pressure, but that if we approach that game correctly, we can go in there and get points.”

But, naturally, Ousted, who was outstanding against Seattle, is confident that the Whitecaps, who sport a 4-6-2 road record, can prevail far from their B.C. Place Stadium den.

“We’re going in there to win. I’ll say it straight out,” said Ousted. “We’ve been good at going away from home and taking those games head-on.”

Whitecaps' frustrated by loss to shorthanded Timbers

David Ousted had no problem agreeing with the description of his team’s performance.

The Vancouver goalkeeper was deeply puzzled after the  Whitecaps bowed 2-1 to a shorthanded Portland Timbers squad on Sunday at B.C. Place Stadium.

“Frustrating is a good word for it,” said Ousted . “We weren’t good enough. Simple as that.”

On this particular Sunday, the Whitecaps should have been the better team just based on numbers. The Timbers were missing 12 players due to injuries, suspensions and Gold Cup duties.

Portland only dressed 16 players instead of the usual 18 and called up two from its USL affiliate. But the Timbers never trailed as rookie Jeremy Ebobisse scored his first Major League Soccer goal and assisted on the winner in his inaugural start.

Before Sunday, the Timbers (8-8-6) had gone six games without a win 0-3-3. The Whitecaps (8-8-3) had won two straight, including a 1-0 win over the Galaxy in Los Angeles last Wednesday.
Ousted was at a loss to explain why the Caps did not display the same desire that they did in L.A. – a placed where they rarely win – especially on the defensive side of the ball.
“We lacked energy,” said Ousted. “We lacked a little bit of spark – which I don’t understand, especially in a Cascadia Cup (match). It’s frustrating, especially in front of our fans, not to perform better in a period where I think we’ve been playing well.”
(The Cascadia Cup is a fan-created, in-season competition involving Vancouver, Portland and Seattle.)
Sebastian Blanco scored the winner in the 49th minute as he fired home a heel-pass from Ebobisse after originally giving him the ball. The scoring play resulted from a counter-attack that originated in Portland’s zone after Vancouver striker Fredy Montero was shoved down but no call was made – and some angry Whitecaps were slow to get back.
The goal spoiled Vancouver’s comeback hopes after Andrew Jacobson had created a 1-1 tie moments before half-time as he footed in Tim Parker’s header off a corner-kick. Ebobisse, drafted fourth overall by Portland this year, nudged in Dairon Asprilla’s shot 14 minutes into the game as the Whitecaps failed to clear a Timbers’ corner-kick properly.

“First half, we played very well, exceptionally well, got the equalizer just before half-time and I think, probably, it was a fair reflection of the first half,” said Robinson. “I thought we were the better team. Second half, it was always going to come down to a mistake, a wonder goal or something like that. When you give a good team like Portland the lead five minutes into the second half, it’s very difficult. So I will give them credit today, because they managed to hang on.

“Their ’keeper (Jake Gleeson) came up with one or two big saves as well. But it hurts.”

Gleeson robbed second-half substitute Brek Shea as he one-timed a volley from close range in the 80th minute and then made a sensational diving save on a Parker header five minutes later. But for most of the game, Vancouver’s passing was off as attempts inexplicably went to Portland players after they applied little pressure. As a result, the Whitecaps generated little offensively.

The loss spoiled a strong effort by Jacobson who, in addition to scoring, made several strong defensive plays. He filled in admirably at central defender while captain Kendall Waston was rested after playing for Costa Rica at the Gold Cup. While Robinson liked Jacobson’s effort, he was not pleased with the overall defensive showing by any means.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed defensively all around for the two goals (against), because I think they are very avoidable,” said Robinson.

And, like Ousted, the coach was puzzled.

“You play on Wednesday and you do every little duty correctly – individually and collectively – and then you play four days later and it seems it’s not your day,” said Robinson.

Five yellow cards – three to Portland and a pair to the Whitecaps – were handed out, but the game lacked the emotion and intensity often witnessed when these teams meet. Until after the game, that is.

Timbers coach Caleb Porter thrust his fist in the air and hugged his assistant coaches, ecstatic with the Timbers’ first win since June 10. After shaking hands with Robinson, Porter also took exception to something that he claimed the Whitecaps coach had said, and the two had to be separated.

Robinson was not about to reveal what he said as he couched his comments with praise for Portland’s coaching crew. It was obvious that Porter’s frustration had ended – at least for now.

But with next Saturday’s contest in Dallas serving as the first of three straight difficult road games, Robinson’s obvious frustration could last a while longer.

Rivero shines in disappointing Whitecaps effort

The Vancouver Whitecaps had several causes for concern Saturday – but, for a change, Octavio Rivero wasn’t one of them.

Rivero’s goal in the 52nd minute gave the Vancouver Whitecaps a 1-1 tie with the Houston Dynamo before a sellout crowd of 22,120 at B.C. Place Stadium, sparing the home side a huge embarrassment.

Rivero, who has come under criticism for his lack of offence in two seasons with Vancouver, put home a a rebound off a corner-kick. He helped the Whitecaps (6-6-3) gain at least a share of third place in the Western Conference, pending the results of games later Saturday involving the L.A. Galaxy and Real Salt Lake.

Rivero’s performance was encouraging to see, considering that the 24-year-old Uruguay native has been an enigma since joining the Whitecaps for the start of the 2015 Major League Soccer season. The goal was only his second of the season. Two weeks ago, he was the subject of trade speculation, and he has struggled to stay in the starting 11 when not injured.

“He’ll be delighted with the goal, and I’m delighted for him for the goal, but his all-around performance, I thought, was excellent,” said Whitecaps coach Robinson. “I thought he held the ball up. He was a problem for their two centre backs, who are real good players, and he was a platform for our team to build. I put him in the team today. I left Erik Hurtado out, who’d done very well. I put (Rivero) in the team because he’d trained well. He’d been finishing up a number of training lately and doing extra work because he wants to get better, and that showed in his performance today.”

On the other hand, most of the other Whitecaps were not up to par for much of the game, which saw both teams reduced 10 players following a skirmish between Houston’s Alex and Vancouver captain Pedro Morales, who were sent off shortly before half-time.

The Dynamo, the Western Conference cellar dweller, entered the game deep in the doldrums after coach Owen Coyle parted ways with the club by mutual consent Wednesday. But Houston, which had lost all five of its previous games in Vancouver, controlled play at the start, keeping the ball in the Whitecaps half for about the first 12 minutes. You would never have known that the visitors had lost 10 straight road games.

DaMarcus Beasley gave the Dynamo a 1-0 lead in the 20th when he was allowed to take the ball down the left wing and chip a shot over Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted after eluding central defender Tim Parker’s attempted sliding tackle. Based on where the teams were in the Western Conference standings – Vancouver near the top and Houston at the bottom – the Whitecaps should have had a chance at a romp.

But they only looked good after Rivero’s goal turned their fortunes around.

“Great goal,” said Ousted. “I thought he found the right decision. He struck it perfectly, and I’m happy for the guy for getting that goal. He deserves it. He works so hard in this league. In the second half, he had a number of chances, so I’m happy with that goal.”

From that point on, Vancouver forced Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric to make a number of difficult saves. But Houston also could have won, if not stymied by Ousted.

“I do feel we need to be better on a number of points, especially in the first half,” said Ousted. “We weren’t at the races. But, the second half, we can take a lot away from that performance. The work rate was up to standards, and we had the chances.”

However, even forever-positive Canadian midfielder Russell Teibert was subdued after the comeback draw. The Niagara Falls, Ont., native did not like a reporter’s suggestion that the Caps had squandered two of a possible three points, but he was not about to sugar-coat his team’s effort.

“That would be the negative way to look at it – two points lost,” said Teibert. “The positive of it is one point gained, and that could be a crucial point coming down to the end of the season. But I do agree with you in the sense that three points (are) crucial in a game like this, and we had opportunities to go out and win that game.”

But all things considered, the Caps struggled when they should have controlled the game from the outset against a vulnerable Houston side. The Dynamo’s 10-game road losing streak was part of a longer winless slide that has extended to 15 games, including ties.

“It’s been an interesting week around our camp,” said Wade Barrett, one of three Houston assistant coaches who guided the club against the Whitecaps.

Fortunately for the Caps, Rivero made Saturday’s game much more interesting for the Whitecaps than it could have been. And, he offered some hope of providing even better showings in the future.

 

Whitecaps show signs of moving upward with win over Timbers

The Vancouver Whitecaps could finally be on the ascent after a slow start to the MLS season – thanks to some timely goals from Christian Bolanos.

Bolanos scored his third goal in three games Saturday to give the Whitecaps a comeback 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers before a sellout crowd of 21,122 at B.C. Place Stadium.

“I am happy because we (won) the game, not because I scored three goals in three games, but because players in my position need to get chances by playing (with) confidence,” said Bolanos, a 31-year-old Costa Rican attacking midfielder who is in his first season with Vancouver.

Both of Vancouver's goals came in the second half after Portland led 1-0 following the first 45 minutes.  With the victory, the Caps (4-5-2) have now beaten the defending MLS champion Timbers (3-4-3), who ousted them from the 2015 playoffs, and Western Conference co-leader FC Dallas.

Bolanos netted the winner in the 66th minute on a lob into the Portland box that Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson misplayed after making a number of exceptional saves on much tougher shots.

“Actually, I tried to play the ball for Blas (Perez),” said Bolanos. “He didn’t touch the ball, but I think (Perez) made (a) problem for the goalkeeper,” said Bolanos. “That’s why he (was) thinking, maybe, Blas (will) touched the ball. So I was lucky, but it was good and I’m happy. This goal is 95 per cent for (Perez).”

Matsuto Kudo, a former Japanese League star, drew the Whitecaps even in the 60th minute with his first MLS goal. He beat Gleeson with a shot to the short side from a sharp angle. Nat Borchers opened the scoring for Portland in the 34th minute as he slid onto a Darlington Nagbe cross, tapping the ball just inside the far post.

“I thought we deserved something out of the game, or at least a draw, but credit Vancouver in that second half for clawing back and scoring two goals,” said Timbers coach Caleb Porter, whose team's win streak ended at three games. “The reason I felt we deserved something out of it is: Up 1-0 starting the second half, I thought we were in great position. We were getting counter-attacks.”

But the Whitecaps enjoyed several more opportunities as they controlled play for much of the first 45 minutes and were unlucky to score as Gleeson stopped Nicolas Mezquida just seven minutes in, Bolanos in the 19th minute, Mezquida again in the 39th and Kendall Waston’s header off the ensuing corner-kick.

“I thought that, if we kept creating chances – and I think everyone did – that eventually the ball was going to go in the back of the net,” said Vancouver defender Fraser Aird. “The way we scored (the winning goal) was probably our easiest chance that we created. We had a few in the six-yard box that just didn’t go in. I thought their ‘keeper had a really good game, had some really good saves, but at the end of the day we’re sitting here with three points and we’re happy.”

The game’s stat sheet backed up Aird’s comment. The Whitecaps had 26 shots, including blocked efforts, compared to Portland’s nine. Of those, 13 Vancouver shots were on target while the Timbers were credited with putting only three on Caps goalkeeper David Ousted. Meanwhile, the Whitecaps generated 11 corner-kicks to Portland’s five.

But with his team down a goal at half-time, Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson, still felt a need for some inspiration.

"It's a special day for me today, my (late) father's birthday," said Robinson. "At half-time ... I'm talking to myself and one of the coaches said: 'Are you OK?' I said: 'Yeah. Bring me some luck, Dad.'

"He brought me some luck with a mistake from the goalkeeper."

During the intermission, Robinson also told his players to keep doing what they were doing. He lauded them afterward for remaining intense “from the first minute to the last minute.”

“I think today we showed what we can be,” said Robinson.

The Caps will face expectations to do likewise again Wednesday as they host the Chicago Fire, an Eastern Conference bottom-feeder, and then visit Canadian rival Toronto FC next weekend.