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.

 

 

Changes loom for Whitecaps after strong finish

Giles Barnes did what he was supposed to do – several weeks too late.

Barnes scored two goals, including the winner, as the Vancouver Whitecaps concluded their disappointing 2016 Major League Soccer season on Sunday with a resounding 4-1 victory over the surprisingly inept Portland Timbers.

The goals, which came before more than 24,000 fans at B.C. Place Stadium, were Barnes’ first for the Whitecaps.

“It’s important to stay away from the goals but (focus on) how well the team performed in general,” said Barnes. “It’s great to end the season with the Caps fans (having) something to shout about. It’s been a very up-and-down season. But it gives them a bit of excitement for next year and something to really look forward to.”

As Barnes suggested, the Whitecaps offered fans some hope for 2017 after missing the playoffs this season. The striker’s goals offered a taste of what could have been if Vancouver had a dangerous scorer throughout the season – and clearly showed what they need.

A dependable striker.

It remains to be seen whether Barnes can provide the offensive consistency that the Caps need. The 28-year-old London native arrived in a trade from Houston with impressive credentials, but he failed to make up for the departure of former designated player Octavio Rivero, who was transferred to Chile’s Colo-Colo.

Barnes’ showing was not what Caps management or fans expected of someone who had scored 31 goals and added 14 assists in 113 MLS regular-season appearances and had also produced in the English Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and CONCACAF Champions League. In addition, Barnes helped two English Championship clubs earn promotion to the EPL and saw extensive action with the Jamaican national team after debuting in March 2015.

Barnes said it took him a while to adjust to playing in Vancouver.

“Obviously, I knew that I was being (crossed) out of Houston,” he said. “I hadn’t played for a while. I was in a (Vancouver) hotel for weeks. It was pretty unsettling, and then flying away to Jamaica and trying to find my rhythm. And then when you don’t score a goal after a few games, the confidence is a little bit low, but I know what I’m capable of, and the coach (Carl Robinson) and everyone can see what I’m capable of. I’ve produced the last five years I’ve been here (in MLS).

“It’s one of those things: Once I knew I’d got one (goal), I could add to it from there.”

Barnes scored Vancouver’s first two goals, in the 13th and 32nd minutes, following Portland giveaways. First, he fired home a Fraser Aird cross from the right flank that deflected off a Timbers defender. Then Barnes took the ball from a Portland player on the left wing, coasted into the Timbers’ box and beat goalkeeper Tim Gleeson with a low shot to the far post.

Barnes helped the Whitecaps claim the Cascadia Cup, a fan-created trophy based on in-season games between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. He also helped the Caps deny Portland a playoff berth after the Timbers ousted the Caps from the 2015 post-season en route to winning the MLS Cup.

But Barnes and the rest of Vancouver’s effort must be viewed realistically. As Portland coach Caleb Porter indicated, the Timbers were terrible. A defender passed the ball right to Pedro Morales for Vancouver's third goal in the 54th minute and Nicolas Mezquida easily steered the ball around a Portland player before scoring Vancouver’s final goal a minute later.
While Portland’s showing was stunningly bad, the Timbers struggled on the road all season. In fact, they never won a game away from Providence Park, finishing 0-11-6 outside of their confines.

And, for a rare occasion, the Whitecaps made the most of their chances, leaving one reporter to ask: Where was that performance all year?

“Good question,” replied Robinson. “If you could give me an answer, then please do.”
Robinson later added: "This performance absolutely drives me mad, because I know we've got the players to do it, but we haven't done it on a consistent basis." 

The reality is that the Whitecaps will make some key changes in the off-season. Morales, the club’s captain, is not expected to stay after a sub-par season in which he still led the team with nine goals. Some other older veteran members of the team’s core also appear likely to depart.

Robinson did not want to contemplate changes just yet. Instead, he and players pointed to successes. The Caps finished first in their CONCACAF Champions League pool, advancing beyond the group stage for the first time. They also came within seconds of winning the Canadian championship before losing on the away-goals rule to Toronto.

But defender Jordan Harvey put Sunday’s win in the proper perspective.

“This was our best performance of the year,” he said. “Unfortunately, it happened at the end of the season and not at the beginning.”

The Whitecaps can use the showing to build on next year. But it remains to be seen who will still be around to do the building.

Impact downs Whitecaps without Drogba

The Montreal Impact did not miss Didier Drogba on Sunday.

Ignacio Piatti scored two goals, including the winner, and added an assist as the Impact edged the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2 at B.C. Place Stadium. Piatti provided the offence as Cameroonian superstar Drogba stayed home because he did not want to play on the artificial turf at B.C. Place Stadium.

“I think that (Piatti) had an excellent match,” said Montreal coach Mauro Biello, speaking in French. “He was extraordinary on the ball. What decisions! … Two excellent goals.”

The Impact held 2-0 and 3-1 leads from which the Whitecaps – who controlled play for long stretches, particularly in the second half – could not recover. Piatti scored his goals in the 19th and 88th minutes while taking advantage of defensive breakdowns.

On the first, after a giveaway by rookie Whitecaps defender Fraser Aird, he was allowed to run across the Vancouver box with the ball and slot home a shot in the lower right corner. The second goal came on a counter-attack as Piatti took a pass from Dominic Oduro on a two-on-one, drew Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted to the near post and then slid a shot inside the far post.

“At different moments, he made it look easy,” said Biello in English. “And, to be able score two goals like that on the road was great.”

Oduro scored the other Impact goal on a miscommunication by Ousted and central defender Kendall Waston. Ousted slid past a loose ball as Oduro was running on to a lead pass from Piatti, leaving an open net to shoot at freely.

“We have a lot of guys that score goals this year, and (Piatti) showed that tonight,” said Impact goalkeeper Evan Busch.

In other words, Montreal can rely on more players than Drogba, who scored 11 goals and helped the Impact make a late run to the playoffs after he signed midway through the 2015 season.

“Obviously, (Drogba), we can’t take away what he brought to the team last year,” said Biello, continuing in English. “He’s a superstar, but I stress the importance of everybody on this team and the roles that they play and the responsibilities that they have. Each one of them is important. And, when they get their opportunity to perform, it’s about moments – and it’s about being good in those moments.

“From our ’keeper all the way to our best player, we have to have a mindset that’s shared and ready to fight. With the quality of players that we have, we feel that we have a balanced attack – and when (Drogba) comes back, it’s going to help us more.”

Jordan Harvey, on a Pedro Morales free kick in the 45th minute, and Waston on a header off a Christian Bolanos corner-kick  moments before the final whistle, scored for the Whitecaps.

“I’d rather win than score,” said a dejected Waston.

In addition to demonstrating Montreal’s offensive diversity, the game hinted that Canada’s MLS squad could excel this season. The Impact appears to be a solid team, the Whitecaps are viewed as a championship contender, and Toronto FC should be considerably better after missing the playoffs last season.

Stay tuned for some strong results from the Canadian squads – with or without Drogba in Montreal’s lineup.