Dean overcomes adversity in season opener

Christian Dean is making up for lost time.
Dean made his first Major League Soccer start since August 2015 as the Caps played to a 0-0 draw with the Philadelphia Union in the 2017 regular-season opener for both teams Sunday at B.C. Place Stadium.
With the start at centreback, Dean capped a comeback from two injuries and family tragedy. In March 2016, he suffered a left foot injury; in May, he hurt his right knee; and he also had to cope with the unexpected death of his adoptive father.
“It felt really good to be back out there,” said Dean. "Before the game, I had  butterflies for sure. But that’s a good thing. My dad always said: If you don't feel (them), you don't care."
Dean showed he cared Sunday by playing tall in the centre of Vancouver’s box, making it virtually impenetrable most of the night. While clearing balls away out of danger, he also made some smooth passes up the field, helping to launch Vancouver attacks that suffered from a lack of finish.
It was a rare night to shine for Dean, a 23-year-old East Palo Alto, Calif., native who was selected third overall by the Whitecaps in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. He has spent most of his pro tenure developing with Vancouver’s USL affiliate and made only three starts in five appearances with the first team in 2015.
He called his injury-plagued 2016 campaign “a brutal year” and credited Whitecaps coaches and players with helping him through it – along with his adoptive mother.
"She's been there for me," he said. "I've been in dark places. Just having people to support (me) has kept me going."
Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson was pleased for Dean, a former University of California-Berkeley star who was the Vancouver skipper’s first draft acquisition after he took over the team’s helm in 2014.
"He (came) in and he looked very mature – very polished – and he got stronger as the game went on,” said Robinson. “He worked with Timmy (Parker, the other centreback) and he should be proud of himself today."
Meanwhile, Whitecaps 16-year-old sensation Alphonso Davies also had reason to be proud as he made several runs with the ball and posed an almost constant threat while often working in tandem with Kekuta Manneh. While the Whitecaps continued to minimize Davies’ media afterward, he received plenty of attention from the Union during the contest.
“He’s incredible,” said Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin. “Basically, the vast majority of my weeks leading up to this (game) were spent on how to shut down a 16-year old kid. That’s a compliment. He’s a heck of a player. To see him run in person, how effortless it is, how powerful he is, and then to have the feet that he does … I don’t want to get carried away but he does

Whitecaps respond to coach's challenge

Vancouver Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson has found it hard to praise his team this season, but he had little difficulty Tuesday night.

The Whitecaps blanked Sporting Kansas City 3-0 in CONCACAF Champions League play at B.C. Place Stadium in a performance that could be fairly described as dominant. The effort was a strong contrast from Saturday's 2-0 in Kansas City in Major League Soccer play.

"We haven’t been doing well enough, but I challenged them, especially after Saturday’s game," said Robinson. "I challenged them – because they’re all good players, they’re good people – to have a go. And we certainly had a go tonight."

Cristian Techera led the Whitecaps with two goals, while Erik Hurtado supplied a goal and an assist. In addition to singling out Techera and Hurtado, Robinson praised the showing of rookie Fraser Aird, who played strong defensively in midfield.

The Whitecaps improved to 2-0 in CCL competition this season and lead Group C with two games left in the pool level.

"We got outfought on Saturday, and we didn’t get outfought today," said Robinson. "In any walk of life, you put the hard work in and you get your rewards, and today we got our rewards. So I’m pleased today. It’s one game. Hopefully it will build confidence. We had some players that played very well. ... It’s a start for us.”

In other words, it's a start at a possible MLS playoff run as the Whitecaps, who have been inconsistent most of the season, attempt to secure a berth in the top six in the Western Conference. The Whitecaps played like a different team than Saturday because they were literally a different squad.

Robinson and K.C. coach Peter Vermes rested several regulars to manage fatigue during a week in which both teams play three games. The MLS playoffs are the first priority for Robinson, and he expects several players who saw action Tuesday night to press for more playing time -- particularly Hurtado, who was loaned to a Norwegian team last season.

“I sent him on loan because I understand there’s a lot of people, a lot of young players, who think the grass is green, and I’m one of a number of coaches in this league that (have) been there and done it," said Robinson. "I know what works and what doesn’t. I keep saying: Hard work. That’s all it is, and you've got to deal with disappointment. Erik had to deal with disappointment last year by going on loan and realized it’s very hard. So he’s come back this year with a bit between his teeth, and he gets his goal tonight. I think everyone in the stadium was delighted for him, because the amount of work he puts in, not just in games but on a daily basis, is phenomenal.”

Midfielder Russell Teibert, who has seen his playing time reduced this season, also made a case for more time in the starting 11 as he took on more of a playmaking role in a 4-4-2 formation while captain Pedro Morales was rested. Teibert set up Hurtado for Vancouver's second goal, in only the 12th minute, with a long, high lead ball that the striker ran on to and then lobbed over charging K.C. goalkeeper Jon Kempin.

"It means a lot to get the three points, not only for ourselves, but for the fans," said Teibert. "It’s nice to get a win for them in our own place, where we’ve been fairly good in the past – to get back to winning ways. Hopefully, we can carry this over to the MLS season.”

Teibert said the win should help the Whitecaps deal with a lack of confidence, which "has become an issue on the field recently."

“We weren’t playing with the same swagger as we did tonight," he said. "You could tell by the way the players were strutting that we played like that tonight. We stood up. We were a team tonight that wasn’t going to get scored on. We were a team that scores goals. We were dangerous on the counter, we were strong in defence and we had communication all over the field. We stuck to our game plan and we did the simple things very well.” 

Techera closed out the scoring in the 64th minute as he took a lead pass from Matias Laba and slid a shot by Kempin. Sporting coach Vermes said the Whitecaps were the better, and more aggressive team, and he would not have received much of an argument. K.C. rarely showed much offensively, although Connor Hallisey was foiled by Vancouver goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi on a shot from close range in the 48th minute, and Diego Rubio bounced a header just wide of the Whitecaps net 10 minutes later. 

Tornaghi was happy to earn the shutout after being deployed in CCL last season, when the Whitecaps did not advance beyond the group stage.

“For me, I was a little bit disappointed from last year (with) how I did," said Tornaghi, who was credited with five mostly routine saves. "So I was really looking forward to (getting) revenge and doing very good in this competition.”

The Whitecaps hope to advance beyond the group stage in CCL for the first tme. The CCL competition will ultimately determine the North American, Central American and Caribbean zone's representative in the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup.

Tornaghi saw his first action after Spencer Richey was called up from Vancouver's United Soccer League farm team for the first CCL game, a 1-0 win over Central F.C. of Trinidad and Tobago. But, after watching his team struggle for much of the season, Robinson was not ready to get too excited aboutVancouver's unblemished CCL record.

“It’s far from over,”  he said of the group stage. “We’ve got two more difficult games to go. But if we apply ourselves with the same mindset and the same mentality as we did today, then hopefully we can achieve another first for the club.”

Tim Parker looks at home with Whitecaps

Tim Parker did not look out of place in his first start with the Vancouver Whitecaps – but he was.
The 22-year-old defender was drafted primarily to be a centre back. However, he made his first-ever MLS start at right back. He delivered a solid effort by defending against veterans with seemingly little difficulty, showing signs that he can be big in the air and making smart passes up the pitch as the Caps blanked the Philadelphia Union 3-0 at B.C. Place Stadium.
“It’s a little bit of a new feel but I’m just adjusting,” he said of playing right back. Working with the guys around me made it a lot easier. I’ve played right back in college and I played it here in pre-season for a little bit as well.”
Parker, a 22-year-old Hicksville, N.Y., native, was Vancouver’s top pick (13th overall) in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The six-foot-two and 195-pound defender started 79 of the 80 matches for St. John’s University over the past four seasons. Despite his lack of pro experience, Vancouver coach Carl Robinson opted to go with Parker instead of Ethen Sampson and Christian Dean, who also have limited pro experience – but significantly more than him.
“It was a tough decision for me to play (Parker),” said Robinson. “And, I wanted to play Timmy to give him the opportunity. Tim’s going to have to play at some stage, as is Christian Dean. I wanted to get him some minutes to get him acclimatized to the group. Leaving Ethen Sampson out was tough, because Ethen did very well for me last week in Portland. But it’s not about any individual, it’s not about the manager, it’s about the team and the club and the organization. And if I feel it’s right to do it, then I’ll do it. Tim looked like he’s played a few games with them before, didn’t he?”
Indeed, he did. Never mind that Parker is as raw as first-year MLS players can be. (Most MLS first-year players are actually veterans who have played in Europe or elsewhere overseas.) He joined the Whitecaps after a standout career at St. John’s University, where he produced four goals, two game-winners, and four assists, mainly as a central defender on a back line that posted 30 clean sheets. He also helped St. John’s make three straight NCAA tournament appearances (2011-2013) and claim the 2011 Big East Tournament title.
On Saturday, Parker helped the Whitecaps hold off a Union team that started reasonably well but faltered after Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted made a stupendous save on Andrew Wenger’s close-in volley in the 27th minute.
The Union did not mount much after Ousted’s big moment, largely because Parker and his back-line mates never allowed them to create much from within 30 yards of the Vancouver net.
“He was fantastic today,” said Ousted. “(Parker) came in and he was composed. He did his job very well together with the back four. We kept a clean sheet today. Credit goes to Tim. He played not like a rookie but a seasoned vet.”
Coach Robinson prefers to go with seasoned veterans in league matches, but he goes with a revamped lineup in Canadian championship contests. As a result, Parker could start again Wednesday as the Whitecaps host lower-tier FC Edmonton on Wednesday.
Robinson said he would have no problem starting Parker against the Eddies or in Vancouver’s next league game, either. Parker would no complaints, obviously, about making three straight starts.
The Whitecaps get a chance to begin the Canadian championship semi-final series at home after the would-be first leg in Edmonton last week was postponed due to snow.
“We knew there was a possibility of snow on Wednesday but we didn’t realize there was a possibility of it getting snowed out so it was a little disappointing,” said Parker. “We still have to keep plugging away and waiting for the opportunities. I think now it’s just about taking advantage of the home game. Playing the first leg at home, we have to put the pressure on them and take care of the rest in Edmonton.”
And, there’s a reasonable chance he will be applying some of that pressure.