The Vancouver Whitecaps made no apologies for securing home-field advantage in the playoffs, almost by default, for the first time in their Major League Soccer history Sunday evening.
The Whitecaps earned a first-round bye as they blanked the Houston Dynamo 3-0 before a sellout crowd of 21,000 at B.C. Place Stadium. The Caps ended a five-game winless skid as they finished second in the Western Conference with a 16-13-5 record. But Vancouver coach Carl Robinson was feeling over the moon – not dwelling on the late-season swoon.
“Obviously, we’re happy,” said Robinson. “I think we got what we deserved. I’m a big believer (that), in this game, if you put your hard work in and you do things right, you get your rewards – and I think we got our rewards today. We deserved to win the game.”
Vancouver caught a break as Sporting Kansas City edged the L.A. Galaxy 2-1, giving second place to the Canadian squad. But Robinson was not doing any scoreboard watching as the Whitecaps used delay tactics for much of the final 10 minutes to preserve the win.
“We didn’t deserve to get to be where we are at the moment if we didn’t win, so I didn’t want to lose my focus, because if I lost my focus, then my players lose their focus,” said Robinson.
Kekuta Manneh gave the Caps the only goal they needed in the 59th minute before Kendall Waston headed home a Christian Techera corner kick in the 72nd minute and Robert Earnshaw headed the final goal in moments after subbing into the game in stoppage time.
The Whitecaps finally connected on some of their chances after failing to finish in the first half, although Techera hit the crossbar 13 minutes into the game. Sporting Kansas City did little in the second half after threatening briefly in the first 45 minutes on a pair of Giles Barnes free kicks and his shot from 20 yards out, which Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted stopped.
In the first round, Seattle will host L.A. and Sporting Kansas City will travel to Portland in a pair of single-knockout quarter final games. The Whitecaps will then play the first-round winner with the best regular-season record. Dallas will play the victor with the second-best regular-season record. Both semifinals will be two-leg, aggregate-goal series. The winners will then advance to the Western Conference finals and MLS Cup series.
“It’s huge,” said Ousted of the first-round bye. “It gives us a break Wednesday (and Thursday not having to play) that one-off game, and then it certainly gets us into a two-way game (in) which I think our chances are a little bit better than in the one-off.”
Like his coach, Ousted was not apologizing after Vancouver got some help from a temporary friend, Sporting Kansas City. In contrast to the previous three seasons, the Whitecaps secured a playoff berth with weeks to go in the regular season and avoided a mid-summer swoon. But they suffered a late-season slump this year instead.
“I’d say we’ve been lucky when the results have gone our way, but we are also in second because we deserve to be here, because we’re the second-best team in this (conference),” said Ousted. “We’ve showed that over a (season). Maybe, in the last month, we haven’t showed it as much, but we’re here for a reason.”
In other words, he and Robinson believe that things eventually even out and a team’s talent proves itself over the full campaign.
“Over 34 games, the league doesn’t lie,” said Robinson.
Despite being the youngest team in MLS, the Whitecaps endured several injuries – including an ongoing hamstring problem that has forced captain Pedro Morales to miss most of the second half of the season -- and player absences due to suspensions and international duty. In the playoffs for the second year in a row and third time in their history, the Caps will now attempt to prove that they are for real in the post-season.
Vancouver lost do-or-die games to L.A. in 2012 and Dallas in 2014, with the winners both scoring decisive goals on penalty-kicks. Robinson does not want his youthful club just to try and survive in the playoffs. So he has already delivered a distinct message to his charges regarding quest for the MLS Cup.
“Let’s not cope,” he said. “Let’s try and win it.”
Vancouver’s opening series could have some added intrigue, because the Caps have a 50-50 chance of playing regional rival Portland or Seattle. In either case, hundreds of fans would travel to the away legs, adding plenty of colour and hostility to the intense atmosphere.
“It could be a fantastic matchup, either against Timbers or Sounders,” said Ousted. “The fans would enjoy that a lot – and so would I.”
Showing posts with label Seattle Sounders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seattle Sounders. Show all posts
Monday, October 26, 2015
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Whitecaps display strong belief in win over Sounders
The Vancouver Whitecaps made up for two sub-par games in 12 minutes Saturday.
Sebastian Fernandez scored the game’s lone goal in the 12th minute as the Caps down the MLS-leading Seattle Sounders 1-0.
Vancouver (6-3-7) ended a two-game winless while Seattle (11-4-2) suffered its first loss in four games.
But, as Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson indicated afterwards, the win was about more than three points in the standings. It was about belief – belief that the young Caps could compete with the best team in the league, even if it was missing five key players, including American international Clint Dempsey, to World Cup duty, yellow-card accumulation and injuries.
“The two halves were totally different,” Robinson said. “The first half, we were excellent in possession. Our passing movement was what I’ve been accustomed seeing in training (and) in the first 10, 12 games of the season – and the second half was just about all those things: grit, desire and heart.
“The reason I said Seattle are the best team in Major League Soccer before the game is because they hang in there even when things are going against them. They’re always there and they’re about, (despite) being one goal behind, and they’ve done that again today. We’ve gotta learn that as a young group. As I said to them, it’s not going to happen overnight. But with performances like this and learning situations like this, we’ll be better for it.”
With the win, the Caps also ended a two-game goal-less skid, after a 0-0 home draw with Montreal and a 2-0 loss in Colorado. Fernandez, a 24-year-old Uruguayan who is in his season with Vancouver, scored from about 30 yards out after taking a pass from Chilean midfield maestro Pedro Morales, who was at his sublime best.
"Pedro gave a good ball to me," the Spanish-speaking Fernandez said through an interpreter. "I turned with the ball and there was space. I've practised it in close. It was a good opportunity. I just tried to shoot."
But, ultimately, the game was about defence. While Seattle was missing Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, who shared fifth place in league scoring before Saturday’s games, the Caps were without (injured) top central defenders Jay DeMerit (ankle) and Andy O’Brien (hip).
However, Vancouver’s Johnny Leveron and Carlyle Mitchell delivered stellar performances in their place, while Steven Beitashour was his steady self at right back and Jordan Harvey stood out at left back with several blocked shots, tackles and interceptions.
"I think the guys were hungry," said Seattle midfielder Brad Evans of his team's effort. "It took us a little while to get in the game, and all it was in the first half was not holding the ball up front. It makes it difficult to play the way that we want to play, and get our forwards and outside wingers involved. It was a difficult day for us in the first 35-40 minutes. After that, I feel we settled in the second half, played much better challenging for balls.
"Obviously, the guys that were missing are game-changers, that’s why they’re (designated players) and that’s why they’ve played in World Cups and some of the biggest games. Obviously, you’re going to miss that quality, but that’s no excuse not to play your game and not to play the game the way it should be played. I thought that in the second half, we got a little ripping into and we came out much stronger."
After a dismal effort against Montreal in their last home contest, it looked like the Caps had consumed a steady diet of World Cup videos. The hosts’ passing was much more precise, particularly in the first half, and they played with a level of confidence at the back, sending the ball forward calmly so that Morales would work his major.
They also displayed a strong work ethic that will be critical heading into the second half of the season. With the one-month international transfer window opening Wednesday, changes are coming to Vancouver’s lineup, but moves – aside from expensive reserve midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker’s likely departure – will be kept to a minimum.
What you see of the club now is mostly what you’ll get, with the possible exception of a veteran world-class striker who can score consistently.
"If we’re going to go with a young group of players, which we are, then one thing we can’t do is let other teams outwork us,” Robinson said. “The youth and exuberance and enthusiasm that young players have (must) be infectious all over the pitch.”
They were were Saturday, and Vancouver’s belief was also evident in all parts of the field. But that confidence will need to be prevalent often if the Caps are going to qualify again for the playoffs after missing the post-season in 2013, because the core of players will not change drastically.
“Get used to watching the young players,” said Robinson.
Notes: Robinson praised Reo-Coker, who was steady as a second-half substitute in what might have been his final game with the Whitecaps. The former English Premier League star is being paid $400,000 this season, but he does not play enough to justify that salary.
Follow me on Twitter @montestewart
Sebastian Fernandez scored the game’s lone goal in the 12th minute as the Caps down the MLS-leading Seattle Sounders 1-0.
Vancouver (6-3-7) ended a two-game winless while Seattle (11-4-2) suffered its first loss in four games.
But, as Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson indicated afterwards, the win was about more than three points in the standings. It was about belief – belief that the young Caps could compete with the best team in the league, even if it was missing five key players, including American international Clint Dempsey, to World Cup duty, yellow-card accumulation and injuries.
“The two halves were totally different,” Robinson said. “The first half, we were excellent in possession. Our passing movement was what I’ve been accustomed seeing in training (and) in the first 10, 12 games of the season – and the second half was just about all those things: grit, desire and heart.
“The reason I said Seattle are the best team in Major League Soccer before the game is because they hang in there even when things are going against them. They’re always there and they’re about, (despite) being one goal behind, and they’ve done that again today. We’ve gotta learn that as a young group. As I said to them, it’s not going to happen overnight. But with performances like this and learning situations like this, we’ll be better for it.”
With the win, the Caps also ended a two-game goal-less skid, after a 0-0 home draw with Montreal and a 2-0 loss in Colorado. Fernandez, a 24-year-old Uruguayan who is in his season with Vancouver, scored from about 30 yards out after taking a pass from Chilean midfield maestro Pedro Morales, who was at his sublime best.
"Pedro gave a good ball to me," the Spanish-speaking Fernandez said through an interpreter. "I turned with the ball and there was space. I've practised it in close. It was a good opportunity. I just tried to shoot."
But, ultimately, the game was about defence. While Seattle was missing Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, who shared fifth place in league scoring before Saturday’s games, the Caps were without (injured) top central defenders Jay DeMerit (ankle) and Andy O’Brien (hip).
However, Vancouver’s Johnny Leveron and Carlyle Mitchell delivered stellar performances in their place, while Steven Beitashour was his steady self at right back and Jordan Harvey stood out at left back with several blocked shots, tackles and interceptions.
"I think the guys were hungry," said Seattle midfielder Brad Evans of his team's effort. "It took us a little while to get in the game, and all it was in the first half was not holding the ball up front. It makes it difficult to play the way that we want to play, and get our forwards and outside wingers involved. It was a difficult day for us in the first 35-40 minutes. After that, I feel we settled in the second half, played much better challenging for balls.
"Obviously, the guys that were missing are game-changers, that’s why they’re (designated players) and that’s why they’ve played in World Cups and some of the biggest games. Obviously, you’re going to miss that quality, but that’s no excuse not to play your game and not to play the game the way it should be played. I thought that in the second half, we got a little ripping into and we came out much stronger."
After a dismal effort against Montreal in their last home contest, it looked like the Caps had consumed a steady diet of World Cup videos. The hosts’ passing was much more precise, particularly in the first half, and they played with a level of confidence at the back, sending the ball forward calmly so that Morales would work his major.
They also displayed a strong work ethic that will be critical heading into the second half of the season. With the one-month international transfer window opening Wednesday, changes are coming to Vancouver’s lineup, but moves – aside from expensive reserve midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker’s likely departure – will be kept to a minimum.
What you see of the club now is mostly what you’ll get, with the possible exception of a veteran world-class striker who can score consistently.
"If we’re going to go with a young group of players, which we are, then one thing we can’t do is let other teams outwork us,” Robinson said. “The youth and exuberance and enthusiasm that young players have (must) be infectious all over the pitch.”
They were were Saturday, and Vancouver’s belief was also evident in all parts of the field. But that confidence will need to be prevalent often if the Caps are going to qualify again for the playoffs after missing the post-season in 2013, because the core of players will not change drastically.
“Get used to watching the young players,” said Robinson.
Notes: Robinson praised Reo-Coker, who was steady as a second-half substitute in what might have been his final game with the Whitecaps. The former English Premier League star is being paid $400,000 this season, but he does not play enough to justify that salary.
Follow me on Twitter @montestewart
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Gershon Koffie's effort against Seattle bodes well for young Whitecaps
Gershon Koffie broke out of his defensive shell Saturday.
For much of this MLS season, the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder has played a holding role intent on stopping the opponent’s top offensive players. But against the Seattle Sounders, he moved up into the attack.
He was rewarded with a goal and was robbed on a last-second shot while enjoying several other scoring chances, helping the Whitecaps earn a 2-2 draw with their regional rivals before a sellout crowd of 21,000 at B.C. Place Stadium.
“The manager (coach Carl Robinson) asked me to move forward a lot, and we can’t play with so many guys back, so I got the opportunities to score,” said Koffie afterwards.
The Whitecaps improved to 4-2-5. The Sounders, who entered the same in first place in the Western Conference, now stand at 8-3-1.
Koffie’s goal in the 66th goal was a gimme as Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei rushed out of the net to get an errant ball on the right flank. In a desperate attempt to keep the ball in bounds, he volleyed it into the middle of Seattle’s half. Koffie chested the ball down, waited momentarily and sent a high shot from distance into the net as Frei came up just short of getting back to it.
“I think last year I scored (a similar one) against Chivas – same except the goalie went off his line to play the ball,” said Koffie.”
The goal, Koffie’s first of the season, put Vancouver ahead 2-1. But Gonzalo Pineda netted the draw as he scored on a penalty-kick in the 82nd minute.
The spot kick resulted after Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit was called for a foul as he and second-half substitute Cam Weaver went up for the ball and both fell on the way down.
As six minutes of added time were coming to an end, Frei robbed Koffie as he raced in on goal. The ball went off the goalkeeper’s hand and into touch, but the final whistle sounded before the Whitecaps could take their corner-kick.
Six minutes into the game, Koffie sent a volley just wide of the goalpost and then, about three minutes later, nailed a shot off the crossbar after making a fine run up the middle of the pitch. Simply put, the XX-year-old Ghana native was a force in midfield both offensively and defensively – and the obvious choice for his club’s player of the match.
Koffie overshadowed Vancouver’s new attacking midfielder Pedro Morales, who stood out at times but was less visible than usual. Ironically, Koffie excelled in the second half even though he took a yellow card in the first half after he fell, apparently faking an injury, after he ran onto a cross at the far post and went down after Frei got his hands on him.
“When you get booked early you have to be careful about what you do, and you can’t create any fouls, so the manager told me I had a yellow card, so I should be careful,” Koffie said.
Koffie’s effort was evidence that he still has plenty of upside to his game after coming under criticism from Robinson at times this season and former coach Martin Rennie in the past.
“Yeah, it was probably his best performance,” said Robinson. “He’s been excellent the last three or four games for me. I keep saying to him that he needs to keep scoring goals. He’s a midfield player. Not just his goal, but I think he hit the bar in the first couple of minutes, and then could have nicked it in the end with two more chances. It was an all-around performance from him today, and he should be proud of himself.”
Whitecaps management, coaches and player development types can also feel good about their efforts, too.
One tends to forget that, although Koffie is in his fourth MLS season and fifth overall with the Whitecaps, he is only 22 years old. It’s evident that he is gaining a vision for the pitch that he has been accused of lacking even this season and in previous years. Such improvement often comes only after years of staying after practice to do extra work, countless hours of fitness workouts and dedication.
Thanks to Koffie’s efforts, the Whitecaps controlled play for most of the match and thought, justifiably, that they should have won easily.
If Koffie, Erik Hurtado, who scored Vancouver’s other goal on a super individual effort, and Kekuta Manneh had not been foiled by Frei on several opportunities, it could have been a blowout.
Chad Barrett scored Seattle’s other goal on a header that gave Seattle a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute after the Whitecaps had dominated the first 30 minutes.
While the Whitecaps were dejected about allowing the Sounders to come back and earn a point in the standings, the performance was a sign of the upside that the Caps have after deciding to part ways with Scottish international Kenny Miller. Robinson was not about to rip his young forwards ad midfielders after coming up empty, often due to Frei, on several scoring chances.
“It’d concern me more if we weren’t getting chances,” said Robinson. “Obviously, we’re getting chances. We got to work at that, or do something about it. I’ve openly said we’re looking at trying to bring in (offensive) players to help this group, and I’ll continue to do that. But the player has to be the right player or players, and if they are, then we’ll move forward with that. But the guys in there, I said I’m delighted with them today, and I’m proud of them. Erik Hurtado again, another fantastic goal and performance and we’re just moving in the right direction slowly.”
Koffie’s improved play demonstrates that the Whitecaps’ strategy of developing players from within their system can pay off.
Since arriving in Vancouver while still in his teens, he has demonstrated strong skill on the ball, the ability to play physical when necessary, a strong shot and decent speed. But he has also committed poor passes, struggled to communicate with teammates in the silent language of the game where moves offer unspoken instructions, and missed shots on many nights. Now, it appears that he is adding another dimension – field smarts – which can overcome inconsistency that has been glaring at times.
Koffie’s showing and those of his mates bode well as the Whitecaps prepare for a game in Portland next weekend.
“The manager told me I did well on my performance, and I could have got more than one goal,” said Koffie. “I guess we will take it to the next game and see what happens.”
For much of this MLS season, the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder has played a holding role intent on stopping the opponent’s top offensive players. But against the Seattle Sounders, he moved up into the attack.
He was rewarded with a goal and was robbed on a last-second shot while enjoying several other scoring chances, helping the Whitecaps earn a 2-2 draw with their regional rivals before a sellout crowd of 21,000 at B.C. Place Stadium.
“The manager (coach Carl Robinson) asked me to move forward a lot, and we can’t play with so many guys back, so I got the opportunities to score,” said Koffie afterwards.
The Whitecaps improved to 4-2-5. The Sounders, who entered the same in first place in the Western Conference, now stand at 8-3-1.
Koffie’s goal in the 66th goal was a gimme as Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei rushed out of the net to get an errant ball on the right flank. In a desperate attempt to keep the ball in bounds, he volleyed it into the middle of Seattle’s half. Koffie chested the ball down, waited momentarily and sent a high shot from distance into the net as Frei came up just short of getting back to it.
“I think last year I scored (a similar one) against Chivas – same except the goalie went off his line to play the ball,” said Koffie.”
The goal, Koffie’s first of the season, put Vancouver ahead 2-1. But Gonzalo Pineda netted the draw as he scored on a penalty-kick in the 82nd minute.
The spot kick resulted after Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit was called for a foul as he and second-half substitute Cam Weaver went up for the ball and both fell on the way down.
As six minutes of added time were coming to an end, Frei robbed Koffie as he raced in on goal. The ball went off the goalkeeper’s hand and into touch, but the final whistle sounded before the Whitecaps could take their corner-kick.
Six minutes into the game, Koffie sent a volley just wide of the goalpost and then, about three minutes later, nailed a shot off the crossbar after making a fine run up the middle of the pitch. Simply put, the XX-year-old Ghana native was a force in midfield both offensively and defensively – and the obvious choice for his club’s player of the match.
Koffie overshadowed Vancouver’s new attacking midfielder Pedro Morales, who stood out at times but was less visible than usual. Ironically, Koffie excelled in the second half even though he took a yellow card in the first half after he fell, apparently faking an injury, after he ran onto a cross at the far post and went down after Frei got his hands on him.
“When you get booked early you have to be careful about what you do, and you can’t create any fouls, so the manager told me I had a yellow card, so I should be careful,” Koffie said.
Koffie’s effort was evidence that he still has plenty of upside to his game after coming under criticism from Robinson at times this season and former coach Martin Rennie in the past.
“Yeah, it was probably his best performance,” said Robinson. “He’s been excellent the last three or four games for me. I keep saying to him that he needs to keep scoring goals. He’s a midfield player. Not just his goal, but I think he hit the bar in the first couple of minutes, and then could have nicked it in the end with two more chances. It was an all-around performance from him today, and he should be proud of himself.”
Whitecaps management, coaches and player development types can also feel good about their efforts, too.
One tends to forget that, although Koffie is in his fourth MLS season and fifth overall with the Whitecaps, he is only 22 years old. It’s evident that he is gaining a vision for the pitch that he has been accused of lacking even this season and in previous years. Such improvement often comes only after years of staying after practice to do extra work, countless hours of fitness workouts and dedication.
Thanks to Koffie’s efforts, the Whitecaps controlled play for most of the match and thought, justifiably, that they should have won easily.
If Koffie, Erik Hurtado, who scored Vancouver’s other goal on a super individual effort, and Kekuta Manneh had not been foiled by Frei on several opportunities, it could have been a blowout.
Chad Barrett scored Seattle’s other goal on a header that gave Seattle a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute after the Whitecaps had dominated the first 30 minutes.
While the Whitecaps were dejected about allowing the Sounders to come back and earn a point in the standings, the performance was a sign of the upside that the Caps have after deciding to part ways with Scottish international Kenny Miller. Robinson was not about to rip his young forwards ad midfielders after coming up empty, often due to Frei, on several scoring chances.
“It’d concern me more if we weren’t getting chances,” said Robinson. “Obviously, we’re getting chances. We got to work at that, or do something about it. I’ve openly said we’re looking at trying to bring in (offensive) players to help this group, and I’ll continue to do that. But the player has to be the right player or players, and if they are, then we’ll move forward with that. But the guys in there, I said I’m delighted with them today, and I’m proud of them. Erik Hurtado again, another fantastic goal and performance and we’re just moving in the right direction slowly.”
Koffie’s improved play demonstrates that the Whitecaps’ strategy of developing players from within their system can pay off.
Since arriving in Vancouver while still in his teens, he has demonstrated strong skill on the ball, the ability to play physical when necessary, a strong shot and decent speed. But he has also committed poor passes, struggled to communicate with teammates in the silent language of the game where moves offer unspoken instructions, and missed shots on many nights. Now, it appears that he is adding another dimension – field smarts – which can overcome inconsistency that has been glaring at times.
Koffie’s showing and those of his mates bode well as the Whitecaps prepare for a game in Portland next weekend.
“The manager told me I did well on my performance, and I could have got more than one goal,” said Koffie. “I guess we will take it to the next game and see what happens.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
