Crepeau backstops Whitecaps to win over Timbers

Maxime Crepeau had plenty of action Friday night – and he did not disappoint.

Crepeau made five saves as the Vancouver Whitecaps blanked the Portland Timbers 1-0 at B.C. Place Stadium. The saves total was a bit misleading, although Crepeau, a 24-year-old Greenfield Park, Que., native, stopped mostly difficult shots. He was under siege for much of the night as the Whitecaps (3-5-3) scored early and hung on for their second straight win, moving into playoff contention in the process.

Fredy Montero scored the game’s only goal in the ninth minutes as he took a pass from Russell Teibert in the Timbers box and roofed a shot inside the near post.

Portland (3-6-1) was credited with 27 shots in all – with five on target, 15 off target and another seven blocked by Vancouver defenders. By comparison, the Caps only recorded 12 shots altogether.

But Crepeau was not complaining about Portland’s barrage.

"Tonight, the heat lamp was a little bit more on our side. It was back and forth.

"It's easier for me to be focused when we have action. If you are having one action every 35 minutes, you really need to keep up mentally for that ball. If the ball is coming in waves and waves, you are right in there."

Crepeau earned his third shutout of the season while logging his 10th start. Not bad considering that he played in lower tiers before earning his first permanent Major League Soccer spot this season. 

Vancouver’s starting goalkeeper job was up for grabs as the start of the campaign after the Whitecaps jettisoned both of their stoppers after missing the playoffs in 2018. But Crepeau, who was acquired in a trade in December from the Montreal Impact for $50,000 in targeted allocation money and a third-round 2020 SuperDraft pick, has relegated American veteran Zac MacMath to a backup role.

The Caps paid a much higher price for MacMath, sending pesky midfielder Nicolas Mezquida and $100,000 in TAM to the Colorado Rapids.

Despite being part of Canada’s men’s national program, Crepeau was a relative unknown. But he has a strong pedigree. In 2018, he recorded a USL single-season record with 15 clean sheets while on loan to Ottawa Fury FC. He won the circuit’s goalkeeper of the year award, posting 82 saves with a 72.6 save percentage with a 1.00 goals-against average.

Now, Crepeau has the Whitecaps dreaming of more success.

"We are happy,” he said. “It was an important win. We want to keep going with three wins in a row (after the next meeting) against Atlanta (on Wednesday).”

Meanwhile, the Timbers headed home unhappy, largely because of Crepeau.

“(Give) credit to their goalkeeper (and) to their team” said Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese. “They defended well. They sacrificed. But I thought also, we were really unlucky today. We did a lot of good things. We created a lot of chances. We moved the ball well. We dominated -- especially in the second half. Yes, they did have counters. But we dealt very well with the counters."

The Timbers earned 12 corner-kicks as a result of their steady pressure – but could not capitalize.

"We had many corners, many shots, a lot of possessions," said Savarese. "But, unfortunately, that doesn't win you games. Unfortunately, what we missed today was the goals."

 

Vancouver fans show Ibrah the love

Ziatan Ibrahimovic felt the love from Vancouver soccer fans on Friday night.

Ibrahimovic was feted at B.C. Place Stadium after leading the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. One would have thought he played for the home side as fans shouted "Ibrah! Ibrah" and sought his autograph.

The 37-year-old Swedish icon scored a goal and added an assist as the Galaxy improved to 4-1-0 and kept the Whitecaps (0-4-1) winless.

"It was a good game, fantastic atmosphere," said Ibrahimovic. "You saw the people. Hopefully, they enjoyed the game. It was a good game for us."
Not so much for the Whitecaps, who are 0-2-1 at home in the young season.
Ibrahimovic left the home crowd in awe as his goal in the 71st minute clinched the win. He chested down Rolf Feltscher's cross from the right corner and put a right-footed volley past Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. 
Eight minutes earlier. Ibrahimovic had sent a cross to Daniel Steres at the far post that he headed in after sneaking behind defenders.
Ibrahimovic also had a goal disallowed by an offside call that he disputed, contending that an official made a mistake that "can not happen" with a video replay available. (The play was not reviewed. Under Major League Soccer rules, offside calls can be reviewed, but officials can only use video available to a broadcast.)
Ibrahimovic also missed a gimme goal after Crepeau misplayed a catchable shot and left the ball at the star striker's feet. The shot went wide.

"I had a good chance with the goalkeeper," Ibrahimovic said. "He gave (the ball) to me. He surprised me and I missed, which I shouldn't have missed."

The outcome might have turned out differently if Vancouver defender Ali Adnan had not flubbed a penalty-kick in the first minute.

"I felt sorry for the guy," said Ibrahimovic. "I was happy that he missed. Don't misunderstand me. But when it happens, it happens."

Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham easily grabbed the ball while sitting on the artificial turf.
Speaking of artificial turf, Ibrahimovic detests playing on it, but he gave the B.C. Place variety a passing grade of sorts.
"It's coming more and more, so I'm totally against the turf," he said. "But I said I would come and play. This turf was better than the other ones I've been playing on in MLS this year."
Ibrahimovic said he could not use the turf as an excuse after the Galaxy turned a scoreless first half into a one-sided contest in the second. He and the rest of the Galaxy left the Whitecaps lamenting the missed PK and other chances, especially those that came in the first 45 minutes.

"In the first half, we were doing bad," said Ibrahimovic. "They were trying to play around and I think they gave 200 per cent in the first half, because they looked tired in the second half. We took over more and more and let them run more and more. But I don't think we changed the way they were marking me. The only thing is, we were more dominant and I got more space and more chances."

He was what the Whitecaps appear to lack: a constant scoring threat.

The Caps had a goal disallowed after Fredy Montero crashed into Bingham. 

As a result, the Whitecaps were held scoreless for the third time in their first five games of 2019.

But Ibrahimovic's presence alone provided entertainment for many Vancouver fans.

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."