Report and Reaction: Vancouver Whitecaps suffer more altitude sickness in Colorado
Ah, Vancouver Whitecaps. Why do you make things so difficult?
The ‘Caps long road stretch finally came to an end in Colorado on Saturday night and their five game spell ended as it began, with a 2-1 defeat.
It always had a potential to be a banana skin game. The Western Conference leaders, heading to the team rooted at the bottom. The form team on the road against a side in no sort of form at all. Factor in Vancouver never having won in Colorado and this game had all the making of a bad end to their life on the road for the Whitecaps.
And so it proved.
As soon as the Whitecaps fell a goal behind just over a minute in, you knew it was going to be an uphill struggle. Vancouver have yet to win this season when they lose the first goal. In fact, tonight’s loss makes it just one point in the six games that they’ve fallen behind. Scary stuff.
REPORT:
Vancouver Whitecaps ended their five game road stretch as they began it, with a 2-1 loss to a lowly side they could, and should, have beaten.
Full credit to Colorado Rapids though. They fought from the first whistle to the last, ending a six game winless streak and recording their first victory since they beat the Whitecaps at home back in May.
Vicente Sanchez made it a rapid start for Colorado, firing home the opener with just over a minute on the clock. Kekuta Manneh tied things up on the 20 minute mark, but in a game that saw Vancouver start with no DP’s, it was one of Colorado’s that grabbed the winner, when Kevin Doyle hit his first ever MLS goal in the 56th minute.
With Pedro Morales still nursing a calf injury back in Vancouver and with Octavio Rivero and Matias Laba dropping to the bench for this one, the Whitecaps started the game with no Designated Players on the pitch as Carl Robinson rang some surprising changes to keep his squad fresh.
The new look line-up didn’t even have time to find their feet before the Rapids opened the scoring just 79 seconds in.
Drew Moor set Luis Solignac free on the left from a throw in. Gershon Koffie missed a tackle on the Argentine striker and he headed to the byeline before cutting the ball back. Everyone let the ball run through, coming to an unmarked Vicente Sanchez at the back of the box and the Uruguayan easily fired home past David Ousted.
Stunned by the start, Vancouver regrouped and got back in the game, with Manneh looking lively out left.
As has been the case so many times these past few weeks, Ousted became the Whitecaps hero once again when he pulled off an incredible instinctive save from Solignac who did superb to swivel and fire of a rocket of a shot from 12 yards out.
A two goal lead would have been something of a mountain for the Whitecaps to try and claw back at a stadium that hasn’t proved to be a happy hunting ground for them.
Would they be able to capitalise once more on a game changing Ousted save? Of course! And they did just that three minutes later.
The ‘Caps had been pressuring the Rapids defence and won a throw in on the right. Steven Beitashour threw long to Mauro Rosales, who had got in behind two Colorado defenders, and the Argentine looped a speculative cross towards the back post. Rapids keeper Clint Irwin let it bounce, allowing Manneh to nip in and tap home the equaliser from inches out.
You sensed that the momentum was now fully with the visitors, but Vancouver’s gameplan was derailed slightly when Pa Modou Kah has to limp off with an injury in the 28th minute, to be replaced by Diego Rodriguez.
Vancouver’s speed was causing problems for the home side and although both teams created some half chances and defensive scrambles, there was to be no further goalmouth action in the half and the teams headed in level.
The second half started tamely but the game sprang into life when Rapids DP Kevin Doyle grabbed his first MLS goal in the 56th winning, heading a Lucas Pittinari cross in off the post from 14 yards out.
Vancouver made some changes to try and get themselves back in to it, but they only had some half chances from Manneh and sub Rivero to show for it and Colorado comfortably saw out the game for three points that will leave Vancouver wondering just what they need to do to grab another win down there.
At least they can sleep in their own beds for over a week now. They’re not going to have it easy when they return to BC Place next Sunday, however. Kansas City will prove to be a tough opponent. Can they turn some of their road form in a home win? It will certainly be a good test of just where this team is right now.
FINAL SCORE: Colorado Rapids 2 – 1 Vancouver Whitecaps
ATT: 18,356
COLORADO: Clint Irwin; James Riley, Bobby Burling, Jared Watts, Drew Moor; Marcelo Sarvas (Dillon Powers 84), Sam Cronin, Lucas Pittinari; Vicente Sanchez (Dillon Serna 73), Kevin Doyle, Luis Solignac [Subs Not Used: Zac MacMath, Marc Burch, Joseph Greenspan, Charles Eloundou, Dominique Badji]
VANCOUVER: David Ousted; Steven Beitashour, Kendall Waston, Pa Modou Kah (Diego Rodriguez 28), Jordan Harvey; Gershon Koffie, Deybi Flores; Cristian Techera (Nicolas Mezquida 67), Mauro Rosales, Kekuta Manneh; Darren Mattocks (Octavio Rivero 67) [Subs Not Used: Paolo Tornaghi, Matias Laba, Erik Hurtado, Kianz Froese]
REACTION:
*** To follow later ***
Read Further on AFTN.ca
Ah, Vancouver Whitecaps. Why do you make things so difficult?
The ‘Caps long road stretch finally came to an end in Colorado on Saturday night and their five game spell ended as it began, with a 2-1 defeat.
It always had a potential to be a banana skin game. The Western Conference leaders, heading to the team rooted at the bottom. The form team on the road against a side in no sort of form at all. Factor in Vancouver never having won in Colorado and this game had all the making of a bad end to their life on the road for the Whitecaps.
And so it proved.
As soon as the Whitecaps fell a goal behind just over a minute in, you knew it was going to be an uphill struggle. Vancouver have yet to win this season when they lose the first goal. In fact, tonight’s loss makes it just one point in the six games that they’ve fallen behind. Scary stuff.
REPORT:
Vancouver Whitecaps ended their five game road stretch as they began it, with a 2-1 loss to a lowly side they could, and should, have beaten.
Full credit to Colorado Rapids though. They fought from the first whistle to the last, ending a six game winless streak and recording their first victory since they beat the Whitecaps at home back in May.
Vicente Sanchez made it a rapid start for Colorado, firing home the opener with just over a minute on the clock. Kekuta Manneh tied things up on the 20 minute mark, but in a game that saw Vancouver start with no DP’s, it was one of Colorado’s that grabbed the winner, when Kevin Doyle hit his first ever MLS goal in the 56th minute.
With Pedro Morales still nursing a calf injury back in Vancouver and with Octavio Rivero and Matias Laba dropping to the bench for this one, the Whitecaps started the game with no Designated Players on the pitch as Carl Robinson rang some surprising changes to keep his squad fresh.
The new look line-up didn’t even have time to find their feet before the Rapids opened the scoring just 79 seconds in.
Drew Moor set Luis Solignac free on the left from a throw in. Gershon Koffie missed a tackle on the Argentine striker and he headed to the byeline before cutting the ball back. Everyone let the ball run through, coming to an unmarked Vicente Sanchez at the back of the box and the Uruguayan easily fired home past David Ousted.
Stunned by the start, Vancouver regrouped and got back in the game, with Manneh looking lively out left.
As has been the case so many times these past few weeks, Ousted became the Whitecaps hero once again when he pulled off an incredible instinctive save from Solignac who did superb to swivel and fire of a rocket of a shot from 12 yards out.
A two goal lead would have been something of a mountain for the Whitecaps to try and claw back at a stadium that hasn’t proved to be a happy hunting ground for them.
Would they be able to capitalise once more on a game changing Ousted save? Of course! And they did just that three minutes later.
The ‘Caps had been pressuring the Rapids defence and won a throw in on the right. Steven Beitashour threw long to Mauro Rosales, who had got in behind two Colorado defenders, and the Argentine looped a speculative cross towards the back post. Rapids keeper Clint Irwin let it bounce, allowing Manneh to nip in and tap home the equaliser from inches out.
You sensed that the momentum was now fully with the visitors, but Vancouver’s gameplan was derailed slightly when Pa Modou Kah has to limp off with an injury in the 28th minute, to be replaced by Diego Rodriguez.
Vancouver’s speed was causing problems for the home side and although both teams created some half chances and defensive scrambles, there was to be no further goalmouth action in the half and the teams headed in level.
The second half started tamely but the game sprang into life when Rapids DP Kevin Doyle grabbed his first MLS goal in the 56th winning, heading a Lucas Pittinari cross in off the post from 14 yards out.
Vancouver made some changes to try and get themselves back in to it, but they only had some half chances from Manneh and sub Rivero to show for it and Colorado comfortably saw out the game for three points that will leave Vancouver wondering just what they need to do to grab another win down there.
At least they can sleep in their own beds for over a week now. They’re not going to have it easy when they return to BC Place next Sunday, however. Kansas City will prove to be a tough opponent. Can they turn some of their road form in a home win? It will certainly be a good test of just where this team is right now.
FINAL SCORE: Colorado Rapids 2 – 1 Vancouver Whitecaps
ATT: 18,356
COLORADO: Clint Irwin; James Riley, Bobby Burling, Jared Watts, Drew Moor; Marcelo Sarvas (Dillon Powers 84), Sam Cronin, Lucas Pittinari; Vicente Sanchez (Dillon Serna 73), Kevin Doyle, Luis Solignac [Subs Not Used: Zac MacMath, Marc Burch, Joseph Greenspan, Charles Eloundou, Dominique Badji]
VANCOUVER: David Ousted; Steven Beitashour, Kendall Waston, Pa Modou Kah (Diego Rodriguez 28), Jordan Harvey; Gershon Koffie, Deybi Flores; Cristian Techera (Nicolas Mezquida 67), Mauro Rosales, Kekuta Manneh; Darren Mattocks (Octavio Rivero 67) [Subs Not Used: Paolo Tornaghi, Matias Laba, Erik Hurtado, Kianz Froese]
REACTION:
*** To follow later ***
Read Further on AFTN.ca
