Whitecaps’ Techera heating up
4 goals in last 5 games, including 1st pro hat trick, ahead of today’s home tilt against Orlando City SC
VANCOUVER — After a quiet start to the Vancouver Whitecaps’ season, “The Bug” is proving to be a pest to opponents.
Uruguayan-born midfielder/forward Cristian Techera has scored five goals in his last four games, including his first professional hat trick. The Whitecaps are hoping Techera, who eared his nickname because of his diminutive size, continues to buzz around when Vancouver plays Orlando City SC today in a Major League Soccer game at BC Place Stadium.
Techera, who stands 5-foot-2 and weighs 150 pounds, was easily overlooked at the start of the year. He had just one goal — off a penalty kick — and a single assist in his first 11 games.
Techera found his touch again with a goal against San Jose on May 16, then dazzled a hometown crowd by scoring three times as Vancouver battled from behind to tie New England two weeks later. He opened the scoring last week as the Whitecaps defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-1 to snap a five-game winless streak (0-1-4).
Midfielder Felipe said Techera has found his grove.
“He’s been showing all year long what he’s capable of,” said the Brazilian-born Felipe. “It was very important for him to get the goal (against San Jose) and get going. For confidence, it’s key when you score a goal. We are very happy for him, but we hope he continues to do that for us.”
Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson likes the chemistry that is developing between his young group of attacking players — Techera is the oldest at 26. Both midfielder/forward Yordy Reyna and Whitecaps rookie forward Anthony Blondell are 24, while midfielder Alphonso Davies is just 17 but playing in his third MLS season.
“There is great potential for those four to develop,” said Robinson. “Players are understanding the tendency of other players. The chemistry of the front-four players in the last three games have created a bucket load of chances. The consistency has been very good. That will continue.”
Reyna has two goals, three assists and 14 shots in the last four matches.
One concern for Robinson is Vancouver has five draws this season, four of them coming at home.
The Whitecaps’ 20 points leaves them in the sixth and final playoff spot in the West but there is little room for error. Heading into the weekend only six points separates third-place Real Salt Lake from ninth-place Minnesota.
“We need to win at home if we are going to be in the playoffs, we know that,” said Robinson. “We’ve drawn too many games at home, which is a mini-positive because we are not losing at home, but it’s not a positive because we need to win at home.”
The Whitecaps have three consecutive ties at home. Their last win at BC Place was 2-0 over Real Salt Lake on April 27. Vancouver hopes to win back-to-back games for the first time since the first two games of the season.