Caps no longer sans Diego
Whitecaps welcome back defender Diego Rodríguez after he served a two-game suspension for a low blow in Orlando, Fla.
Of all the differences between playing in his native Uruguay and playing in MLS, one stands out to Diego Rodríguez through his first month.
“Yes, there are not any cameras (in Uruguay),” he said with a laugh.
Well, at least not multiple cameras poking their lenses into every nook and cranny of the game.
Rodríguez, a 24-year-old centre-back from Montevideo, is available for selection against the Columbus Crew at B.C. Place on Wednesday (7 p.m., TSN, TSN 1410).
He’s served his two-game suspension for, well, poking Orlando’s Aurélien Collin in the nook (or was that his cranny?) in the Caps’ 1-0 win there on March 21.
It wasn’t called during the game but it was caught on camera. Rodríguez was punished after the fact — harshly, considering the relative danger of a flying tackle.
But he learned a valuable lesson about MLS: there are eyes everywhere.
“I had no intention of hurting the opponent,” he said. “We laughed together because it’s something that happens in a game. But I learn and it won’t happen again.”
He sat out wins over Portland and L.A. but he could get back in the lineup Wednesday as the league-leading Caps (4-1-0) look to extend their win streak to five games.
Caps coach Carl Robinson is keen to give centre-back Pa-Modou Kah, 34, his share of rest this season. The Caps have a Saturday game in San Jose to think about, too. Changes will come in one of the two games.
“This is the decision of the coach, but I’m ready,” said Rodríguez, who spent three seasons with Málaga’s reserves in Spain. “I’m happy the suspension is over. Finally.”
Rodríguez made an impressive debut in Orlando. Playing alongside Kendall Waston, he won his battles and was calm on the ball.
The partnership looked natural. They communicate in Spanish.
It was one of three shutouts for the Caps this season. Orlando enjoyed 63 per cent possession but managed to put just one shot on target.
“He showed he’s aggressive in his defending,” said goalkeeper David Ousted. “Oneon-one, he does fantastic work.
“We have a lot of games and five good centre-backs, so we’re comfortable with whatever Carl decides.”
The left-footed Rodríguez deflected praise to his teammates for his positive debut in Orlando. That seems to be the stock Uruguayan response, and it’s the type of culture Robinson’s worked hard to create in Vancouver.
If Waston plays like he did against L.A. on Saturday, he could make a scarecrow look good alongside him at centre-back.
“He helps me a lot,” said Rodríguez, who is on a one-year loan from Juventud de Las Piedras with an option to buy. “He’s a great player.” Aside from now knowing what the MLS disciplinary committee is, Rodríguez has developed a quick respect for MLS from the sideline.
“It’s a very tough league,” he said. “All the teams have great players and all the games are different.”
The question this week is how different Robinson’s lineup will look Wednesday. He might just want to ride a hot team and worry about energy levels on the weekend.
Rodríguez, though, seems the most likely switch.
“He’s another great character,” assistant coach Gordon Forrest said. “He wants to defend, and if it’s time for him to come back in then he knows his role and he’ll do a great job for us.”