Montero burning to score against Atlanta on Saturday
Whitecaps striker is producing quality chances but hasn’t scored in his past five contests
Jordan Harvey plays defence on the soccer pitch. He also can play it for his teammates with the media.
The Vancouver Whitecaps veteran left back, who gamely spoke up to the press on Brek Shea’s behalf when asked about Shea getting tossed for directing some salty language at a referee in a loss to Toronto FC earlier this season, was quizzed Wednesday after practice about the recent scoring slump of Fredy Montero. Again he adeptly came to the aid of a cohort.
Montero, the striker from Colombia the Whitecaps added in off-season to bolster their attack, tallied four times in his first seven MLS games this season, but hasn’t scored in his past five contests.
Should you be surprised that Harvey has his back? No.
“We’re producing chances and, with a guy of his quality, those are going to go in more times than they aren’t,” said Harvey, 33, the Mission Viejo, Calif., native who is in his seventh season with the Whitecaps.
“It’s a matter of odds. You come next game and he gets the same number of chances, he’s going to put them away.”
Montero, 29, tallied 47 times in 119 games with the Seattle Sounders from 2009-12, so his scoring pace so far this season in the MLS isn’t all that different. He’s a three-time MLS all-star.
Montero had six shots in Vancouver’s 1-0 loss to DC United at B.C. Place last Saturday. He had another five shots in a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City at home the week before. So the opportunities are there.
He maintained Wednesday that his self confidence hasn’t wavered. He admitted that he was more easily frustrated when he was younger and would go through such dry spells.
“But, younger or older, it doesn’t matter … the ball doesn’t go into the net, you want to keep trying, you want to keep shooting,” said Montero, one of several veterans who was left at home by coach Carl Robinson for Tuesday’s 4-2 road loss to the Montreal Impact in the Canadian Championship semifinal.
“At some point, it’s going to go in, and everything is going to be back together.”
Vancouver (5-6-1) probably deserved a better fate against DC United, especially considering they hit three crossbars and a post.
Atlanta United FC (5-4-3) is next on the docket, coming to B.C. Place on Saturday (2:30 p.m., TSN1, TSN4, TSN 1410). The expansion squad leads the Eastern Conference in goals (27) despite sitting seventh in the 11-club loop.
If they opt to trade chances with Vancouver, that could be exactly what Montero needs to get back in the goal column.
“I’m feeling good,” Montero said. “For me, I know it’s going to come. But the most important things are still the results for the team.
“... We’re going to get back to this game we have on Saturday against Atlanta and try to play hard to get those three points.”