‘Beast’ shows off delicate touch
Whitecaps centre back scores a pair of pretty ones off set pieces
They watched game film. They practised. They prepared. But they still couldn’t stop the “Beast” from feasting on set pieces.
Kendall Waston made up for an early defensive lapse that led to an Atlanta United goal by scoring two and being the catalyst on the third in Vancouver’s 3-1 win at B.C. Place on Saturday night.
Two of the goals came directly off corners, the other just after.
“We went through about 15 different videos on how well they are on free kicks,” Atlanta’s Greg Garza told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s after the game.
“We didn’t do a good enough job. Waston is a beast in the air. On the others we tried to have a guy in a zone and a guy marking but he’s very good in the air, obviously. We paid the price,” said Garza, who had United’s goal just seven minutes into the game.
“You could see the problems he caused us. It was pretty obvious on three goals with him being involved. It’s pretty disappointing after all the videos we’ve gone over to still go through that and suffer three goals defensively.”
The six-foot-five, 215-pound centre back also drew plaudits from United manager Gerardo (Tata) Martino, who knows a little something about quality, having managed both Barcelona and Argentina’s national team.
“We weren’t able to control Waston,” he said. “He was the decisive piece for them this game … He was a physical factor that allowed them to win today.
“In the league there’s not many guys like Waston. We haven’t had problems up until now. He’s a player that’s done damage not just to Atlanta but to other teams in this league.”
There were points late in the game where United’s defence on Waston consisted of a two-hand bear hug to keep him from the ball, and were lucky not to draw a penalty.
Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said his hulking fullback has been a decisive player all season, a point overshadowed by his first career two-goal game in MLS.
“I think Kendall’s been, I don’t want to use ‘absolutely’ but I will, absolutely excellent since the start of the season. You might get sidetracked because he scores two goals, there’s other games where he’s been phenomenal for us. I wouldn’t want any other player when the ball is coming in the box, especially when you’re defending a lead.
“Time and time again today he’s shown how crucial he is for us.”
It was a perfect way to regain the momentum after a league loss to DC United last week and the tough Canadian Championship loss to the Montreal Impact. That momentum might be slowed a bit as the league takes a break with World Cup qualifiers this week, but the break should also be a chance for players to get healthy — apart from Nico Mezquida, who will be out considerably longer after suffering a high ankle sprain against Montreal.
“I think all the guys that are injured can get their time to prepare themselves and recover very well,” Waston said. “So hopefully we don’t get more injuries and get everyone to 100 per cent.”
It will also likely be a good break for Fredy Montero, who broke his five-game scoreless skid with a 68th-minute goal. After Waston outjumped two defenders — again — off a corner kick, the ball floated to his defensive partner, Tim Parker, who headed the ball towards goal. United keeper Alec Cann made a phenomenal reaction save, flicking the ball off the line, although Parker had already streaked toward Waston to celebrate his goal.
Montero pounced on the loose ball and skied it into the net for his fifth of the season.
“It was a fantastic save by their goalkeeper, and Fredy does what he does. he’s a poacher,” Robinson said.
So is a Montero-Waston forward partnership in the cards, considering the scoring and moves Waston showed on his first goal, a goal he scored with his feet?
“I’d prefer if he heads it in, to be honest. I thought he waited too long. But it was a good goal,” Robinson said.
“I think if you ask him, he’ll tell you he played centre-forward in Costa Rica prior to coming here. He won’t play centre forward here.”