Caps blow lead, settle for tie
Vancouver takes a 2-0 lead into the second half, but only comes away with a point
The Vancouver Whitecaps are the only team to blow a multi-goal lead this season in MLS.
They nearly did it again Saturday night in Minnesota.
The Caps (6-6-2) took a 2-0 lead into the break at TCF Bank Stadium, but 13 minutes into the second half, the score was knotted at 2-2.
“Definitely disappointing,” Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted told The Associated Press.
“Up 2-nil at half and felt that we put ourselves in a good position. But they came on strong in the second half and a couple of mistakes from our point and it was 2-2. Then it was kind of a battle of who was going to get the third (goal).”
Vancouver lost 3-2 to San Jose in March after leading 2-0, and it nearly happened again. The 2-2 tie was salvaged by Ousted’s point-blank reaction save in the 88th minute, when he got his fingertips on Kevin Molino’s redirection.
Cristian Techera, with his fifth of the season, gave the Whitecaps the lead in the 17th minute, converting a penalty drawn by Brek Shea. The fleet-footed Shea was tripped by United keeper Bobby Shuttleworth after a bad back pass, the second consecutive game he’s surrendered a PK in those circumstances.
The Caps doubled that lead in firsthalf injury time with Tony Tchani hammering home a header off a Techera cross for his first goal of the season.
But United fought back in the second half, with defenders Francisco Calvo and Jerome Thiesson both scoring their first MLS goals. Calvo’s header cut Vancouver’s lead to 2-1 in the 50th minute, while Thiesson’s tied the game in the 63rd.
The Loons were playing their third game in eight days, and were coming off a 3-2 win over Portland on Wednesday. Saturday’s result made it the first time the expansion Minnesota side had recorded points in consecutive games.
“Credit to Minnesota, they reacted very well at halftime and we knew that would be the case, but we’re disappointed,” said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson.
“We need to manage the game better. Two mistakes cost us in the 50-minute period. We gathered ourselves then. We could have won it, maybe could have lost it. So, overall, we’ll take it.”
The score line actually flattered the visitors, with the Loons holding 77 per cent of the possession and winning the battle in total shots (6-3) and corners (4-2).
“I’m disappointed because I know (Vancouver) is happy with one point,” Calvo told the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. “We give away two points, and at the end of the day, we are going to need it.”
The Whitecaps were missing several key players, including midfielder Christian Bolanos and centre back Kendall Waston, who had surgery on his fractured right hand. Also missing was fullback Sheanon Williams, due to suspension.
The impact of Williams and Waston’s absences was apparent, as defensive breakdowns led to both of Minnesota’s goals. Both players were practically unmarked when they scored.
The result was a new positive, even if they didn’t earn the three points. The single point from the tie will give them some momentum heading into next week’s game against the Fire in Chicago (Saturday, 4 p.m., TSN1).
Techera is now tied with Fredy Montero for the team lead in goals with a career-best five.
Alphonso Davies started the game despite a fracture in his left hand, which was protected by cast.
“I thought Cristian and Alphonso (Davies) were excellent today,” said Robinson.
“I think Cristian and Alphonso caused a lot of problems. They were our biggest threats on the pitch. Both had very, very solid games.”