HAPPY GAZE FOR FONZ
Davies gives Vancouver’s offence a big lift
Alphonso Davies isn’t old enough to be served at B.C. Place Stadium.
He did all the serving instead.
The Vancouver Whitecaps’ 17-year-old winger left Orlando City SC flambéed in Saturday’s game, racking up a team-record three assists and adding a goal in the home side’s 5-2 win.
It was the Caps’ second straight Major League Soccer victory, pushing their unbeaten streak to six games heading into the two-week World Cup break.
Not yet old enough to be named the Budweiser Man of the Match, Davies was The Man, setting up goals by Kei Kamara, Yordy Reyna and Nicolas Mezquida. Kamara converted a penalty kick to notch a brace.
Dom Dwyer and Sacha Kljestan replied for Orlando (6-7-1), who have now dropped five straight games.
Here’s what we learned:
AN ‘AYYY’ FOR THE FONZ
On a day when social media was abuzz with rumours of Turkish superclub Besiktas, Davies set the Orlando defence ablaze with a series of dazzling runs, including one Michael Vick-esque move where he accelerated between two converging defenders.
His assist on Kamara’s goal came on one of his patented charges, as he weaved through the defence into the area, laying it off to Kamara for an easy goal in the 36th minute.
It was the same on his assist on Reyna, out-pacing centre back Amro Tarek before laying it off for an easy tap-in. He shredded the defence a third time injury time, setting up Mezquida’s one-timer, giving him a team-record third assist.
His second goal of the season was almost overlooked, with the teenager banging home a rebound off a Jordon Mutch shot in the 76th minute. Both his goals this year — the first coming in the season-opening victory over Montreal — were game-winners.
His future with the club has been the subject of speculation almost since his debut as a 15-year-old, but the team has been careful with exposing him to too much pressure — and hype — at such a young age. The rumours of a move to Turkey were just the latest in a book-full of transfer rumours.
He’s under contract until December, but the team has options for 2019 and 2020. The earliest he could be sent overseas, which is an inevitability for the supremely talented youngster, is in the January transfer window, after he turns 18.
So how long will he be a Whitecap?
“It’s a good question,” said manager Carl Robinson. “I try to protect him; I know there are vultures out there, and I’m just trying to let him develop at his rate. Since I first played him two years ago, when he was 15 to now, his body’s changing, his mindset is changing, and it’s important we take time with him.
“But when he performs like that, there’s no hiding him. He’ll be all over the TVs and newspapers.”
KAMARA’S DROUGHT OVER
It had been seven games since Kamara had scored from open play, and not only did he score off Davies’ pass, he added a penalty kick goal in the 85th minute.
He’s now tied with former Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario for sixth on the all-time scoring list with 104. Fifth place is in sight, as well. It’s current occupant? Orlando coach Jason Kreis, with 108.
LEFT BACK BREK
Brek Shea started at left back for the second straight game, with Robinson seeing enough that he liked from his super-sub midfielder to give him the nod over Brett Levis.
The former Orlando City player acquitted himself well, waging a war with Chris Mueller on the wing — earning a yellow card for one overly physical challenge — with both players getting the better of the other at points. Shea did show off some pinpoint passing with a couple boot-to- boot crosses to Jake Nerwinski on the opposite side, but he also failed to track back on a 93rd minute goal by Dom Dwyer.
He finished the game with three tackles, tied for second on the team, and two interceptions, tied for first.
GOODBYE CARD
The Lions were hit with five cautions, and it bit them in the haunches in the 58th minute, when Mohamed El-Munir was hit with his second booking for the game for barging over Nerwinski from behind as the Caps fullback was making a run down the wing.
Already facing a suspension for accumulation, he will now miss the next two matches for Orlando. El-Munir was the player Orlando coach Jason Kreis had spotlighted earlier in the week as struggling with fatigue due to his dietary restrictions from Ramadan.
There was an incident with Nerwinski and Dwyer off the ball that could result in postgame discipline, though it went uncalled on the field during the game. Dwyer’s 93rd minute goal was his seventh of the season, and was the more irritating moment for Robinson than any gamesmanship.
“Orlando with Dom in the lineup is a much stronger team. He’s a key player,” said Robinson. “He plays with an edge. He plays on that borderline. I said to him (after the game) when he comes on and scored, I said ‘well done.’ He always seems to score against me, which really winds me up.”
MISSES, LAPSES
Just six minutes after going up a man, the Caps gave up the equalizer to Orlando’s Kljestan. It made them pay for two missed chances early in the second half when Davies and Kamara both hit the side netting after sustained pressure from Vancouver.
The last time the Caps had a man advantage, they lost 1-0 to Minnesota, the goal coming just minutes after the red card.
Doneil Henry and Jose Aja had another solid game as a tandem, combining for six tackles, three interceptions and four clearances, and keeping most of the chances to the outside.
“Really good performance by both centre backs. But they both played individually and collectively well,” said Robinson. “(But) Doneil’s angry in there — so I’d stay away from him today, because we conceded two goals.”