Techera’s free-kick earns point for ’Caps
VANCOUVER — Cristian Techera scored on a beautiful free-kick in the 74th minute as the Vancouver Whitecaps fought back to draw F.C. Dallas 1-1 on Saturday night.
Maximiliano Urruti replied for Dallas (6-3-6), which remains four points up on Vancouver (6-6-2) in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference standings.
With his team trailing and struggling to create chances, Techera curled a left-footed shot over the wall and past Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez from 30 yards out for the pint-sized Uruguayan’s fourth of the season.
After a forgettable first half for both teams, Urruti stole the ball from fellow Argentine Matias Laba in midfield and went the other way before slotting home his eighth goal in the 52nd minute past a defender and beyond a diving David Ousted.
The Whitecaps brought on 16-year-old Alphonso Davies, who made his debut for Canada in a friendly this week, with half an hour to go in the hope of sparking something, and his galloping runs seemed to spark Vancouver before Techera struck.
The match brought an end to a roller-coaster week for the Whitecaps that began with positive headlines before two alleged offfield incidents involving police.
Vancouver unveiled its new $32.5-million training facility at the University of British Columbia on Wednesday to glowing reviews.
But those good feelings were short-lived when news broke 24 hours later that two minors had been charged with sexual assault after an alleged incident at a separate Whitecaps practice facility in Burnaby last week.
A spokesman said in a statement that a serious incident allegedly occurred between some male youth players that was in clear contravention of the team’s code of conduct. The players were suspended indefinitely and the matter was handed over to the local RCMP detachment.
Then on Friday, first-team defender Sheanon Williams was suspended indefinitely by MLS after the 27-year-old was charged with assault in connection with an alleged domestic incident.
The Whitecaps were coming off a two-week break after playing five games in 15 days in all competitions, but were without two key pieces, apart from Williams, after defender Kendall Waston and midfielder Christian Bolanos were injured on international duty with Costa Rica.