Whitecaps hold off Quakes for vital win
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps avoided disaster Saturday, posting a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.
A flurry of activity in the final minutes threatened the Whitecaps’ lead, but Vancouver (11-9-7) hung on and is now unbeaten in their its six MLS matches. San Jose (4-15-8) is firmly at the bottom of the MLS standings.
Whitecaps midfielder Alphonso Davies opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, scooping a pass from teammate Yordy Reyna in the Quakes’ box and tapping it into the bottom left corner of the net. It was the 17-year-old’s sixth goal of the year. Reyna and striker Kei Kamara were both credited with assists. Reyna now has two goals and six assists in his last four league starts.
The Whitecaps seemed calm and unhurried throughout much of the game. They limited the Quakes to 11 shots, while putting up 16 of their own.
San Jose defender Nick Lima drew a yellow card for unsporting behaviour 42 minutes in, after he was caught tugging on Davies’ shorts as they battled for the ball.
Vancouver players were shown the yellow card twice in the second half, beginning with Cristian Techera, who was clocked for unsporting behaviour 63 minutes in. Reyna earned a yellow for unsporting behaviour in the 67th minute. It was the Peruvian’s fifth yellow card of the season and he will miss Vancouver’s next game.
In the 78th minute, Reyna sailed a pass to teammate Nicolas Mezquida. The midfielder took a moment to settle the ball, then punted a rocket into the upper left-hand corner of the net, just out of the reach of Tarbell.
The Quakes’ only goal of the night came in stoppage time, when San Jose midfielder Vako Qazaishvili popped the ball in past Vancouver keeper Stefan Marinovic.
The Quakes gave the ’Caps a scare in the final minutes, with a flurry of chances that kept Marinovic on his toes.
The win was a crucial one for the ’Caps, who are in a tight battle with the Seattle Sounders, Real Salt Lake, the Portland Timbers and L.A. Galaxy for the Western Conference’s last three playoff spots. The teams are all sitting within three points of each other.