Weary Whitecaps find second wind to earn valuable point
The way their plane ride went, you wouldn’t have blamed the Vancouver Whitecaps for flying all the way to New York just to “park the bus.”
Travel woes conspired to cut the legs out from under the Caps, but the road-weary Major League Soccer side found a second wind in Wednesday’s second half and left Harrison, N.J., with a well-earned point after a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls.
It wasn’t until 2:30 a.m. ET Wednesday that the Caps arrived at their hotel on the East Coast, thanks to a cancelled commercial flight that forced them to charter a last-minute plane from Kansas City.
Facing last year’s Supporters’ Shield champions — and the only team in MLS with more than 100 home wins since 2010 — without Yordy Reyna and Doneil Henry, the Whitecaps had the better of scoring chances in the game and have now picked up points in five of their last six games.
Fredy Montero and Scott Sutter scored for the Whitecaps (3-6-5), while Brian White had the lone tally for the Red Bulls (5-5-3). The other came via a Caps own goal.
Here’s what we learned at Red Bull Arena:
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sutter finished off a play started by a strong run from Joaquin Ardaiz — who had shrugged off taking a boot to the neck and stormed down the left flank — with his first goal as a Whitecap in the 29th minute.
It was the first scoring chance of the game for the Caps, who had been defending for their lives up to that point. New York continued to press before White, a 2018 MLS SuperDraft pick, scored his second goal in three games, redirecting an Amro Tarek header past Zac MacMath.
An Andy Rose own goal put the home side ahead in the 57th minute, but a handball from centre back Sean Nealis four minutes later was spotted by the video assistant referee, leading to a Montero penalty kick. The Caps striker slotted it home for his team-leading fourth goal of the season.
LET’S GET IN FORMATION
The Whitecaps came out in a 5-41 formation with some surprise starters. Rose drew in as a third centre back, while Brett Levis and Giro — both former left backs — started on the wings.
With most of their best offensive players on the bench, it looked like the Caps were going to play for a draw, and their first half bunkering did little to dispel the idea. Like Muhammad Ali against George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle, the Caps did their best rope-a-dope in the first half, spending most of it pinned inside their own area. The opening 45 saw the Red Bulls fire 11 shots, but nine of those were blocked by the visitors.
New York had close to 70 per cent possession in the first half, but the game opened up in the second stanza, with coach Marc Dos Santos bringing on Montero for Brett Levis, Inbeom Hwang for PC Giro and Lucas Venuto replacing Ardaiz.
The Red Bulls held an 18-13 edge in total shots, but it was Vancouver with a 7-3 edge in shots on target, including a Felipe header that forced Bulls keeper Luis Robles to make a diving stop early in the second half. Tied 2-2 in injury time, Robles made another diving stop off Venuto to keep Vancouver from stealing the three points.
BY THE NUMBERS
Sutter had himself a game at right back. Not only did he score his first goal since Sept. 9, he also saved a goal by making a last-second lunging clearance on a cross with Derek Etienne all alone at the far post.
He had two tackles, a team-high four interceptions, and three clearances, and his powerful onetime finish over the top of Robles wasn’t going to be stopped.
Left back Ali Adnan chipped in with three tackles, three interceptions and a game-high seven clearances. He also led the Whitecaps field players with 37 passes.
SUBDUED CELEBRATION
When Montero scored in the 61st minute, there was the usual jubilation — minus the coaches.
Assistant coach Vanni Sartini was fined by the league Tuesday for stepping on the pitch to celebrate with Derek Cornelius on Saturday after the Caps centre back scored an injury-time equalizer.
The Caps had already been warned for a similar infraction that occurred when Lass Bangoura scored what appeared to be a lategame winner against Colorado two weeks ago.