Whitecaps tie Quakes in manic goalfest
Capping a crazy second half, Godoy's 90th-minute goal gives Vancouver a much-needed point
Lucas Cavallini's header glanced off the outside of the post, and spun over the touchline. Referee Tim Ford pointed to centre field and blew the whistle for full time, and Cavallini collapsed on his back, exhausted.
Just like the 15,087 fans at B.C. Place.
The Vancouver Whitecaps and San Jose Earthquakes combined for six goals — all in the game's final 38 minutes — and played to a barn-burning 3-3 tie Saturday night.
After Cavallini opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, the Quakes equalized and took the lead twice, with Vancouver battling back each time to tie, the final coming from Erik Godoy as the clock ticked over the 90th minute of regulation. Cavallini's header at the death was inches away from winning it for the Whitecaps, but they settled for a tie that took them off the bottom of the Western Conference, ahead of the idle Seattle Sounders.
Ryan Raposo had the other goal for Vancouver (2-6-2, 14th West), while Jeremy Ebobisse, with two, and Jamiro Montiero scored for San Jose (2-5-4, 11th West), who had lost their previous four road games this year.
“We need to keep this streak on. It's OK, we cannot win every game, but it's good that when we cannot win, we tie,” said head coach Vanni Sartini, whose team is now undefeated in three straight home games.
“We didn't give up. And that's the spirit of the team that I want to see. And I think it's the spirit that make us in the run for a long time if we keep playing like this.”
Here's what we learned:
PLUCKY POLLO
Raposo used to be a trivia question: “Who was the player picked just before $10M West Brom transferee Daryl Dike in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft?”
Now, he's made a name of his own.
Raposo had a goal and an assist Saturday afternoon, making his second straight start and scoring in consecutive games. He now has three goals and an assist in nine appearances this year.
“Ryan is a fighter. Ryan is he's a guy that even at the beginning of the season saw himself maybe very low in the depth chart,” Sartini said on Wednesday.
EL TANQUE ON A ROLL
Cavallini's biggest contribution to the Caps' opening goal — apart from actually scoring it — was his magnificent sell job to win a free kick just on the Vancouver side of midfield, convincing referee Tim Ford he'd been maligned.
While the Quakes were arguing the call, Flo Jungwirth took the kick quickly, and one touch later, Cavallini had it in space. A deft give and go with Raposo led to a low, bottom corner grass-burner from Cavallini, his second goal of 2022.
He nearly made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute, but Quakes keeper J.T. Marcinkowski dove to turn his powerful header aside.
“That was, by far, the best game that he played for the Whitecaps,” said Sartini. “He's a different player than last year; physically and mentally he's in a much better space. He works for the team, and when you work for the team a
lot, then you get back the chance.”
Cavallini led the team in shots (7), shots on target (4), aerials (7) and fouls suffered (3), and his holdup play allowed the Caps to escape some stifling pressure from San Jose on several occasions. And while three teammates picked up cautions, the battering ram striker wasn't one of them, as one more yellow would have meant an automatic suspension.
“It's actually an achievement for him,” quipped Sartini.
“I know the line,” a smiling Cavallini said post-game.
CHANGE OF FORMATIONS, CHANGE OF FORTUNES
The first half ended scoreless, with the Caps definitely missing the playmaking ability of midfielder Ryan Gauld, who was out for the game under COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Without Gauld — Cristian Dajome started in his place — the Caps attack was blunt and ineffective through the first 45. The Caps had just 147 passes and a completion rate of 75 per cent, and two key passes, and San Jose held close to 68 per cent possession.
But Sartini switched formations to a full-time 3-4-1-2 from the four-man backline they started with, and they began making progress, but it also opened them up to transition counterattacks. The Quakes took full advantage, scoring two quick-strike goals after the Caps were caught too high up field.
“The change brought a lot offensively and it exposed us in those transition where they have been really good,” said Sartini. “I think in the second half, besides the beginning when they hit the bar, they only came into our box on these three transition moments. And they were very clinical. They scored three out
of three and that was the difference for us of winning or tying.”
MAY MANIA
There will continue to be little rest for the Whitecaps, with four more games staring them in the face before the month is out. It's another Wednesday (FC Dallas), Sunday (Charlotte FC), Wednesday (Cavalry FC), Saturday (Sporting KC), with the last three on the road.
Long-term injuries to Thomas Hasal, Triston Blackmon and Caio Alexandre will have hopefully healed by then, and the visa paperwork slowing down Andrés Cubas' arrival solved.
But it means plenty of squad rotation for the Caps, and a constantly shifting starting XI. It will also mean a much milder practice environment.