TEIBERT TIME TIMELY
WHITECAPS’ CANADIAN STAR PICKS KEY GAME TO SHOW HIS STUFF
Russell Teibert’s breakout goal- scoring performance was sorely needed. And Darren Mattocks’ relief at ending his goal- scoring slump was obvious.
But perhaps the more significant development out of the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 3- 1 Major League Soccer victory on Saturday over the Los Angeles Galaxy was a return to form for midfielder Gershon Koffie.
The third- year player from Ghana signed a new contract in pre- season and scored the goal in the club’s season- opening 1- 0 win over visiting Toronto FC. Head coach Martin Rennie praised the 21- year- old as an influential player capable of taking over matches.
But, for some reason, his play quickly tailed off. The tough, hard- tackling six- footer became almost invisible at times. Too often it seemed as if he was deferring to veteran Nigel ReoCoker. During one three- game stretch in April, Koffie didn’t play in one contest and got just 22 and 31 minutes as a secondhalf substitute in two others.
But he refused to pout. And in the second half against the Galaxy on Saturday, Koffie came alive. He was driving forward into channels and earned his first two assists of the season.
He set up Teibert’s first goal with a strong run into the box and a nice layoff, and then initiated the play on Mattocks’ stoppage- time tally. He deftly flicked the ball into the box for Jordan Harvey to chest down, with Mattocks quickly slotting the ball home from close range.
“Koffie did do well,” said Rennie. “He was driving past people and committing people. That’s hard to defend against. Koffie is a fantastic player, so talented. We’re just getting him to come back to his best form.”
With the Caps basically playing a 4- 1- 2- 3, with Mattocks as a central striker, it’s critical that midfielders such as Koffie and Reo- Coker take opportunities to move in behind the young Jamaican.
“It’s my thing to go forward, to have more goal options,” said Koffie. “Because we play only Darren at the top, when we have more options it makes it difficult for ( teams) to defend us.”
Mattocks had not scored since March 23 and was mired in a tough stretch of near misses and bad luck. It seemed that would continue Saturday when he had six shots, four of them on goal. In the 16th minute, Galaxy goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini made a diving save off a Mattocks’ header.
Late in the game, when Mattocks’ hard shot from about six yards out was stopped by Cudicini, the corn- rowed striker dropped to his knees and buried his head in his hands in despair, thinking he was about to again go without a goal. With time running out, however, he finally converted.
“I just have to give a big shout out to my teammates and all of the fans of Vancouver for being really patient,” said Mattocks.
Rennie said he was pleased to see Mattocks get rewarded for all the extra time and work he’s been putting in during training.
“Adversity builds character, it’s the kind of thing that makes you stronger, it’s the kind of thing that if you approach it properly, you learn and you become better,” said Rennie. “No player is going to become a top player without facing setbacks and knowing how to overcome them.
“He’s had to deal with that a little bit and he’s come through it well. It’s not much fun. Nobody likes missing chances or getting criticized, but those are the things that reveal your character and make you into the person that you need to be to be successful.”