GAME ESSENTIALS | FC Dallas at Whitecaps

FANTASTIC FERNANDEZ

Sebastian Fernandez, pictured, the Caps’ diminutive Uruguayan forward, had a few dazzling moments in the first half of his first MLS season, scoring on three long-range strikes. But he was goalless in 14 games heading into Saturday’s match and couldn’t buy a call in the box because of some early flops. He didn’t need any calls against FC Dallas, scoring twice four minutes apart early in the game in the Caps’ 2-0 victory. On the first, the 5-7 Fernandez skied above Dallas’ Je-Vaughn Watson at the far post to head in a cross from Mauro Rosales. On the second, he left-footed a shot just inside the near post from 12 yards out after another Rosales setup. “His movement patterns and positional sense, getting into areas and causing problems for them was evident throughout the game,” said head coach Carl Robinson. “If you see his training every day … his work ethic is terrific and he is a very talented football player.”

MARVELLOUS MAURO

As good as Fernandez’s finish was, the service from Mauro Rosales, pictured, was outstanding. The 33-year-old Argentine had shown flashes of the playmaking ability he’s renowned for after being acquired from Chivas USA in mid-August, but he had just one assist in eight games and no goals. Against Dallas, his passing was pinpoint and he was delighted to see it finally pay off. “It is part of the work we are doing with the guys,” said Rosales, who praised Erik Hurtado for creating space with his unselfish runs. “It is important to get our strikers goals and confidence. As I get more minutes with them, I get much better.” Robinson said it was Morales’ best game as a Whitecap. “I think sometimes we’re lucky to have him. His technical ability is amazing and he had a massive influence on the game.”

BACK LINE IS SOLID

Robinson liked his team on the counter-attack and enjoyed the clinical finish by Fernandez, but he thought his club was too open in the first half, “a bit kamikaze football. I had to address a few things.” The Caps went into lockdown mode in the second half, with holding midfielders Russell Teibert, pictured, and Matias Laba buzzing all over the field and the back four playing sturdy, solid defence. Centre backs Kendall Waston and Andy O’Brien were strong in the air and frustrated physical Dallas striker Blas Perez. “Credit the back four, especially in the second half, they defended properly and showed a lot of character out there,” said Robinson. “The game was won in the first half, but for me the game was managed fantastically well in the second half.”

SHORT UP FRONT

The Caps will go into Friday night’s game in Seattle short of attacking options. Fernandez picked up a cheap yellow card for time wasting in the final seconds on Saturday. It was his fifth of the season and means he’s suspended for the game against the Sounders. “It was my mistake,” he said. Darren Mattocks is scheduled to miss the game when he joins Jamaica on an international call-up and Omar Salgado was sent home last week after another training ground blow-up. That likely means a start for Kekuta Manneh, whose last five appearances have all been off the substitute’s bench.