Adnan's goal lifts Vancouver to much-needed comeback win

NEXT GAME

Tuesday

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Seattle Sounders

7 p.m., Providence Park (Portland)

TV: TSN Radio: 1040 AM

The San Jose Earthquakes' Providence Park curse was a blessing for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Quakes are now winless in 14 regular season games at Providence Park after the Whitecaps rallied from a one-goal deficit Saturday night to win 2-1, getting the decision in their most important game of the MLS season.

Ali Adnan's 51st- minute, game-tying free-kick golazo injected some hope and energy into Vancouver (8-12), which leapfrogged the Quakes into seventh place in the Western Conference standings with three games remaining.

Carlos Fierro had turned in a Cristian Espinoza cross to put San Jose (6-8-6) up by one, but Adnan's 30-yard, top-corner stunner was followed six minutes later by Tosaint Ricketts putting in the rebound of a Cristian Dajome shot.

Here's what we learned …

PLAYING FROM BEHIND

When a wide-open Fierro volleyed home the opener at the back post early on, it took the wind out of Vancouver's sails.

The Caps had been 0-10 when conceding the first goal this season until rallying to beat Real Salt Lake two weeks ago, and Saturday's comeback was just the second this season and third since the start of 2018 (3-23-1).

Adnan was turnstiled by Espinoza on the first goal but redeemed himself with his goal-of-themonth candidate finish. Ricketts' goal came after a quick Caps counterattack, and he found himself unmarked with the ball at his feet at the back post after Dajome had stormed down the left and fired a low shot Quakes keeper James Marcinkowski parried away.

BY THE NUMBERS

61 Amount of possession San Jose had, but was unable to turn its passing advantage (521-320) into a victory. The Quakes averaged 68 per cent possession in the previous four games, all wins.

1 Saturday was the first win for the Whitecaps in their last five games against San Jose, a stretch that had seen them outscored 13-5, and had the ignominy of several offensive records being set against them.