Whitecaps' rally quashed after video review

The Vancouver Whitecaps have had all sorts of wake-up calls in the nascent stages of this season.

The problem is, they keep hitting the snooze button.

They got smacked in the face by Columbus to open the season, played “sleepy” in a 3-2 loss to Portland last week, and had two more defensive siestas against CF Montreal on Saturday, giving up goals within moments of the opening and halftime whistles before falling 2-1 at Stade Saputo.

After goals from Djordje Mihailovic and Romell Quioto put Montreal in front, Vancouver striker Brian White pulled one back midway through the second half before Tosaint Ricketts' injury-time equalizer was wiped out by video review.

“We slept for the first 15, 20 minutes and we conceded a goal immediately,” head coach Vanni Sartini said. “I told the guys at the end of the game, we are the Vancouver Whitecaps. We cannot afford to give a chunk of games or to sleep at the beginning of both halves or always be the team who needs to chase, because in this way, it's going to be really hard. I hope that it's gonna be another wake-up call. The season is very long, but we need to change. We need to change this book and be much better.”

Here's what we learned ...

FOCUS GROUPS

To concede a goal within a minute of a whistle beginning play is understandable. To do it twice in the same game, unforgivable.

A poorly executed offside step cost them the first goal, a bad turnover in midfield led to the second, two costly errors that were momentary lapses in focus similar to the mistakes that cost the Caps last week against Portland.

“We need to stop waiting to get slapped in the face to wake up and play well,” said centreback Jake Nerwinski. “We gave up goals in the first 90 seconds of both halves, which is unacceptable.

“And then what we do? We turned it on, we played well, we put pressure on them. We were the better team for the entire second half. And it's just frustrating to see.”

“You want to set the tone, you want to come out strong and then you kind of get punched in the face like that twice ... That can't happen in games,” added White. “We give them two minutes and two chances and we lose a game.”

BY THE NUMBERS

4: Four points for the Whitecaps (1-5-1) this season, as they stayed ahead of the last-place and winless San Jose Earthquakes, while Montreal (3-3-1) is now in sixth place in the East.

1: Number of shots and key passes Vancouver had in the first half. They ended up being outshot 16-6 (5-3 on target), but had the more dangerous opportunities in the second half, including two goals being called back.

EL TANQUE TAKES CHARGE

Lucas Cavallini started Saturday on the bench, after missing last week's game by spending the day discharging the contents of his digestive system into Vancouver's sewer system.

But the substitution of Cavallini for Dieber Caicedo at halftime was the perfect tonic. In a physical game that saw 33 combined fouls and seven combined yellow cards, El Tanque was in his element.

In the 63rd minute, Cavallini appeared to have pulled one back for Vancouver, but the flag wiped out his goal. Two minutes later, he tried another bicycle kick — he's had several attempts this year — but missed. He drew enough attention that the ball fell to White just behind him, and his strike partner lashed home an outsideof-the-foot volley past Montreal's Sebastian Breza.

“He came and he brought a huge momentum shift for us in the second half, the way he plays strong, physical, looks for goal, and gets runs into space,” said White, who scored his first of the season.

HEAD OF THE GAME

In the 43rd minute, Ryan Gauld went to the Whitecaps' bench, replaced by Pedro Vite. The move came a few minutes after the Scottish star had his head bounce off the State Saputo turf following a tough challenge.

Despite initially being cleared by the field doctor, Gauld was clearly suffering from concussion-like symptoms, and took a knee even though halftime was just a few minutes away.

If it's confirmed as a concussion, it will be the second time this year he's had one. He suffered one in pre-season against the L.A. Galaxy, an injury that kept him out of the intrasquad exhibition game and had lingering effects that stretched into the first few weeks of the regular season. He will be evaluated in the coming days and will undergo the league's mandated concussion protocol.

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday was supposed to be the first of three straight away games for Vancouver, with dates in Austin and Seattle looming respectively. But the Seattle game has been pushed to June 14, with the Sounders making the CONCACAF Champions League Final.

Vancouver's next game after Austin will be at home to their other Canadian MLS rival, Toronto FC, on May 8.

“We need to play 90 minutes. If we play 60 or 50 or 45 minutes, we're not going to win games,” said Sartini. “And if we play 90 minutes, we can beat everyone in the league. Everyone. But if we don't improve, it's gonna be hard. So we need to improve, and it's all on us.

“We don't have (time) to cry or to complain. We just have to work and be better. That's the message.”