Vancouver caps wild second half with late goal to tie Earthquakes
WHITECAPS 3, EARTHQUAKES 3
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 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, and 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,” said head coach Vanni Sartini, whose team is now undefeated in three straight home games.
Here's what we learned:
PLUCKY POLLO
Raposo used to be a trivia question: “Who was the player picked just before $10 million 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.
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.”
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 pressure from San Jose on several occasions. And while three teammates picked up cautions, the striker wasn't one of them, as one more yellow would have meant an automatic suspension.
CHANGE OF FORMATIONS, 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 fourman backline they started with, and they began making progress, but it also opened them up to transition counter-attacks. The Quakes took full advantage, scoring two quickstrike goals after the Caps were caught too high up field.