The Vancouver Whitecaps and Chicago Fire both looked to bounce back from mediocre performances last week as they battled at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. Carl Robinson's men were able to take advantage of a Lovel Palmer second half clearance blunder as the Whitecaps scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire in front of 15, 731 spectators.
Carl Robinson was happy with the victory, but overall a little cautious with the back and forth effort both teams showed. Vancouver's pace was able to catch Chicago on the break time after time and Octavio Rivero was able to capitalize in the second half to help Vancouver come away with the win.
"Two teams going for the win tonight. It was an open game. I think everyone knows the way we play. Obviously you see the way Frank‘s bringing new players in, the way he wants to play as well. I thought one goal was going to win it, especially in the second half with the game opened up; a little too much for my liking. But I knew we had the players that could hurt them on the break and after missing a number of clear-cut chances, fortunately we were able to get Octavio to tap one away.”
Octavio Rivero scored for the second consecutive match, and Steven Beitashour provided a wonderful assist in front of goal. Rivero's shot was the only attempt that found the back of the net as both teams missed numerous opportunities to find a tally. Kekuta Manneh, substitute Nicolas Mezquida and Rivero all looked dangerous on the attack for Vancouver. Rivero was thrilled to score and happy about the win.
"I’m happy about winning, and it was an important goal for me."
Frank Yallop's team has been extinguished for in both MLS matches this season. The Fire doesn't always look to be on the same page, and newly acquired Shaun Maloney has not yet found his best strengths in his first two MLS matches. The Fire are not yet at full health as they're still searching for their first goal of the season. Octavio River agreed that Vancouver was well deserving of a victory over the Fire.
"Yes, we deserved to win. We battled on the field, and had a better game, so we deserved to win."
Frank Yallop knows his team is making progress even if the results aren't yet there.
"Not the result that we wanted from the opening night, but I thought progress wise and performance wise I thought we played some decent stuff against a team that plays a counter-attacking style that’s very quick and have players that can hurt you on the break. I thought the game was pretty open, especially in the second half, with both teams creating some decent chances and they took the one that came along their way. I think football wise I was pleased with the ball movement, not throughout the whole game obviously, I thought we fell off a bit at the end, but in general I thought we had at least enough chances to score a goal, and I think that maybe a tie would've been a fair result for us."
The Opening 45
Kekuta Manneh was looking just as lively as he was against Toronto FC in the first half of last Saturday's match. The Caps winger broke down the left flank and looked to be in a terrific shooting position. Manneh stopped and delivered a great pass to a wide open Pedro Morales. The skipper's shot went well over the net, leaving 38 year-old goalkeeper Jon Busch not tested in the 9' minute.
2015 7th overall MLS SuperDraft pick Matt Polster earned his first career MLS start. The 21 year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native was slotted in a holding midfield position by Frank Yallop. Polster who played for Victoria Highlanders FC in 2013 earned a yellow card just minutes into the match after being warned by referee Fotis Bazakos. Kendall Waston also earned a first half yellow.
David Ousted came up with a great save off of Joevin Jones as he was setup by Quincy Amarikwa. The Fire striker was able to slip in a pass by Steven Beitashour to a rushing Jones. Ousted was able to get his foot on the shot to keep the match scoreless in the 24' minute. Former Wigan Athletic player, Shaun Maloney took a pair of corners moments later and was not able to penetrate the Whitecaps defense. Both sides were firing blanks as they equally missed first half opportunities to score.
Promising Chicago Fire midfielder Harry Shipp was the latest opponent to test David Ousted as the visitors were caught chasing the Fire. Quincy Amarikwa played setup man finding Harry Shipp. The Danish keeper got his body in front of the shot for the save. Shipp wasn't finished. He connected on a one-timer in the 36' minute after Michael Stephens nutmegged left-back Sam Adekugbe. Ousted was able to knock the ball away from the near post and out for a Chicago corner.
Just before the opening forty-five came to an end, Mauro Rosales took quite a knock after chasing down a ball with Lovel Palmer in hot pursuit. The 34 year-old was helped off the pitch and left with a sprained right ankle. Carl Robinson made his first substitution and brought on attacking midfielder Nicolas Mezquida. Mauro Rosales looks to be out for a while as the Caps gaffer provided an update.
"He’s got a very bad ankle. At the time I thought it was a difficult challenge, and to be fair to the referee, he apologized after the game. He thinks that his ankle got caught in the grass and there was a little bit of force on it. Until I see it again, I can’t comment. To be fair to the referee, he sends his regards to Mauro. I think we’re going to miss him for a period of time. I don’t think Palmer meant to do it. I know Lovel, and he’s not like that."
The Whitecaps had a glorious chance to snatch a goal before the first half whistle. Octavio Rivero played a lovely ball behind the Fire back-four to an onside Pedro Morales. The Chilean playmaker was in all alone on Jon Busch, but was unable to score. His shot failed to hit the target as the former San Jose Earthquakes keeper did well to cut down the shooting angle.
The first half was scoreless with Chicago holding a 57% - 43% advantage in possession and a 4-0 advantage on corners.
The Second Half
Shaun Maloney was joined by fellow designated player Kennedy Igboananike in the 57' minute as Matt Polster was substituted. Frank Yallop employed a pair of strikers to combat the Whitecaps strong defensive back-line. The Scottish international was disappointed by the score-line.
“It's very disappointing at the moment. I thought for the first hour of the game, we played as well as we did during preseason; it's just disappointing the way the last half hour went. But we have to regroup and come again for next weekend.”
Kekuta Manneh was doing his best to help find a goal for the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Gambian was full of pace in the second half and he found Nicolas Mezquida breaking in on goal behind the Fire back-line. The Uruguayan footballer cut in on goal and fired a shot from a difficult angle. Jon Busch corralled the ball for another save in the 63' minute.
The chances kept coming for the Whitecaps, but they were unable to score a goal.
In the 71' minute, Nicolas Mezquida was played in on goal by Octavio Rivero. Just before Mezquida entered the Chicago box, his heel was clipped by Adailton. Mezquida stayed on his feet instead of going to ground. Busch was able to come up with the ball, and no free kick, penalty kick or yellow card was given by referee Fotis Bazakos.
In the 73' it was Octavio Rivero who was played in towards goal by Nicolas Mezquida. The Whitecaps lone striker was being hurried by a Fire defender and sent his shot into the Toyota Park advertisement.
Just when it looked like Vancouver was heading for its fourth consecutive match without scoring in Chicago, the Whitecaps scored.
A Chicago Fire defensive gap paved the way for the Whitecaps to seize all three points on the road. Lovel Palmer had his headed clearance fall right to the feet of Steven Beitashour. Instead of firing a direct shot on target, Beitashour took his time and calmly found Octavio Rivero. Rivero took hist shot and promptly finished his attempt to put Vancouver up 1-0 on 86' minutes. Jon Busch described the goal that beat him.
“They (Vancouver) got down the side, whipped it in; Palmer gets good contact on it, unfortunately his header goes directly to Beitashour. Beitashour controls it, looks up, plays it back across to a guy running in."
It wasn't the most beautiful 90' minutes of football, but nevertheless Octavio Rivero was able to find a goal and secure a win for his team. Chicago has a lot to improve on going forward, and Vancouver will be happy to secure their first win of the season.
Man of the Match
Octavio Rivero
The Uruguayan was persistent and his hustle, ability to create chances for his team and himself paid dividends. The Whitecaps lone striker strategy puts a lot of pressure on Rivero and so far he has shone he can handle the work load. Rivero is off to fantastic start to his MLS career and Whitecaps fans will hope he can continue to play as well as he is.
Honourable mention
David Ousted earned his first clean sheet of the season as he kept the Fire at bay. A busy first half was kept scoreless thanks to a number of key saves by the Caps keeper. The 2014 MLS leader in clean sheets turned aside Joevin Jones, and Harry Shipp when the match could have turned in favour of Chicago. Ousted noted the hard work his teammates put forth when he talked to the media after the match.
"Fantastic. We had a clean sheet and got three points. The guys did really well, not just the back four but midfield put in a lot of hard work."
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Steven Beitashour, Kendall Waston, Pa-Modou Kah, Sam Adekugbe; Matias Laba, Russell Teibert; Mauro Rosales (Nicolas Mezquida 45+2), Pedro Morales (C) (Gerson Koffie 88), Kekuta Manneh (Darren Mattocks 82), Octavio Rivero. (4-2-3-1)
Chicago Fire Starting XI: Jon Busch; Eric Gehrig, Jeff Larentowicz, Adailton, Lovel Palmer; Matt Polster (Kennedy Igboananike 57); Michael Stephens (Alex 82), Shaun Maloney, Harry Shipp, Joevin Jones; Quincy Amarikwa (Guly do Prado 77). (4-1-4-1)
Notes: The Vancouver Whitecaps will visit expansion side Orlando City SC on Saturday, March 21. Frank Yallop and the Chicago Fire will travel to California and play the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, March 22.
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