VANCOUVER, B.C. - Something had to give as Vancouver Whitecaps FC returned home to BC Place Stadium in search of a slump busting win. Whitecaps FC had an opportunity to suspend critics, and quiet fan displeasure that has made the rounds in Vancouver. Carl Robinson's players found a way to win as they scored a pair of second half goals to defeat Real Salt Lake 2-0, in front of 19,283 spectators.
Cristian Techera and Anthony Blondell scored four minutes apart. Stefan Marinovic made five saves to earn his second clean sheet of the season. Whitecaps FC improve to 4-4-1 and Real Salt Lake drop to 3-4-1 on the campaign. Left-back Brett Levis earned his first MLS start, and right-back Sean Franklin earned his first MLS start, with Vancouver.
"Prior to the first goal it wasn’t going our way," Coach Carl Robinson said, post-match. "We hit posts and missed chances, going around goalkeepers, but we kept at it and there was a lot of character shown out there today by the group which was important. I know we’ve got a good group in there and what we lack in quality sometimes we make up in spirit and I thought the last thirty minutes showed what we are about."
Real Salt Lake's bid to secure back to back victories fell short after they could not muster enough offence. Coach Mike Petke and his squad will travel to Florida to take on Orlando City SC next weekend. Petke talked about his team's performance against Vancouver.
"It’s a cruel sport sometimes." said Petke. "Carl and the Whitecaps have been going through some rough times over the last few games. I’ve certainly been there, with not only RSL in my career. They were bound to come out of it some time, and we of course didn’t want it to be against us. That’s the way it works sometimes. I’m very happy and proud with the way my team played for three-quarters of the game. But at the end of the day we didn’t put the ball in the net."
Moments of the Match
In his first MLS start at home, Anthony Blondell looked to make a difference with a glorious opportunity in the 15' minute. The Venezuelan striker was off to the races, he rounded Nick Rimando before Justen Glad came back defensively to knock the ball out of danger, as Blondell had nothing but a vacant net in his path.
Real Salt Lake rookie Corey Baird, was in prime position to put the visitors ahead in the 23' minute. The former Stanford Cardinal striker hit the bar from distance, much to the delight of Marinovic and Vancouver supporters.
As the second half rolled on, both teams were in search of the opening goal. Offensive opportunities were hard to come by, with both teams lacking a final finish. Brek Shea had a brilliant chance to score in the 60', the Caps co-leading goal-scorer hit the bar following a cross from Franklin.
Sensing that a goal could do wonders, Whitecaps FC pushed the pace as they looked to put one past 38 year-old, Nick Rimando. Aly Ghazal forced the veteran MLS shot-stopper in to making a wonderful leaping save as he got a hand to the midfielders shot.
The Caps pushed through and found a goal in the 75' minute as Cristian Techera converted from the spot, sending Rimando the wrong way. Nicolas Mezquida earned Vancouver a penalty after Nick Besler brought him down inside the Vancouver box.
"They sent in a cross," Besler said, post-match. "I took a little heavy touch. Personally, I thought I nicked the ball and he ran through me. They called a penalty and didn’t take a look at it, that’s what they thought, and that’s how it goes sometimes. Sometimes you just don’t get the call."
"We studied their players, where they go and their tendencies. Is he going to the right or left, I guessed wrong on this one." said Rimando.
Whilst celebrating his goal, Techera was issued his second yellow card of the match when he took his shirt off. The Uruguayans moment of joy was overshadowed as Vancouver was forced to play the final fifteen minutes of the match with 10 men.
Real Salt Lake could not take advantage of Techera's blunder and in fact, it was Whitecaps FC that took control of the match. as they quickly scored a second goal.
Teenage phenom Alphonso Davies, provided a spark off the bench when he raced down the flank and fired on target. The ball looked to be heading into the net when Blondell was in front of goal to convert a tap in to put Vancouver ahead 2-0 in the 79' minute.
"I thought he was excellent from the first few minutes," Robinson said of Blondell. "I wish he would have got a goal then because I think you’ll see a very confident young player, but it was pleasing that he got a goal later on, that was a reward for the hard work he put in during the game, and if you put the work in you get the rewards and I’ll keep saying that to you as he deservedly got his goal today."
It wasn't pretty, but Whitecaps FC earned all three points vs Real Salt Lake. Vancouver did what they hadn't been able to do and that's pick up a much-needed win at home. The Caps will look to continue their form when they take on Minnesota United FC on May 5.
Man of the Match
Needing a victory at home, Cristian Techera changed the outcome of the match as he calmly stepped up and converted a penalty. Knowing exactly what kind of month its been for Whitecaps FC, 'The Bug' converted to give Vancouver a lead. In a moment that could have been taken over by nerves, Techera made sure he and his teammates, and the supporters finally had something positive to get excited about.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Starting XI: Stefan Marinovic; Brett Levis, 61 (Alphonso Davies) Kendall Waston(C), Jose Aja, Sean Franklin; Russell Teibert, Aly Ghazal; Brek Shea, Jordon Mutch 56 (Nicolas Mezquida), Cristian Techera; Anthony Blondell, 86 (Bernie Ibini). 4-2-3-1
Real Salt Lake Starting XI: Nick Rimando; Brooks Lennon, Nick Besler, 90+3 (Sebastian Saucedo), Justen Glad, Pablo Ruiz; Damir Kreilach, Kyle Beckerman(C), Jefferson Savarino; Albert Rusnak, Joao Palta, Corey Baird, 68 (Ricky Lopez-Espin). 4-3-3
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