VANCOUVER, B.C - The Vancouver Whitecaps have been eliminated from MLS playoff contention after falling 2-1 to the Seattle Sounders before a crowd of 24,837 fans at B.C. Place Stadium. Pedro Morales opened the scoring and was later sent off in the second half for a red card. Brad Evans scored the winning goal in the second half and was also later sent packing with a red card of his own. It was an up and down match for the Whitecaps and one that supporters have seen far to often this season. Vancouver just didn't do enough and now fall to 9-15-8 on the season. They will have to wait until next season to return to the MLS playoffs.
Carl Robinson offered up his thoughts on what could have been for his team this season and how they lose 2-1 to Seattle.
"Listen, it’s been a tough year, we know that. I can’t fault the guys’ efforts and work. You know I really, really enjoyed watching them in the first 45 minutes, I thought it was some excellent stuff. I think this year has been difficult for a number of reasons and the first 45 minutes probably summed it up, you know we were one goal ahead and we couldn’t get the second goal which we probably deserved and Seattle hung around and managed to get a goal from our mistake. We weren’t doing our jobs well enough defensively and we allowed them back in the game and when you allow good teams back in the game then they can hurt you and that’s what they did.”
David Ousted summed up the Whitecaps loss and the overall up and downs of an unusually uncharacteristic rollercoaster season.
"It's a microcosm of what this season has been. A lot of effort put in there, but not able to capitalize on our good periods, and some calls in key moments that have gone against us. I haven't seen them in slow motion yet, but I believe again, we get a bad call today, but that's how it is. At the end of the day we're not looking for excuses. We haven't been good enough."
David Edgar was none too happy with the questionable refereeing from Ricardo Salazar. Anytime a referee interjects his decisions so much into a match as Salazar did, it's bound to alter the outcome and rile up players from both teams.
"It's 22-men out there in a darby, let the game play," said a frustrated David Edgar."
The Opening 45
In the biggest game of the season, Carl Robinson elected to start 15 year-old prize prospect, Alphonso Davies in the midfield. Vancouver in their familiar 4-2-3-1 formation featured Davies, Bolanos, and Giles Barnes supporting loan striker Erik Hurtado. The Whitecaps got the best early chance in the 18' minute when Pedro Morales struck the far left post. Sounders keeper, Stefan Frei was cleanly beaten by the long distance shot, but he was bailed out by his outside post.
Vancouver came ready to play and they were all over the depleted Sounders. Alphonso Davies attempted to cut into the Seattle box via the byline. Oniel Fisher wrapped his arms around him and pulled him to the pitch. Referee, Ricardo Salazar made no hesitation and pointed to the spot. Pedro Morales stepped up and converted the penalty to put Vancouver up 1-0.
Seattle wasn't about to go quietly and they found an equalizer out of nothing in the 39' minute. Left-back Joevin Jones was all alone and he sent a lovely cross into the Vancouver box. Pedro Morales and Matias Laba were both ball watching and they saw Sounders skipper, Osvaldo Alonso race in and blast home the tying goal. Goalkeeper David Ousted was left without any help.
Heading into the interval, both teams were on the board thanks to goals from each teams captain. The Sounders held a possession advantage of 51% - 49% and they had all the momentum thanks to the late goal.
The Second Half
The Vancouver Whitecaps needed a win and they were going to have to achieve that by playing with 10 men for the final 35 minutes of the match. Pedro Morales was issued a straight red card in the 53' minute. Morales appeared to slightly catch Seattle's Cristian Roldan with a high elbow. The 21 year-old swung his head back and embellished the contact. Carl Robinson argued from the touch-line, but it was not enough as Ricardo Salazar sent Morales to an early shower.
With Vancouver desperately hoping to pick up a win, Carl Robinson brought on Panamanian striker, Blas Perez in the 76' minute, for right-back Jordan Smith. Despite playing with 10 men, Vancouver went all in as they needed to muster a goal and a win.
Unfortunately for the Whitecaps, it would be Seattle that would score the next goal and add that final dagger to the Vancouver 2016 playoff hopes and dreams. Ricardo Salazar called a penalty for the Sounders after Jordan Harvey had the ball hit his arm while sliding to block a cross into the box. Substitute, Brad Evans stepped up and scored from the spot in the 81' minute.
The game was completely turned upside-down, and referee Ricardo Salazar once again decided to make his mark known. Brad Evans was issued a straight red card for a fake head-butt on Whitecaps centre-back David Edgar. Salazar wasn't having any trash talking or head-butting nonsense and he ejected Evans. David Edgar shared his account of what happened with Brad Evans.
"He thought I pulled him down for a penalty," said Edgar, "I told him to get up and he put his head towards me and I didn't react. The referee was waiting to send someone off, there. It wasn't going to be me."
The Whitecaps just didn't do enough. This match brought out all the little things that have cropped up and got the better of the Vancouver Whitecaps this season. Red cards, penalties, missed assignments, missed scoring chances. It's hard to win in any league when you make a habit out of these types of negatives infractions. Vancouver will look to do better next season.
Man of the Match
Alphonso Davies
Davies was a huge bright spot for the Whitecaps. To be able to run up and down the pitch, show no fear, and own Oniel Fisher along the flanks is no easy feat, and for a 15 year-old kid to do it, that's mighty impressive. Manchester United scout, Jorge Alvial was in attendance to watch Davies, and he sure didn't disappoint. Davies was buzzing and he did great to set up the Vancouver penalty. The future is promising for Davies and he will be one to watch, whether it's in a Whitecaps kit or elsewhere.
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Jordan Smith, 76 (Blas Perez), David Edgar, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba, 82 (Nicolas Mezquida), Pedro Morales(C); Alphonso Davies, Christian Bolaños, Giles Barnes, 66 (Andrew Jacobson); Erik Hurtado. 4-2-3-1.
Seattle Sounders Starting XI: Stefan Frei; Joevin Jones, Roman Torres, Chad Marshall, Tyrone Mears; Osvaldo Alonso(C); Herculez Gomez, Erik Friberg, 79 (Neslson Valdez), Cristian Roldan, Alvaro Fernandez, 9 (Oniel Fisher), 65 (Brad Evans0); Jordan Morris. 4-1-4-1
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