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VANCOUVER, B.C - A winless DC United squad took on an injury hampered Vancouver Whitecaps team at RFK Stadium in front of a crowd of 14,088 spectators. Vancouver was without Pedro Morales, Christian Bolanos, Octavio Rivero, Nicolas Mesquida and the suspended Matias Laba, and Vancouver struggled to create offense. Fabian Espindola scored a goal in each half and second half substitute Alvaro Saborio had a late brace of his own as DC United dominated Vancouver in a convincing 4-0 win.
Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson was honest with his assessment of his team's performance following the match.
"We were second best throughout, from the first minute to the last minute. I think it was a fair result, they deserved their goals. We got what we deserved today, which was nothing."
The absence of Vancouver's top scoring threats, and MLS league leading goal-scorer, Pedro Morales was not an excuse Carl Robinson was about to use for his teams lack of effort against DC United.
"What I won't use is the excuse of missing players, We weren't good enough today. We have to accept responsibility."
The Opening 45
The Whitecaps juggled lineup meant that Marco Bustos made his MLS debut on left-wing. Russell Teibert also made his MLS season debut after rehabilitation from off-season ankle surgery. Masato Kudo started in a striker role in his 2nd career MLS start. The Whitecaps back-line remained the same, and Andrew Jacobson filled in as a defensive midfielder.
DC United had an early opportunity to open the scoring in the 10' minute when Nick DeLeon was able to find a loose ball inside the Vancouver box. The 25 year-old midfielder spun and fired a low shot on target that David Ousted had to stretch and turn aside with his arm. Despite having trouble scoring this season, DC United was eager to get forward and put pressure on Vancouver.
DC United had the better scoring opportunities, but it wasn't a pretty first half in the scoring department. Patrick Nyarko was able to get around Fraser Aird, before finding a wide open Fabian Espindola in the Vancouver box. The Argentine striker fired a point-blank shot on target that David Ousted was in perfect position to deny DC United's top scoring threat.
The lack of high calibre goal-scorers on the pitch meant that it was likely going to take an ugly goal to open the scoring. That proved to be the case as DC United opened the scoring in the 39' minute after a defensive lapse from the Whitecaps. Nyarko was able to send a ball through to Chris Rolfe. His shot on target was saved, by David Ousted. However, the Caps keeper was not able to cover up the rebound. Fabian Espindola was in the right spot at the right time as he put the unclaimed ball into the net.
The home side looked like the better side in the first half. Vancouver struggled on crosses, shots on target, and anything in DC United's half. DC United held a 55% - 45% possession advantage and that all important 1-0 lead going into the interval.
The Second Half
In an effort to wake up the beleaguered Whitecaps offense, Carl Robinson brought in Kekuta Manneh for Marco Bustos before the start of the second half. That switch in tactics was ideal, but it wasn't enough to help Vancouver.
For a winless team with only four goals scored, DC United ran circles all over the pitch. Vancouver could not get anything going offensively. As a result, the Vancouver back-four of Aird, Waston, Parker, and Harvey were constantly under pressure. David Ousted was forced to come up with big save, after big save as Vancouver couldn't get forward to alleviate defensive pressure.
DC United was able to double their lead in the 54' minute as Fabian Espindola was rewarded with another tap in-goal. Centre-back Steve Birnbaum was able to send a header off the crossbar from a cross. The ball came down to Espindola and he easily deposited the ball into the Vancouver net for his third MLS goal of the season.
Whitecaps striker Erik Hurtado made his first debut for Vancouver since his loan spell in Norway last season. It didn't take long for Hurtado to get involved in the action as he immediately worked well with Kekuta Manneh going forward. Manneh sent in a ball that was cleared away from goal by DC United. Erik Hurtado followed up and fired his shot high off the near left post.
Erik Hurtado and his bright yellow hairstyle had another fantastic scoring opportunity in the 76' minute. Kekuta Manneh found an unmarked Hurtado at the far back post. Manneh sent in a cross that Hurtado tried to volley, but his volley was well wide.
"He looked very sharp and bright when he came on," said Carl Robinson of Erik Hurtado's season debut.
DC United was not done scoring as second half substitute Alvaro Saborio got in on the scoring action, not once, but twice. Saborio was off to the races as Vancouver was caught in transition in the 88' minute. The former Real Salt Lake striker was one 1v1 with David Ousted. He out waited the Vancouver keeper before chipping the ball into the vacated net.
Saborio also scored in stoppage time as Kendall Waston and Tim Parker seemingly switched off and left David Ousted on his own. The 34 year-old Costa Rican international was once again 1v1 with Ousted before depositing another tally past the Danish keeper.
It just wasn't Vancouver's best showing. They looked tired, uninterested, and all out of sorts. David Ousted was the lone bright spot and even he did not have his best game. When you don't have any sort of offensive threat going forward and offensive creation is a struggle, it doesn't make for a great match. Espindola and Saborio showed that DC United can score, and they did.
Man of the Match
Fabian Espindola
Espindola was leaps and bounds the best player on the pitch. He could have easily scored half a dozen goals against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Espindola was able to do what he pleased and had chance after chance to score. His brace may have been the result of a pair of rather easy tap in goals. However he was able to score and not many other players showed any signs of scoring in this match. If Espindola can maintain his fantastic form, DC United could put together a hot streak. Vancouver didn't have any answers and Fabian Espindola took advantage and helped DC United roll to a 4-0 win.
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted(C); Fraser Aird, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey; Andrew Jacobson, Russell Teibert 61 (Kianz Froese); Cristian Techera, Blas Pérez 67 (Erik Hurtado), Marco Bustos 46 (Kekuta Manneh); Masato Kudo. 4-2-3-1.
DC UnitedStarting XI: Travis Worra; Taylor Kemp, Bobby Boswell(C), Steve Birnbaum, Sean Franklin; Lamar Neagle, Marcelo Sarvas, Nick DeLeon, Patrick Nyarko 86 (Rob Vincent); Chris Rolfe 77 (Luciano Acosta), Fabian Espíndola 79 (Alvaro Sabori0). 4-4-2
Notes: The Vancouver Whitecaps fall to a record of 2-3-1 and have yet to score a goal from open play this season.
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