VANCOUVER, B.C - The Vancouver Whitecaps were eliminated from the 2014 MLS playoffs after a tough 2-1 loss to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. A Kendall Waston handball in the Whitecaps box and a questionable penalty call by referee Mark Geiger sealed the playoff fate for Vancouver. Michel made no mistake as he converted from the spot in the 83' minute to give FC Dallas a 2-1 lead and an eventual victory in front of 10,279 fans.
Tesho Akindele had opened the scoring in the first half before a deflected Erik Hurtado strike tied the match in the second half. The winner came from a handball on Kendall Waston, which the Whitecaps players protested but it was to no avail. Geiger was confident with his decisions to award FC Dallas a penalty, and Vancouver couldn't come back to recover and draw even again.
Carl Robinson made a trio of changes to his side that narrowly defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on the weekend to sneak into the playoffs. Erik Hurtado started as the Whitecaps lone striker over Darren Mattocks, and Ethen Sampson made the start over Steven Beitashour. The Caps regular right-back missed the match due to an injured hamstring. The biggest surprise in the Whitecaps starting lineup was the inclusion of Gershon Koffie. The 23 year-old made his first start since August 10, against Sporting Kansas City. Vancouver started this match in a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation with Fernandez, Morales, and Rosales behind Hurtado.
Oscar Pareja made a surprise change in net as he decided to start goalkeeper Chris Seitz over Raul Fernandez. The Lima, Peru keeper started 20 of 34 matches for FC Dallas this season and led the club with 66 saves. Mauro Diaz started in the midfield for FC Dallas and made his first start since August, 9. The Argentine playmaker has been hobbled all season with knee, and hamstring injuries. Calgary, Alberta native, and first year rookie Tesho Akindele was the only Canadian who started this match.
The Opening 45
FC Dallas and the visiting Whitecaps both played a cautious opening 30' minutes. Not wanting to make an early mistake that could result in a dangerous scoring opportunity, both teams played defensive in the first half. The play was contested mostly in the midfield with little or no room for either teams' star players able to perform. Gershon Koffie picked up an early yellow card as he had a hold of Mauro Diaz in the midfield and didn't let go quick enough.
The physicality between these two rivals continued. A Blas Perez elbow made contact with Matias Laba and no foul or card was issued by referee Mark Geiger. Je-Vaughn Watson earned the first yellow card for FC Dallas when he swatted Erik Hurtado in the face in the 35' minute. On the ensuing free kick Pedro Morales fired a shot on target that Chris Seitz was able to get behind for a save.
FC Dallas picked up their play and started to take more control of the opening forty-five. Vancouver looked tired as they relied on their defensive front too much. Andy O'Brien, and Ethen Sampson had key clearances for Vancouver, but they couldn't keep Oscar Pareja's team off the score-sheet for long.
A 40' minute counter-attack by the home side opened up all sorts of trouble for the Whitecaps. Andy O'Brien and Kendall Waston were both caught up the field as they attempted to back track and stop an on rushing Mauro Diaz. Jordan Harvey was caught in the middle trying to defend both Diaz and Tesho Akindele. Diaz found Akindele and he slotted the ball low into the right corner past David Ousted.
To make matter worse for Vancouver, leading goalscorer Pedro Morales picked up a yellow card for a tug on Michel in first half stoppage time. The Whitecaps offense looked out of sorts and the FC Dallas back-four was not under pressure or tested enough.
FC Dallas held an enormous 60% - 40% possession advantage and a more important 1-0 lead at the break.
The Second Half
Carl Robinson elected not to make any substitutions before the second half kicked off. Oscar Pareja was content and did not make any changes of his own. Mauro Rosales had a fantastic chance to even the match thanks to a free kick that cleared the FC Dallas wall and hammered off the crossbar. Chris Seitz was cleanly beat, however his crossbar bailed him out and kept Vancouver from finding an early second half equalizer.
Kendall Waston picked up the Whitecaps third yellow card of the match in the 57'. The Whitecaps offense stalled after the Rosales opportunity, and Carl Robinson wasn't going to wait any longer to inject some speed and pace into his team. Kekuta Manneh made his way onto the pitch for a slumping Pedro Morales. The Caps skipper did not look focused and his energy, passing, and vision was nowhere to be found against FC Dallas.
Kekuta Manneh almost scored off a Vancouver corner in the 60' after the ball was not cleared as it bounced around the FC Dallas box. Manneh used his quickness to find the ball and take a shot on target. The ball went through Chris Seitz but somehow managed to stay out of the net. Moments later FC Dallas wasn't so lucky as the Whitecaps kept coming and scored to tie the match 1-1.
Mauro Rosales had a free kick on the right flank and FC Dallas cleared the ball to Kekuta Manneh. His attempt on target deflected off two FC Dallas defenders to Erik Hurtado. He turned and fired his shot on target which also deflected off an FC Dallas player. Chris Seitz was caught off guard by the ping-pong of deflections and the Whitecaps found life thanks to Erik Hurtado's goal in the 64'.
The momentum of the match clearly changed over to the Whitecaps side after Hurtado scored. Vancouver was hungry and they wanted to find that go ahead goal that would help them advance to play the Seattle Sounders. Oscar Pareja sensed a shift in play and brought on Kellyn Acosta for Victor Ulloa in the 75'. Erik Hurtado departed the match for Darren Mattocks in the 77' and to complete the flurry of substitutions Andreas Escobar entered for Mauro Diaz in the 79'.
The Whitecaps biggest defensive summer addition was called for a penalty against in the 81'. The ball bounced over Gershon Koffie, hit the pitch and struck Kendall Waston on the arm. The Costa Rican central-defender did not look like he was intentionally trying to play the ball with his hand or arm. As soon as Waston realized what had happened he tried to pull his arm back, but it was too late. Mark Geiger pointed to the spot for an FC Dallas penalty.
Michel stepped up and took his time with a very slow run up. He calmly waited for David Ousted to move first before scoring to the Danish keepers right. Waston and the Whitecaps were irate by Geiger's decision to place a potentially match winning moment on a penalty call. Vancouver was rattled by the match changing penalty and try as they did, they weren't able to re-group and find another goal. Geiger and FC Dallas ended the Whitecaps 2014 MLS Cup dreams.
Post-match quotes
Tesho Akindele talking about his goal and the play from Mauro Diaz to set him up.
"He is a great passer of the ball. Once he had the space, he got me the ball in a spot where I knew I would have a good angle on goal. He drew the defender and made a beautiful pass and I scored the goal. I just wanted to score. I was thinking, this was going to be a goal for sure, when I shot."
Zach Lloyd talking about his overall thoughts on the match.
"It is everything you expect in a playoff game, both teams came out very aggressively. There were a lot of fouls committed. It was everything you look for in a playoff game with intensity and chances on both sides of the ball. We came out and executed our game plan very well. We ended up with a good result."
Carl Robinson talking about his halftime speech to his players.
"I questioned my team at halftime because I thought we played with a little bit of fear. In the second half it was the total opposite, and my team gave me everything I asked and more. The performance they put in in the second half is not worthy of losing this game of football."
Carl Robinson describing the mood of his players inside the locker room after the match.
"I'll give you an example, we've got Mauro Rosales in there who's 33 years of age, who's been successful in Seattle and he's crying his eyes out because he feels the result wasn't what we deserved and, rightly, I agree with him. You can't legislate for certain things and unfortunately today wasn't our day. He (Rosales) hits the underside of the crossbar. Kekuta (Manneh) nearly sneaks one in on the back post, we have shots cleared off the line. We did everything we could. Unfortunately, we came up short today."
Andy O'Brien on the penalty call that went against the Whitecaps.
"Well, we don't want to go on about the decision. I think it was a big decision given the magnitude of the game, but I think it was sort of a blatant handball. These are things that happen. Even for somebody my age, the game kicks you between the legs sometimes, and that's how it feels tonight, but we wish Dallas all the best now and good luck to them."
Andy O'Brien on the first FC Dallas goal of the match.
"I tried to stick my backside into the guy and I thought Kendall (Watson) was going to come and clean it out. I think it nicked past him, then it's gone out to their right and it's come of my shin. Yeah, it's disappointing but when I say it doesn't affect us too much. These setbacks happen, it's how you recover. We composed ourselves at halftime, got the goal. It was a bit scrappy. Had a few other half chances. I don't think they had too many chances in the second half, and unfortunately, a penalty has decided it."
David Ousted with his overall thoughts on the match.
"Just devastated. The season shouldn't end on something like that. Something I thought was clearly a wrong call, and going out that was is just devastating. I don't even have words for it."
Man of the Match
Mauro Rosales
When the Whitecaps offense as nowhere to be found in the first half, Carl Robinson decided to make a substantial shift in his formation. He took off Pedro Morales and moved Mauro Rosales behind his lone striker. Rosales had his free kick hit the crossbar and also sent in the free kick that eventually found its way to Erik Hurtado. The MLS veteran was ready to play and Rosales was the best Whitecaps player that showed up against FC Dallas.
Honourable mention
Erik Hurtado scored in the Whitecaps only match in Frisco, Texas this season, and he came up with the Whitecaps goal in Frisco, Texas once again. He was in the right place at the right time. He didn't rush his shot, and was able to make sure it found a home behind Chris Seitz. Hurtado has had an up and down season, but for the most part he has come to play when the Whitecaps have called his number in important matches like this one.
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Jordan Harvey, Kendall Waston, Andy O'Brien, Ethen Sampson; Gershon Koffie, Matias Laba; Sebastian Fernandez, Pedro Morales(C), Mauro Rosales; Erik Hurtado. (4-2-3-1)
FC Dallas Starting XI: Chris Seitz; Walker Zimmerman, Zach Loyd, Matt Hedges(C), Je-Vaughn Watson; Fabian Castillo, Michel, Victor Ulloa, Mauro Diaz; Tesho Akindele, Blas Perez. (4-4-2)
Notes: Sebastian Fernandez was issued a red card for going after referee Mark Geiger after the full-time whistle. He will miss the Vancouver Whitecaps 2015 MLS season opening fixture.
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