|
|
Posted by
Matthew Low,
July 6, 2013
|
|
Email
Matthew Low
Twitter
@LowMatthewJ
|
|
Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 – 0 Seattle Sounders
Prelude to Battle
It was just one month ago; fans calling for the axe to fall on Martin Rennie, following a disappointing string of matches. In fact, the match set off those sentiments was a 3-2 loss in Seattle, a match that Vancouver had led in twice.
Since then, the Whitecaps had gone unbeaten in four games, vaulting themselves into fourth place in the Western Conference. The mood around the team has since lightened, but all the build up of confidence would be for naught in Vancouver failed to get a result against the Sounders on Saturday.
Did we get it right? Countdown - Vancouver vs Seattle Sounders
Two changes were made to the team that tied Sporting Kansas City mid-week. YP Lee made his return to right back, after sitting out Vancouver’s two game road trip, while Gershon Koffie made his first league start since May 18, a 202 draw against Portland.
The First Forty-Five
For the first time in recent memory, B.C. Place was full for the start of the match. A good thing too, or else a good many fans would have missed the dream start Vancouver got off to.
Just four minutes into the match, Corey Hertzog knocked a lofted ball from just past the half line towards an onrushing Kenny Miller. The ball’s path took the Whitecaps captain away from goal, but as he has done numerous times this season, Miller controlled the ball with a deft touch, before turning Jhon Kennedy Hurtado inside out. Still with much to do, he curled the ball just past Michael Gspurning’s outstretched fingertips, and just inside the far post, to give the Whitecaps the early lead.
It was an incredible moment and a hard act to follow, but fortunately for the ‘Caps, Brad Knighton took centre stage.
Seattle threatened early, with Eddie Johnson breaking past Vancouver’s defenders to direct a shot on goal, which Knighton comfortably stopped. But his first real test came on the resulting corner. The ball caromed around before Zach Scott scuffed a volley towards goal, however Knighton managed to brilliantly get a hand to it while falling down, before scooping up the rebound.
He wasn’t done there. In the 25th minute, Shalrie Joseph put through Eddie Johnson with an excellent pass, but an aggressive Knighton quickly came off his line to cut out the chance. The rebound fell right to Obafemi Martins, but Knighton recovered quickly enough to tip the ball away from goal.
Fortunately for the Whitecaps, the half would go on without incident and they would maintain their 1-0 lead at the end of 45 minutes.
The Second Half
Vancouver came out of the break refreshed, and it showed as they once again began to control play.
However Seattle nearly equalized in the 56th minute when a Lamar Neagle cross was deflected just wide of the post by Brad Rusin.
The game would take a disappointing turn minutes later, after Hertzog was forced out of the game with an ankle injury.
Seattle began to threaten again, and nearly beat Knighton after Martins flicked on Joseph’s cross with a back heel, however his attempt flew just past the post.
With the game winding down, Darren Mattocks was brought on to find an insurance goal, and the Jamaican delivered. A goal kick from Knighton was sent high up the pitch, and when it came down, it was flicked on by Koffie, right into the path of Mattocks. With Kennedy and Gspurning to beat, Mattocks headed the ball down, before giving the ball the slightest touch; just enough to send it sailing over a motionless Gspurning and into the net to seal Vancouver’s victory.
The goal sapped Seattle of any remaining fight they had left in them and insured Vancouver their first ever win against a Cascadia rival; their first in 13 tries.
The Final Word: Vancouver click on all cylinders in important win.
Rarely can a win define a team’s season, but we could very well be looking at such a game for the Whitecaps. In a season that’s been fraught with issues all over the pitch, Vancouver handled everything that was thrown at them admirably. Even when under siege, certain players stepped up and made the big plays to keep the lead intact; when mistakes were made, they were either quickly corrected through hard work, or other players were there to provide support.
And when all else failed, Brad Knighton was there. He had as close to a perfect game as a keeper can get, not getting drawn out of position, knowing when to be aggressive, and making accurate long ball passes. Knighton was nothing short of brilliant, and if he keeps up playing like this, it may be a while before we see David Ousted in goal for the ‘Caps.
A lot of players who have been receiving flak from fans lately stepped up their game as well. The somewhat defensively suspect Jordan Harvey did well to block a number of crosses, and the normally offensively anemic Jun Marques Davidson pushed the play forward and made some good runs late in the game.
Finally, what a match it was for Darren Mattocks. He’s been criticized for a perceived lack of effort on the pitch, but tonight he was all over the place. It was promising to see him finding holes in a defense with ease and his goal should give help him regain the confidence that led him to success last season.
Vancouver Whitecaps Lineup
18. Brad Knighton
12.Y.P. Lee
3.Brad Rusin
16.Johnny Leveron
2. Jordan Harvey
13. Nigel Reo-Coker
27. Jun Marques Davidson
28. Gershon Koffie
26. Corey Hertzog (14. Daigo Kobayashi 64')
7.Camilo Sanvezzo (11.Darren Mattocks 76')
9.Kenny Miller (C) (8. Matt Watson 90')
|