TORONTO, ON – Russell Teibert and Kei Kamara scored as Vancouver Whitecaps FC (12W-12L-7D) boosted their playoff hopes with a crucial road victory against rivals Toronto FC (9W-16L-6D) at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon.
The win puts the ‘Caps within three points of Real Salt Lake for the sixth and final playoff position, and two behind seventh-place LA Galaxy. The ‘Caps have a game in hand on both clubs after the weekend.
TFC, who played the last third of the match down one man after defender Gregory van der Wiel was sent off with his second yellow card, sees its title defence come to an end with the loss.
Whitecaps FC raced to an early lead when Teibert converted off some pinpoint passing between Alphonso Davies and Yordy Reyna in the fourth minute, giving the Ontario-born midfielder his first MLS goal since 2013.
Jozy Altidore gave the home side life with a penalty equalizer in the 73rd minute, after the ‘Caps were whistled for a handball inside the box on substitute Jay Chapman’s attempt.
It would be short-lived for TFC however, as Kamara tallied his sixth game-winner of the season just five minutes later, finishing off the counter-attack set up by Reyna and substitute Jordon Mutch.
Stefan Marinović was stellar in net for the ‘Caps, collecting five saves to stifle the TFC attack, including stops from up-close against Lucas Janson and Victor Vazquez.
Whitecaps FC get another chance to climb up the playoff ladder following the FIFA international break when they host Sporting Kansas City at BC Place on Wednesday, October 17. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT. Visit whitecapsfc.com for ticket information.
MATCH DETAILS
Budweiser Man of the Match: Russell Teibert
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 23,886
Scoring Summary
4’ – VAN – Russell Teibert (Yordy Reyna)
73’ – TOR – Jozy Altidore (penalty kick)
78’ – VAN – Kei Kamara (Jordon Mutch, Yordy Reyna)
Statistics
Possession: TOR 61% – VAN 39%
Shots: TOR 18 – VAN 7
Shots on Goal: TOR 6 – VAN 4
Saves: TOR 2 – VAN 5
Fouls: TOR 12 – VAN 9
Offsides: TOR 0 – VAN 2
Corners: TOR 7 – VAN 3
Duels won: TOR 32 – VAN 44
Tackles won: TOR 9 – VAN 5
Cautions
28’ – TOR – Gregory van der Wiel
34’ – VAN – Aly Ghazal
45+1’ – TOR – Chris Mavinga
66’ – TOR – Gregory van der Wiel
76’ – VAN – Yordy Reyna
90’ – VAN – Stefan Marinović
Ejection
66’ – TOR – Gregory van der Wiel
Toronto FC
25.Alex Bono; 9.Gregory van der Wiel, 23.Chris Mavinga, 2.Justin Morrow; 96.Auro Jr., 18.Marky Delgado (17.Jozy Altidore 58’), 4.Michael Bradley ©, 7.Victor Vazquez (6.Nick Hagglund 70’), 21.Jonathan Osorio; 16.Lucas Janson (14.Jay Chapman 65‘), 10.Sebastian Giovinco
Substitutes not used
1.Clint Irwin, 5.Ashtone Morgan, 11.Jon Bakero, 15.Eriq Zavaleta
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Stefan Marinović; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 4.Kendall Waston ©, 2.Doneil Henry, 46.Brett Levis (8.Felipe 88’); 66.Aly Ghazal (77.Jordon Mutch 75‘); 20.Brek Shea, 29.Yordy Reyna, 31.Russell Teibert, 67.Alphonso Davies (19.Erik Hurtado 69‘); 23.Kei Kamara
Substitutes not used
12.Brian Rowe, 11.Nicolás Mezquida, 17.Marcel de Jong, 18.Jose Aja
