FRISCO, TX – Vancouver Whitecaps FC battled to a 2-2 Independence Day draw against Western Conference side FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
In the 12th minute, ‘Caps goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was called into action as he denied FC Dallas striker Ricardo Pepi with back-to-back saves from close range to prevent the home side from taking the lead.
Dallas’ pressure would pay off 10 minutes later, as striker Jesus Ferreira whipped in a cross for Pepi to head home his fifth goal of the season past Crepeau for the opener.
The home side’s lead wouldn’t last long as ‘Caps midfielder Caio Alexandre sent winger Cristian Dájome in behind and delivered a perfect ball onto the feet of Lucas Cavallini, who calmly dribbled around the goalkeeper and fired the ball home for his second goal in two games.
The ‘Caps kept pushing and almost took the lead as FC Dallas defender Nkosi Tafari nearly headed a looping ball into the back of his own net, with the ball bouncing out of play for a ‘Caps corner kick.
On the ensuing corner, Deiber Caicedo whipped in a perfect ball for defender Andy Rose, who flicked in his second goal of the season to give the ‘Caps the 2-1 lead heading into halftime.
The Texans came out of the break looking for an equalizer and once again forced Crépeau to make an incredible stop, this time denying Dallas midfielder Ryan Hollingshead from close range.
As the second half went on, the ‘Caps stayed strong at the back, fighting for every ball and doing everything in their power to keep Dallas at bay.
Dallas would find an equalizer in stoppage time however, as substitute Paxton Pomykal whipped a ball into the ‘Caps penalty area which deflected into the back of the net.
The Blue and White will now turn their focus towards a mid-week match-up with Utah neighbours Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium this Wednesday, July 7. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT. You can catch the match live on TSN1/4 and AM730, with the radio pre-match show starting at 6 p.m. PT.
MATCH DETAILS
GE Appliances VWFC Player of Quality: Maxime Crépeau
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Scoring Summary
22' - DAL - Ricardo Pepi (Jesús Ferreira, Bryan Acosta)
30' - VAN - Lucas Cavallini
45'+2 - VAN - Andy Rose (Déiber Caicedo)
90'+4 - DAL - Ranko Veselinović (own goal)
Statistics
Possession: DAL 57.3 – VAN 42.7
Shots: DAL 17 – VAN 5
Shots on Goal: DAL 8 – VAN 2
Saves: DAL 0 – VAN 7
Fouls: DAL 11 – VAN 11
Offsides: DAL 0 – VAN 1
Corners: DAL 7 – VAN 5
Cautions
18' - DAL - Jáder Obrian
45'+3 - VAN - Lucas Cavallini
67' - DAL - Bryan Acosta
72' - VAN - Caio Alexandre
'90'+1 - VAN - Patrick Metcalfe
90'+5 - VAN - Jake Nerwinski
FC Dallas
20.Jimmy Maurer; 32.Justin Che, 4.Bressan ©, 14.Nkosi Tafari, 26.John Nelson (19.Paxton Pomykal 63'); 5.Facundo Quignon (29.Franco Jara 75'), 8.Bryan Acosta; 7.Jáder Obrian (31.Dante Sealy 63'), 9.Jesús Ferreira (10.Andrés Ricaurte 81'), 12.Ryan Hollingshead; 16.Ricardo Pepi
Substitutes not used
99.Phelipe Megiolaro, 6.Edwin Cerrillo, 18.Brandon Servania, 21.Kalil ElMedkhar, 22.Ema Twumasi
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
16.Maxime Crépeau; 23.Javain Brown (28.Jake Nerwinski 90'+3), 22.Érik Godoy, 15.Andy Rose, 3.Cristian Gutierrez; 8.Caio Alexandre (32.Patrick Metcalfe 83'), 19.Janio Bikel, 31.Russell Teibert ©; 11.Cristian Dájome (27.Ryan Raposo 71'), 9.Lucas Cavallini (24.Brian White 83'), 7.Déiber Caicedo (4.Ranko Veselinović 90'+3)
Substitutes
1.Thomas Hasal, 12.Evan Newton, 14.Theo Bair, 17.Leonard Owusu
