VANCOUVER, BC – There's no doubting the skill and flair that Pedro Morales has brought to MLS since joining Vancouver Whitecaps FC in February. What did surprise some observers, however, was coach Carl Robinson naming the Designated Player captain following the injury and subsequent retirement of Jay DeMerit in the summer.
Captains need to lead their team by example and Morales showed that quality in abundance at BC Place on Saturday, sparking the 'Caps in a crucial 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Real Salt Lake.
The talented midfielder has been showing signs of fatigue after playing for 14 months without a break following his transfer to Vancouver from Spanish La Liga side Malaga. It was something of a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance from Morales on Saturday, who missed a penalty kick in the first half before bouncing back with a second-half double to give Vancouver the three points that moved them back into a playoff position.
"He makes a difference to us," Robinson said of his captain after the match. "I thought in the first half he was probably below the levels that he should be. I think we saw a passing range that we're used to seeing with him in the second half. Sometimes you have defining moments in a season and maybe this will be our defining moment."
Morales' first-half performance was enough cause for concern for Robinson that he nearly pulled the Chilean out of the game at halftime.
"It was a conversation we had, and me and one of the other coaches disagreed," Robinson said. "I made the decision to keep him on and thank God I did."
Morales played down his part in the comeback win, choosing to focus on the strength his teammates had given him to quickly get over the penalty miss and come out strong and invigorated for the second half.
"We needed the win today, it was important with Portland’s loss to Toronto," Morales said in his first full postgame interview in English. "My teammates were very good today, good attitude. We had so many chances for a goal, but it is important today for a win, for three points. Very, very important."
"I think my teammates, when we finished the first half, they were very confident for me, [saying] 'Pedro, let’s go, no problem, take one more opportunity.' In the second half I felt so much better and more confident in my play. I got two important goals for the team."
The winning goal came when Steven Beitashour let fly from the edge of the box and Morales redirected the shot into the net from close range. For Beitashour, the Chilean's fighting spirit typifies Morales' qualifications as captain of the side.
"It's tough to miss a penalty kick," Beitashour said after the match. "To bounce back the way he did was great. That’s why he’s our leader, and we feed off of it, so he did a great job. Not just the goals but distributing the ball, and his intensity and closing them down as well. And we need that. Every game from now on needs to be that intense."
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