SANDY, UT – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1W-1L-1D) dropped a close 1-0 contest to the visiting Colorado Rapids (1W-1L-1D) on Sunday evening.
Despite a strong outing from keeper Maxime Crépeau and the ‘Caps controlling the possession battle, a near-perfect free kick from Colorado’s Diego Rubio would serve as the difference at full-time.
In what developed into a wide-open, end-to-end match, the Rapids sent a number of shots at Crépeau early and often as Andre Shinyashiki had two shots at point-blank range saved by the Canadian international. After a trio of Shinyashiki shots within the first 16 minutes of action, the ‘Caps responded with a pair of Déiber Caicedo chances including a blocked shot after a William Yarbrough giveaway in the box.
While Caicedo, Lucas Cavallini, Cristian Dájome and first-time MLS starter Caio Alexandre had looks at goal in the first half, the only score of the first half came from Rubio via a long-range free kick that found its way into the upper corner of the net in the 26th minute.
In a second half that unfolded much like the first, chances were had on both ends of the pitch. Despite an on-target Ranko Veselinović header punched off the line and a number of dangerous corners, the score line remained unaltered after the second frame.
17-year old Whitecaps FC BMO Academy product Kamron Habibullah came on late to make his MLS debut after being added to the active roster earlier on Sunday.
Up next for the ‘Caps is an all-Canadian daytime clash against the visiting CF Montreal on Saturday, May 8. Kickoff at Rio Tinto Stadium is set for 12 p.m. PT, live on CTV, TSN, and AM730.
MATCH DETAILS
GE Appliances VWFC Player of Quality: Maxime Crépeau
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Scoring Summary
26’ – COL – Diego Rubio
Statistics
Possession: VAN 57% – COL 43%
Shots: VAN 9 – COL 16
Shots on Goal: VAN 4 – COL 6
Saves: VAN 5 – COL 3
Fouls: VAN 11 – COL 17
Corners: VAN 6 – COL 4
Cautions
17’ – COL – Younes Namli
27’ – VAN – Lucas Cavallini
37’ – COL – Keegan Rosenberry
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
16.Maxime Crépeau; 28.Jake Nerwinski (6.Bruno Gaspar 70‘), 4.Ranko Veselinović, 15.Andy Rose, 3.Cristián Gutiérrez; 11.Cristian Dájome, 19.Janio Bikel (55.Michael Baldisimo 66‘), 31.Russell Teibert © (27.Ryan Raposo 70‘), 7.Déiber Caicedo; 8.Caio Alexandre (30.Kamron Habibullah 89’); 9.Lucas Cavallini
Substitutes not used
1.Thomas Hasal, 13.Derek Cornelius, 23.Javain Brown, 32.Patrick Metcalfe, 87.Tosaint Ricketts
Colorado Rapids
22.William Yarbrough; 2.Keegan Rosenberry, 4.Danny Wilson, 5.Auston Trusty, 23.Kellyn Acosta; 21.Younes Namli (3.Drew Moor 83‘), 19.Jack Price © (26.Cole Bassett 64‘); 12.Michael Barrios (32.Colin Warner 83‘), 13.Sam Vines, 9.Andre Shinyashiki (7.Jonathan Lewis 66‘); 11.Diego Rubio
Substitutes not used
1.Clint Irwin, 6.Lalas Abubakar, 10.Nicolas Benezet, 20.Nicolás Mezquida, 30.Oliver Larraz
