COMMERCE CITY, CO– Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5-5-5) earned a 2-1 victory over Colorado Rapids (2-8-2) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Friday evening to secure their third road win of the season.
Head coach Carl Robinson made six changes from the previous weekend against New England. The entire back four was changed with Jake Nerwinski, José Aja, and Brek Shea coming in, with Doneil Henry making his ‘Caps debut. Also in were Efrain Juarez in central midfield, and Anthony Blondell at striker.
Cristian Techera and Yordy Reyna both came out with great looks on goal in the first 10 minutes, but Techera’s shot found the side net and Reyna’s header bounced wide.
Those two players did combine for the opener on 17 minutes. Juarez broke through from the ‘Caps half then fed Reyna. The Peruvian made a darting run up field before finding Techera in the box, who buried his sixth goal in his past four starts for a 1-0 lead.
Just over 20 minutes later it was 2-0. Alphonso Davies broke past former WFC2 teammate Deklan Wynne down the left flank, then centred a pass which deflected to Reyna for a one-time strike and his second goal of the season.
The Rapids pulled one back two minutes later when the ball came to Édgar Castillo at the top of the box, unleashing a wicked strike into the top corner.
The second half went back and forth with both sides having chances, but in the end the ‘Caps held firm for the 2-1 win. The result sees Vancouver move back into the playoff places and into fifth spot in the Western Conference.
Whitecaps FC return to action next Saturday, June 9 when they host Orlando City SC at BC Place, with a 4 p.m. PT kickoff. That match will also mark the conclusion of the #Buckup for Mental Health campaign, with the goal of raising $100,000 for Covenant House Vancouver. To donate to the campaign, visit whitecapsfc.com/buckup. For ticket information, go to whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Budweiser Man of the Match: Cristian Techera
Referee: Baldomero Toldeo
Attendance: 16,746
Scoring Summary
17’ – VAN – Cristian Techera (Yordy Reyna)
39’ – VAN – Yordy Reyna
41’ – COL – Édgar Castillo (Johan Blomberg)
Statistics
Possession:
Colorado 52.5% – Vancouver 47.5%
Shots:
Colorado 18 – Vancouver 12
Shots on Goal:
Colorado 3 – Vancouver 4
Saves:
Colorado 2 – Vancouver 0
Fouls:
Colorado 13 – Vancouver 12
Offsides:
Colorado 0 – Vancouver 2
Corners:
Colorado 12 – Vancouver 2
Cautions
34’ – VAN – Jake Nerwinski
46’ – COL – Édgar Castillo
79’ – COL – Dominique Badji
90’+5 – COL – Jack Price
Colorado Rapids
1.Tim Howard; 27.Deklan Wynne, 44.Axel Sjoberg (4.Danny Wilson HT), 5.Tommy Smith; 28.Sam Nicholson, 90.Enzo Martinez (11.Shkëlzen Gashi 70’), 8.Johan Blomberg (17.Dillon Serna 62’), 19.Jack Price, 2.Édgar Castillo; 9.Yannick Boli, 14.Dominique Badji
Substitutes not used
18.Zac MacMath, 21.Bismark Boateng, 22.Michael Azira, 32.Jack McBean
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
12.Brian Rowe; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 18.José Aja, 2.Doneil Henry, 20.Brek Shea; 13.Cristian Techera (66.Aly Ghazal 76’), 8.Felipe, 6.Efraín Juárez ©, 67.Alphonso Davies; 29.Yordy Reyna (46.Brett Levis 89’), 9.Anthony Blondell (23.Kei Kamara 65’)
Substitutes
39.Sean Melvin, 11.Nicolás Mezquida, 22.Aaron Maund, 31.Russell Teibert
