Another weekend, another last gasp ‘Caps win.
This time, it was new striker Robert Earnshaw who came up trumps with a stoppage time winner that cut the Timbers down to size. It wasn’t the best performance you’ll see from the boys in Blue and White this season, but at the end of the day three points is still three points.
Whitecaps FC fans certainly went home happy on Saturday night, but what did the media make of the team's final minute heroics?
TSN – Vancouver relied on “ individual brilliance” to scoop the win on Saturday, according to Kristian Jack on TSN. Jack had plenty of praise for goalscorer Robert Earnshaw: “Two of Earnshaw's greatest assets have always been one-on-one situations and an ability to get up to the speed of the game instantly when required,” he wrote. “Both were needed when he was sent in all alone by a fantastic pass from Pedro Morales and the rest was history.”
The Province – Marc Weber wrote about “a dream debut” for Vancouver's new Welsh striker, but he also singled out goalkeeper David Ousted for some special praise. “He’s been excellent for the last three weeks… but Ousted took it to another level on Saturday,” he said. “He conjured a wonderful diving save off Darlington Nagbe in the 70th and then absolutely robbed Fanendo Adi in the 90th, either with his left palm or toe. Adi was in 2-on-0, so Ousted had a pass to think about, too.”
Vancouver Sun – In the Sun, Gary Kingston was also effusive in his praise for the man they call Earnie. Describing his celebrations after giving Vancouver the win, Kingston said Earnshaw was “bounding around the BC Place turf at the final whistle like a kid in a bouncy castle,” before going on to describe the journey that’s taken the 34-year-old striker from Zambia to Vancouver via Cardiff, Norwich and Toronto.
Goal.com – “Despite Portland’s domination in large spells, Vancouver finds a way to claim a third-straight victory to start the season,” Simon Fudge wrote on Goal.com. Fudge also reminded fans that despite the win, there’s still room for improvement in Carl Robinson’s squad, stating: “While the points went to the Blue and White, it was the Timbers that arguably deserved far more reward for their performance, especially in the second half.”
Canadian Press via CBC -CBC also focused on the “unflinching heroics” displayed by Earnshaw and co. on Saturday. "Listen, the length of time I've been playing football, and that feeling, when the ball hits the net," Earnshaw is quoted as saying on CBC.com, "my God it's the best. It's the best."
Around the league
Armchair Analyst – From formation changes to draft picks, the league’s Armchair Analyst is on hand with a typically in-depth overview of the weekend’s action.
Cascadia rivals – While the ‘Caps were busy getting one over Portland on Saturday night, in Texas our other Cascadia rivals were in action against a Dallas outfit that has made a strong start to the 2015 season. Things looked to be going well for guys in green after Kellyn Acosta was sent off for the home side after half and hour. But despite plenty of huffing and puffing, the Sounders couldn’t find a breakthrough against a well-drilled home defence.
Up next – Up next for the ‘Caps at BC Place it’s MLS Cup winners LA Galaxy, who continued their slow start to the season with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to a depleted D.C. United over the weekend.
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