Vancouver Whitecaps FC headed into Chicago on Saturday evening looking for their first-ever win at Toyota Park after failing to notch one in their first three attempts.
The 'Caps had not previously scored a goal in the Windy City, never mind come away with the three points, but they managed both in an entertaining encounter that saw Octavio Rivero grab the victory for the visitors with an 86th-minute strike.
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<b>Post-match interview: Octavio Rivero</b> |
Vancouver's new Designated Player made it two goals in his first two MLS games, after a match that saw the Uruguayan put in as much work off the ball as he did in the build-up play for his teammates. He was also able to get off eight shots in the match.
"His team performance today was fantastic," Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson told TSN's 1410 radio after the game. "I told him at halftime that he was the only one who hadn't really had a chance out of the front four players in the first half. I told him to be patient because he would get his opportunities and he did in the second half."
"He had a number of half chances, he had a number of one on one chances and then he showed what he's good at and that's rolling the ball in the back of the net. You get your rewards in football if you put the hard work in."
The game-winning goal aside, it was that workrate and Rivero's complete overall performance that pleased Robinson the most and it's that type of display that made the club so keen on the Uruguayan in the first place.
"I thought his performance all around was absolutely fantastic," Robinson added. "He led the line very well and he's a different type of player to the other forwards I've got. He managed to slip some balls into Kekuta [Manneh], who went through one on one."
"His hold up play was good and it was a good, typical centre forward performance which suits our team down to the ground and he got his reward in the end."
Rivero is still finding his feet in his new surroundings and in a new league. He's also not at his sharpest yet either, with Robinson adding that the striker is "still getting up to speed because he's still not 100 per cent fit."
The 'Caps coach is excited to see Rivero's development this season and how he will perform when he is firing on all cylinders. For now, Robinson is happy with what his team is producing in attack. He'd just like to see some better finishing to makes games like the Chicago one not end up going down to the wire.
"As I said last week, we're exciting to watch," Robinson said. "We probably should have been ahead in the first half. Even though Chicago had a number of half chances, we had a number of clear cut one on one chances that we didn't take and at the beginning of the second half we continued with the same."
"We missed two or three glorious opportunities for us and I did feel the game opened up because both teams went to try and win it. I had thought it might not be our day but thankfully Octavio showed a calm, clear head."
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