TUCSON, ARIZONA – For the second straight match, Vancouver Whitecaps FC turned in a dominant second-half performance.
It resulted in a 2-0 win over New England Revolution on Wednesday.
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<b>Post-match interview: Carl Robinson</b> |
And on Saturday, it helped the Blue and White battle back to earn a 1-1 draw with San Jose Earthquakes in preseason action at the Kino Sports Complex.
After going down 1-0 in the 28th minute, Whitecaps FC came out flying in the second half and drew the game level courtesy of a well-taken Kekuta Manneh goal in the 65th minute.
Manneh received the ball from Sam Adekugbe at the top of the box, before cutting to the left and slotting it into the bottom right corner.
That came just minutes after Manneh made a blazing run down the middle and unleashed a heavy strike that was parried over the goal by Quakes second half goalkeeper Bryan Meredith.
The 'Caps came close to scoring a late winner, but Meredith helped the Quakes hold onto the draw in the first match of a Desert Friendlies doubleheader in Tucson, Arizona.
Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson once again opted to field a different lineup for each half on Saturday. His starting lineup featured trialists Dane Richards, Robert Earnshaw, and Kalif Alhassan playing behind lone striker Darren Mattocks, who had Vancouver’s best chance in the 24th minute.
Goalkeeper David Ousted was between the posts for Whitecaps FC in the first half and he was busy.
In the 28th minute, the Dane made a diving save on an Adam Jahn header but Paulo Renato put the Quakes ahead 1-0 on the ensuing corner.
Ousted was called upon again in first-half stoppage time – this time diving to his left to stop low Tommy Thompson strike from inside the box.
San Jose controlled the run of play in the first half, but it was all Vancouver after the break.
Manneh was buzzing on the left, and Mauro Rosales looked equally as dangerous on the right side. Uruguayans Nicolas Mezquida and Octavio Rivero also combined well for the second straight match.
Rivero had at least three quality second-half chances, including a header from a Rosales cross at the back post and a half-volley he sent just wide after receiving a perfect ball over the top from Mezquida.
Vancouver’s Young Designated Player also forced Meredith into making a fantastic save on a shot from a tight angle in the game’s dying stages.
After claiming a win and a draw in their first two preseason matches, the ‘Caps will play their final match in Tucson on Tuesday morning against Houston Dynamo.
If you wish to visit MLS Preseason in Tuscon, contact Uniglobe One Travel - Neal Chark at nealc@uniglobeone.com or call 604 677 1495 at any time for immediate, professional and expedited service.
Participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver! The 2015 Whitecaps FC season kicks off on March 7 versus Toronto FC at BC Place. Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are now on sale. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, Student Half-Season Tickets, and a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket. For more information on 2015 Season Tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Scoring Summary
28' - Paulo Renato (Matias Perez Garcia)
65' - Kekuta Manneh (Sam Adekugbe)
Caution
34’ – Kendall Waston
Ejection
82’ – Brandon Barklage
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
First Half
1.David Ousted; 27.Ethen Sampson, 4.Kendall Waston, 18.Diego Rodriguez, 2.Jordan Harvey; 15.Matias Laba, 30.Ben McKendry; 20.Dane Richards, 8.Robert Earnshaw, 35.Kalif Alhassan; 11.Darren Mattocks
Second Half
70.Paolo Tornaghi; 26.Tim Parker, 44.Pa-Modou Kah, 22.Christian Dean, 3.Sam Adekugbe; 37.Mitch Piraux, 31.Russell Teibert; 7.Mauro Rosales, 9.Nicolas Mezquida, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 29.Octavio Rivero
San Jose Earthquakes
First Half
1.David Bingham, 4.Marvell Wynne, 5.Victor Bernardez, 38.Paulo Renato, 20.Shaun Francis, 80.Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi, 15.JJ Koval, 11.Matias Perez Garcia (22.Tommy Thompson 37'), 7.Cordell Cato, 6.Shea Salinas, 14.Adam Jahn
Second Half
13.Bryan Meredith, 16.Pablo Pintos, 5.Victor Bernardez (3.Jordan Stewart 62’), 2.Ty Harden, 26.Brandon Barklage; 11.Innocent Emeghara, 49.Matias Silva, 22.Tommy Thompson, 18.Kris Tyrpak (39.Cameron Iwasa 83’), 23.Leandro Barrera, 14.Adam Jahn (19.Mike Fucito 67)
