VANCOUVER, BC – After suffering a broken foot in the preseason, Yordy Reyna made his home debut for Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday night at BC Place.
And boy, he was worth the wait.
The Peruvian attacking midfielder played the role of hero with an 88th-minute winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over New York City FC, capping off a dazzling 25-minute performance. It was a brief introduction for Reyna, but it’s safe to say he left his mark. In addition to his goal, Reyna’s statline included 19 touches, three shots, two successful dribbles, and one chance created.
“He's got a good football brain," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “He finds spaces, but when you find a space, you've got to be positive in your play and you've got to have an end product. Today he showed his end product, not just with the goal, but numerous other passes and chances. He's a very smart footballer."
Let’s take a closer look.
Reyna replaced Brek Shea in the 65th minute, slotting in centrally underneath Fredy Montero. That’s where Christian Bolaños had been playing up until that point, but Reyna’s introduction shifted the Costa Rican to the left wing. Reyna was billed as a player who can play any of the attacking positions, but as previously stated by the ‘Caps coaching staff, he’s probably most effective in central areas.
That was certainly the case on Wednesday.
Here’s Reyna combining with Montero less than a minute after stepping onto the field, resulting in an attacking free kick.
This may seem like a nothing play, but it’s noteworthy in my eyes because it shows that Reyna is the type of player who will play further up the field – closer to Montero – which will help link Vancouver’s midfield to their attack.
Along the same lines, Reyna will also make runs in behind that will allow Montero to drop deeper and get on the ball, which will only make Vancouver harder to defend.
Here’s an example from the 83rd minute.
As Robinson has been saying all along, Reyna is a direct player who’s not afraid to take on opposing defenders. That’s probably his best quality.
Here’s Exhibit A.
Not convinced yet? Exhibit B might do it.
I think that’s what the kids call tekkers. Or something like that.
Reyna isn’t necessarily a playmaker in the traditional sense, as in you probably won’t see him spraying balls all over the field. But he can still pick out a pass, as he did here in the 85th minute.
Finally, there was the game-winning goal.
A lot of different players deserve credit on this one, mainly right back Jakob Nerwinski for starting the play with a tackle in midfield before delivering the cross and Cristian Techera for releasing Nerwinski down the flank. Give Bernie Ibini credit, too, for occupying a pair of NYCFC defenders.
Reyna, for his part, got into the box, found an open space, and powered home the header.
“What an occasion today when he comes on,” Robinson told reporters following the match. “I think he should probably have scored two goals, but it was a great header. He wants to get in the box. I say to all my players in attacking areas, ‘If you want to score goals, you have to make the effort and have the desire to get in the box.'”
Reyna certainly has that, as you can see from his touchmap below (courtesy of the ‘Caps App). Look at all those touches in the attacking box.
Not bad for 25 minutes.
Next up for Reyna and the 'Caps is a visit to LA Galaxy on Wednesday, July 19 following the Gold Cup break. Whitecaps FC will then return to BC Place to host Cascadia rival Portland Timbers on Sunday, July 23 (kickoff at 3:30 p.m. PT - tickets still available).
