FRISCO, TEXAS – A shorthanded Vancouver Whitecaps FC (15W-13L-5D) side fell 2-0 to FC Dallas (16W-10L-6D) on Wednesday in their penultimate regular season match at Toyota Stadium.
It was an eventful night that saw both teams hit the woodwork within the opening 20 minutes, David Ousted save a Mauro Diaz penalty, and Marco Bustos make his MLS debut. In the end, a 32nd-minute goal from Michael Barrios and 52nd-minute tally from Diaz proved the difference.
<strong><b>POST-MATCH<br>
INTERVIEWS:</b></strong> |
<a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2015/10/14/robinson-we-cant-feel-sorry-ourselves?autoplay=true" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://vancouver-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/interview_robinson_w.png" style="width: 140px; height: 60px; "></a><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2015/10/14/ousted-we-need-work-ourselves-out?autoplay=true" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://vancouver-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/2015_interview_ousted.png" style="width: 140px; height: 60px; "></a><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2015/10/14/bustos-i-felt-little-kid-park?autoplay=true" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://vancouver-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/2015_interview_bustos_w.png" style="width: 140px; height: 60px;"></a> |
The result moves Dallas into a tie with New York Red Bulls for the top spot in MLS. Vancouver, meanwhile, remain third in the Western Conference with one game to go.
The odds were stacked against Whitecaps FC heading into this one.
Carl Robinson was without the services of seven players due to international duty and injury, including the likes of Pedro Morales, Kendall Waston, Mauro Rosales, and Cristian Techera.
The visiting ‘Caps held their own in the early going, but Dallas had the first real opportunity in the 11th minute. Against the run of play, a lively Barrios broke down the right and slipped an inviting pass into David Texeira, who hit the far post from the centre of the box.
Shortly later, the ‘Caps hit the woodwork at the other end.
Kekuta Manneh started the play with a low cross into Octavio Rivero, his strike partner on the night. Rivero then laid it off to Koffie, who hit the post with his first-time effort. Koffie was playing as an attacking midfielder behind Rivero and Manneh, as Robinson trotted out a 4-1-3-2 formation.
And it nearly had the desired effect.
Instead, Dallas took the lead in the 32nd minute through Barrios, who finished from close range after a nice build-up between Diaz and Ryan Hollingshead down the left.
Ousted saves his third PK of the season
Dallas nearly added to their advantage 10 minutes later, when Tim Parker was whistled for a contested foul on Barrios in the box. But goalkeeper Ousted dove to his right to deny Diaz on the ensuing penalty – the Dane’s third PK save of the season.
That was not the last we’d hear from Diaz on this night, however.
In the 52nd minute, the Argentine playmaker beat a pair of ‘Caps before finishing from the top of the six-yard box to double Dallas’ lead.
Whitecaps FC came on strong in the closing stages of the match – the injection of Bustos in the 61st minute seemed to spark Vancouver’s attack. They managed to create a few quality chances, but it just wasn’t their night in the end.
Next up for Whitecaps FC is a CONCACAF Champions League fixture at CD Olimpia next Thursday. The ‘Caps will then return to BC Place to conclude the regular season next Sunday against Houston Dynamo (4 p.m. PT - tickets still available).
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! 2016 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, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
SUSPENSION NOTICE
Pa-Modou Kah was shown a yellow card in the 46th minute and will therefore miss next weekend’s regular season finale due to caution accumulation.
MATCH DETAILS
Budweiser Man of the Match: David Ousted
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 11,848
Scoring Summary
32’ – DAL – Michael Barrios (Mauro Diaz, Ryan Hollingshead)
52’ – DAL – Mauro Diaz
Stats
Shots: Dallas 14 – Vancouver 10
Shots on Goal: Dallas 6 – Vancouver 1
Saves: Dallas 1 – Vancouver 4
Fouls: Dallas 14 – Vancouver 13
Offsides: Dallas 1 – Vancouver 3
Corners: Dallas 6 – Vancouver 4
Cautions
46’ – VAN – Pa- Modou Kah
55’ – VAN – Jordan Harvey
64’ – DAL – Tesho Akindele
FC Dallas
44.Jesse Gonzalez; 27.Je-Vaughn Watson, 17.Zach Loyd, 24.Matt Hedges ©, 12.Ryan Hollingshead; 8.Victor Ulloa, 5.Ezequiel Cirigliano; 13.Tesho Akindele (20.Rolando Escobar 69’), 10.Mauro Diaz, 21.Michael Barrios; 9.David Texeira (7.Blas Perez 77’)
Substitutes not used
1.Dan Kennedy, 14.Atiba Harris, 25.Walker Zimmerman, 26.Danny Garcia, 31.Michel
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted ©; 33.Steven Beitashour, 26.Tim Parker, 44.Pa-Modou Kah (22.Christian Dean 81’), 2.Jordan Harvey; 15.MatÃas Laba; 20.Deybi Flores (32.Marco Bustos 61’), 28.Gershon Koffie, 31.Russell Teibert (88.Robert Earnshaw 76’); 29.Octavio Rivero, 23.Kekuta Manneh
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 6.Jordan Smith, 13.Cristian Techera, 18.Diego Rodriguez
