VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (11W-9L-7D) extended their unbeaten run in MLS to six and kept themselves in the playoff hunt with a convincing 2-1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes (4W-15L-8D) on Saturday night at BC Place.
Goals from Alphonso Davies and Nicolas Mezquida secured all three points for Carl Robinson's team as the ‘Caps begin an important three-match homestand.
This was the second time in a week that Whitecaps FC have beaten the Quakes, following their dramatic 3-2 comeback win last Saturday in San Jose to record Vancouver’s first victory at Avaya Stadium.
The ‘Caps controlled the majority of the game, dominating the opening exchanges and were rewarded when Davies opened the scoring with his sixth goal of the campaign. The teenage sensation clinically finished Yordy Reyna’s defence-piercing pass, after a neat interchange with striker Kei Kamara, who was celebrating his 34th birthday.
The ‘Caps were frustrated for long periods in the second half, despite Davies’ quick footwork and trickery bamboozling San Jose’s defence.
But they deservedly doubled their lead in the 78th minute, as Mezquida curled one with precision past the outstretched Andrew Tarbell from just outside the penalty area. Mezquida, who had only been on the pitch for seven minutes, found himself in acres of space from Reyna’s pass, his second assist of the evening.
San Jose did pull one back in stoppage time when Valeri Qazaishvili’s deflected shot squeezed past Stefan Marinovic to create a tense finish. But the ‘Caps defence held firm to hang on to a vital victory.
The 'Caps are back in action in MLS play on September 15 when they face Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders. Reyna will be forced to miss the match due to caution accumulation after picking up a yellow card on Saturday. Kickoff is 7 p.m. PT live on TSN2 and TSN 1040. Visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets for ticket information.
MCMILLAN 'CAPS CORNER KICK DONATIONS
For every 'Caps corner kick at home, McMillan donates $100 to the United Way. An additional $500 is donated for every goal scored off a corner kick. This match McMillan Corners for Kids has donated $500 for a running total of $7,800.
MATCH DETAILS
Budweiser Man of the Match: Brett Levis
Referee: Mark Geiger
Attendance: 22,120
Scoring Summary
22’ – VAN – Alphonso Davies (Yordy Reyna, Kei Kamara)
78’ – VAN – Nicolas Mezquida (Yordy Reyna)
90’+1’ – SJ – Valeri Qazaishivili (Jackson Yueill)
Cautions
42’ – SJ – Nick Lima
63’ – VAN – Cristian Techera
67’ – VAN – Yordy Reyna
83’ – SJ – Magnus Eriksson
Statistics
Possession: VAN 49% – SJ 51%
Shots: VAN 16 – SJ 11
Shots on Goal: VAN 5 – SJ 2
Saves: VAN 1 – SJ 3
Fouls: VAN 22 – SJ 7
Offsides: VAN 1 – SJ 1
Corners: VAN 5 – SJ 3
Duels won: VAN 40 – SJ 48
Tackles won: VAN 9 – SJ 11
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Stefan Marinović; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 4.Kendall Waston ©, 22.Aaron Maund, 46.Brett Levis; 13.Cristian Techera (11.Nicolas Mezquda 71’), 66.Aly Ghazal, 31.Russell Teibert, 67.Alphonso Davies; 23.Kei Kamara (19.Erik Hurtado 81’), 29.Yordy Reyna (20.Brek Shea 90’)
Substitutes not used:
12.Brian Rowe, 3.Sean Franklin, 6.EfraÃn Juárez, 8.Felipe
San Jose Earthquakes FC
28.Andrew Tarbell; 24.Nick Lima, 37.Guram Kashia, 23.Florian Jungwirth, 2.Joel Qwiberg (6.Shea Salinas 67’); 7.Magnus Eriksson, 20.AnÃbal Godoy (10.Jahmir Hyka 81’), 96.Luis Felipe Fernandes (Jackson Yueill 58’), 11.Valeri Qazaishvili; 9.Danny Hoesen, 8.Chris Wondolowski ©
Substitutes not used:
12. Matt Bersano, 30. Yeferson Quintana, 13. Dominic Oduro, 15. Jimmy Ockford
