Photo: Vancouver Whitecaps FC
by Graham Tooke
Vancouver Whitecaps FC opened up preseason with victory over last season’s MLS Cup runners-up New England Revolution, thanks to a pair of finishes from new front man Octavio Rivero. The Uruguayan twice slotted past former ‘Caps goalkeeper Brad Knighton in the second half to seal a 2-0 win in Tucson, Arizona.
Matias Laba and Nicolas Mezquida were on hand to provide the assists, both contributing slick through-balls to release their new teammate. With Pedro Morales playing in a deeper role alongside Gershon Koffie in Robinson’s favored 4-2-3-1 formation it’s likely we’ll get to see Mezquida in behind the striker this season.
A fairly uneventful first half saw Residency products Jackson Farmer and Marco Bustos given starting spots with the former impressing at right back, while Andy O’Brien’s replacement Pa-Modou Kah (not looking forward to typing his name all season) started alongside Christian Dean at the heart of defense.
Bustos provided the most alarming moment for New England when he raced into the box only to be clattered by Jose Goncalves. The Portuguese international did well to get his foot on the ball prior to taking out the youngster.
Up top Darren Mattocks returned from his European tour where he spent time training with English Championship leaders AFC Bournemouth and Swedish club IFK Goteborg, but struggled to get involved. Early days. We hope.
Tim Parker, Diego Rodriguez, Ben McKendry and Octavio Rivero were the new signings to take to the pitch in the second half with both sides making full line changes. Ex-Timber Kalif Alhassan, on trial, took up a place on the right wing, while Caleb Clarke returned to play in an unnatural left sided position.
SuperDraft pick Tim Parker tested the Revs goal frame with a towering header from Mezquida’s corner kick that bounced off the far post.
Soon after Rivero stabbed home his first goal in the 57th minute latching onto Laba’s defence splitting ball.
And a mere five minutes followed when the lively Mezquida sliced a lovely ball into the path of Rivero. He then rounded Knighton with ease before slotting into an empty net. Coolness personified.
Chances followed for the Young Designated Player to complete his hat trick but he was thwarted by a fine save from Knighton.
Ousted and Tornaghi shared the clean sheet, with the Dane starting and the Italian replacing him in the second. Tornaghi came up with an easy parry to deny a diving header late in the match and save the clean sheet.
Trialists Robert Earnshaw and Dane Richards were introduced late on as Robbo got a better look at possible additions to his already competitive squad.
Kendall Waston and Kianz Froese were missing but will join up with the camp in time for Saturday’s match with San Jose Earthquakes. Steven Beitashour will be in Tucson sometime next week.
MATCH DETAILS
Scoring Summary
57′ – VAN – Octavio Rivero (Matías Laba)
62′ – VAN – Octavio Rivero (Nicolás Mezquida)
Match Stats
Shots: Vancouver 13 New England 8
Shots on Goal: Vancouver 5 New England 4
Saves: Vancouver 4 New England 3
Fouls: Vancouver 10 New England 9
Offsides: Vancouver 2 New England 1
Corners: Vancouver 5 New England 3
Cautions
21′ – NE – Teal Bunbury
78′ – VAN – Jordan Harvey
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
First Half
1.David Ousted; 41.Jackson Farmer^, 44.Pa-Modou Kah, 22.Christian Dean, 3.Sam Adekugbe; 28.Gershon Koffie, 77.Pedro Morales; 30.Mauro Rosales, 32.Marco Bustos, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 11.Darren Mattocks
Second Half
70.Paolo Tornaghi; 27.Ethen Sampson, 26.Tim Parker, 18.Diego Rodríguez, 2.Jordan Harvey; 15.Matías Laba, 30.Ben McKendry; 35.Kalif Alhassan* (8.Robert Earnshaw* 76′), 9.Nicolás Mezquida, 34.Caleb Clarke (20.Dane Richards* 76′); 29.Octavio Rivero
New England Revolution
First Half
22.Bobby Shuttleworth; Jeremy Hall, 2.Andrew Farrell, 23.Jose Goncalves, 8.Chris Tierney; 12.Andy Dorman, 6.Scott Caldwell, 16.Daigo Kobayashi; 10.Teal Bunbury, 9.Charlie Davies (Juan Agudelo 30′), 11.Kelyn Rowe
Second Half
18.Brad Knighton; Jeremy Hall (25.Darrius Barnes), London Woodberry*, Jacob VonCompernolle*, 33.Donnie Smith; Tyler Rudy*, Marco Fenelus*, 4.Steve Neumann; Yuzo Tashiro*, Sean Okoli, Tim Mulgrew*
* Unsigned Training Camp Participants
^ WFC Residency Graduate
