Top 2 Bottom 2: Whitecaps steal the victory
by Aaron Campbell, @AaCamp81
Top 2
David Ousted
Single-handedly stole three points for the Whitecaps. Made huge saves to keep the game tied at 1-1 to give the Whitecaps the opportunity to go down the field and score the winning goal in injury time.He was credited with five saves and three of them where high quality. He was able to come out and cut down angles and make himself big. Got his arms on a few of them to make sure he kept the score in the Whitecaps favour.
Last year he was the most underrated keeper in MLS and he has stepped up and some say is even better this season. The whole season this year depends on Ousted being healthy and being able to play all the games.
Robert Earnshaw
What a debut? He is making a habit of scoring on his debuts for whatever team he is playing for.It showed on his game winning goal he has the football IQ to settle into the open spots on the field and put himself in spots where if he gets the ball he will have a solid scoring opportunity.
Earnshaw will be an important substitute this season for the Whitecaps. He fills the need the team has had since Kenny Miller left early last season.
Bottom 2
Erik Hurtado
Really didn’t contribute much on the wing all game long. Had two decent crosses into the box but there was no Whitecaps players in the area to convert the crosses. Had a few decent runs at the Portland defenders but his passes were either to the wrong team or too far behind the Whitecaps player so they couldn’t get a clean shot off.Didn’t show enough to take the spot away from Kekuta Manneh in my opinion. Manneh offers more offensive push than Hurtado and the Whitecaps as a team are built better with Manneh pushing forward.
Gershon Koffie
More silly fouls from Koffie. He has struggled this season to play calm and settle it. He has been all over the field and always chasing the play. The 10 days he was injured in preseason is showing with him being a step or two behind everyone else on the pitch.With the great showing of Deybi Flores and Carl Robinson telling everyone who would listen about how special he is, Koffie may be falling further down the depth chart.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Portland
May, 2024
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