By:Aaron Campbell (Twitter:@AaCamp81)
Pictures by John & Hazel May at It is Not Soccer It Is Football
Match In Pictures
Starting XI
Aird defending a cross into the box.
Jacobson pulling off a Drogba defending move.
After early season struggles, Fraser Aird seems to be finding his footing in the MLS.
Coach Carl Robinson:
On Fraser Aird’s performance tonight:
“He had a strong performance today in a makeshift back line for us. He was good going forward, he showed us that. He’s an outlet for us. There was twice where he missed the ball in the light, or the sun, he would probably say to me, even though there was no sun. But, there’s always room for improvement. So, Fraser should be proud as well.”
New Whitecaps Andrew Jacobson clears the box.
Jordan Harvey battles for the ball.
Pedro Morales with his 4th PK goal of the young season.
Head coach Carl Robinson:
On whether Pedro Morales could win Golden Boot based on his penalties:
“I don’t know, do you? Yeah, I don’t know, does he have four goals now? I thought he was very, very strong in his performance today. There was a number of players who performed very, very high. Pedro was one. Nice for him to get a goal; he’s very calm from twelve yards, isn’t he?”
Pa-Modou Kah getting involved with a header.
Kudo denied on his point blank range shot.
Head coach Carl Robinson:
Thoughts on Kudo:
“I thought his movement was very strong. We know that’s what he’s good at. He’ll be disappointed he didn’t score the goal. It was a great link of play. We usually set him up in training. We’re creating chances, which is good. I know people say we haven’t scored a goal from open play. It wasn’t about that today. It was about trying to get three points on the board.”
Masato Kudo with his first MLS start for the Whitecaps.
Curva Collective
Manneh’s offensive struggles continued against the Dynamo.
Ousted with the big save to keep the clean sheet.
Ousted with the fine save.
David Ousted:
Thoughts on the defending:
“Pure results, I think we kept a clean sheet and won one- nil, so looking at it that way we did tremendously well. Is there things we can clean up, probably, we need to be better on a lot of points but today we got a clean sheet. Three points is the most important thing.”
Matias Laba with defensive pressure all game long.
Coach Carl Robinson:
Thoughts on Matias Laba:
“Yeah, he was good, very good. The first game, or two, it took [Laba] to get up to speed, but he was Matias Laba. You know he’s one of the best players in that position in the league. He won every ball, he covered a lot of ground, he’s a rock on the field.”
Vancouver supporters feeling a little blue.
Match Report
No Tim Parker? No Kendall Waston?
No problem.
With their starting centre backs away on international duty, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2W-2L-0D) picked up their first clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 win over Houston Dynamo (1W-2L-1D) – the highest scoring team in MLS – on Saturday night at BC Place.
Robinson: “The guys who stepped in did themselves a lot of good”
Post-match press conference: Andrew Jacobson and David Ousted
Pedro Morales provided the scoring with his league-leading fourth goal, and penalty, of the season. The Dynamo hit the woodwork twice, but much to the delight of the sold-out crowd of 22,120, the night belonged to Vancouver.
After dropping their first two matches, the ‘Caps now have back-to-back wins.
Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson was forced to make four changes to his starting lineup on Saturday with Parker, Waston, Christian Bolaños, and Blas Pérez away on international duty.
READ: Parker ‘outstanding’ in Olympic qualifier; four ‘Caps see minutes
In their place, Robinson started a centre back pairing of Pa-Modou Kah and newcomer Andrew Jacobson – a natural midfielder who was named Budweiser Man of the Match in his first start with the club. Robinson also brought in winger Cristian Techera and striker Masato Kudo. It was Kudo’s first MLS regular season start and Kah’s first appearance of the season.
The Dynamo, who set a new MLS record with 11 goals in their first three matches, were also missing a few players due to injury and international duty. It would have been easy for both teams to play a little more cautious considering the absences, but that certainly wasn’t the case.
Far from it.
Both sides showed plenty of attacking intent right from the onset.
The ‘Caps nearly opened the scoring in the third minute when Techera got in behind after a 30-yard Jacobson headed clearance, but the Uruguayan lobbed it just over the goal.
That was the first of a surplus of chances for the home side.
In the 15th minute, Kudo was denied from close range after a pretty passing play between Kekuta Manneh and Fraser Aird, who both looked lively. On the ensuing corner, Jacobson had a glorious chance on a half-volley at the back post but couldn’t beat Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis.
Finally, the ‘Caps got on the board in the 23rd minute.
Manneh sent in a cross, Kudo was taken down at the back post by Jalil Anibaba, and Morales converted his fourth penalty of the season. Who else?
Houston also had their fair share of chances in the opening frame, including a Leonel Mirando volley off the crossbar from the top of the six-yard box.
There were some nervy moments, but the ‘Caps managed to hold firm.
Things slowed down considerably in the second half, which favoured the home side. Houston did come close on a few occasions – Ricardo Clark hit the post in the 71st minute and Mauro Manotas fired an 18-yard free kick off the wall in stoppage time.
The ‘Caps held on though, and the result was their first home win of the season.
Match Details
Budweiser Man of the Match: Andrew Jacobson
Referee: David Gantar
Attendance: 22,120
Scoring Summary
23’ – VAN – Pedro Morales (penalty kick)
Stats
Shots: Vancouver 12 – Houston 17
Shots on Goal: Vancouver 6 – Houston 5
Saves: Vancouver 5 – Houston 5
Fouls: Vancouver 16 – Houston 16
Offsides: Vancouver 1 – Houston 1
Corners: Vancouver 2 – Houston 7
Cautions
76’ – VAN – Matias Laba
90’ + 2’ – VAN – Pa-Modou Kah
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 8.Fraser Aird, 17.Andrew Jacobson, 44.Pa-Modou Kah, 2.Jordan Harvey; 13.Cristian Techera (3.Sam Adekugbe 69’),15.Matías Laba, 77.Pedro Morales, 23.Kekuta Manneh (11.Nicolas Mezquida 86’); 9.Masato Kudo (6.Jordan Smith 78’), 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes not used
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 14.Cole Seiler, 19.Erik Hurtado, 20.Deybi Flores
Houston Dynamo
31.Joe Willis; 2.Jalil Anibaba, 18.David Horst, 5.Raul Rodriguez, 7.DaMarcus Beasley; 14.Alex, 13.Ricardo Clark; 11.Andrew Wenger (20.Abdoulie Mansally 58’), 8.Cristian Maidana (19.Mauro Manotas 64’), 33.Leonel Miranda; 12.Will Bruin (3.Rob Lovejoy 81’)
Substitutes not used
24.Calle Brown, 4.Agus, 6.David Rocha, 22.Sheanon Williams
