The Vancouver Whitecaps continued their improved play after a slow start with a hard fought 2-1 win last night over the Chicago Fire before 19,638 in attendance. at BC Place Stadium. The club got two goals from Blas Perez including the game winner in the 88th minute
The victory moved the into sixth place in the Western Conference standings. The victory came at a cost however as the club lost forward Masato Kudo in the 11th minute ran forward and collided with Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson.
He was on the turn for seven minutes while being attended to by the medical staff. It appeared that he was suffering from a concussion at first but he bit his tongue and causing a loss of blood but also his jaw took a shot as well after it was safe to get him to sit up and holding a towel to his face. He was carted off on the medical cart to the locker rooms for observation and taken to hospital for further examination.
Although there is a 7 point difference in the standings between the two sides Chicago took the game to the Whitecaps. Fire forward Kennedy Igboananikeb tested David Ousted of the Caps whit a shot from the top of the penalty area with Ousted smothering the ball.
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The teams exchanged scoring chances with Perez for Vancouver and Kennedy Igboananike of the Fire testing Ousted and Lampson with dangerous shots from the penalty area.
The Whitecaps opened the scoring in the 36th minute as Blas Perez scored his first of two on the night getting a foot on a cross from Christian Bolanos,
Christian Techera almost buried his chance four minutes later but Lampson was able to control and pounce on the shot to keep it a one goal game. Joey Calistri of the Fire fired a bullet just over the cross bar by inches as the teams went to halftime with the Caps up 1-0.
In the second half the Fire continued their solid play forcing the Caps defense to open up with smart plays from the midfield and using the flanks very wisely.
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It paid off in the 62nd minute when forward Kennedy Igboananike put a move on Caps defender Jordan Harvey. Against just Ousted Igboananike knocked home the equalizer to tie the game 1-1.
The game appeared to be ending a draw until Perez scored what could be considered the goal of the year with a bicycle kick at the top of the box with two minutes left (88th minute) for Vancouver to give then a 2-1 lead.
Vancouver is now undefeated at home in six games since losing their home opener to the Montreal Impact. They hit the road now for a pair of games Saturday evening in Toronto and on the 22nd in Portland in a rematch with the Timbers.
Man of the Match was Blas Perez for scoring two goals and ending the match in spectacular fashion.
Attendance through seven home games this season for Vancouver sits at 153,992 averaging 21,998 sitting in the top five in the MLS attendance.
Vancouver Whitecaps
