VANCOUVER: Knock another first off the list.
A gritty performance on Saturday saw Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5W-2L-1D) earn their first ever victory at Rio Tinto Stadium, over Western Conference rivals Real Salt Lake (2W-1L-3D). With the win, Whitecaps FC remain first overall in the MLS standings, while Salt Lake were handed their first defeat of the season.
Head coach Carl Robinson made four changes to his starting lineup from last weekend at San Jose Earthquakes with left back Sam Adekugbe in for Jordan Harvey and midfielders Gershon Koffie, Russell Teibert, and Nicolás Mezquida in for Deybi Flores, Kekuta Manneh, and Pedro Morales (suspended due to his red card against San Jose).
The first chance of the match came four minutes in when a long ball found Alvaro Saborio in on goal, however the Costa Rican sliced a shot well off target. Salt Lake had a second chance seven minutes later as Jordan Allen fired a shot on goal, but David Ousted did well to get low and make the save.
The ‘Caps had their first good look on 20 minutes after Teibert sprang Darren Mattocks down the left flank. The Jamaican patiently held up the ball before cutting a pass into the box to Mezquida who fended off a pair of defenders before having a dangerous shot deflect out of play.
After a scoreless first half, both sides came out intent to find the back of the net.
The home side had a close call in the 63rd minute with an Olmes Garcia cross headed on goal by Saborio, but straight into the arms of Ousted. The ‘Caps countered three minutes later with a long ball up field from Kendall Waston finding Octavio Rivero, who fended off Tony Beltran before firing a shot over the crossbar.
Momentum swung the way of Whitecaps FC on 76 minutes. RSL substitute Sebastian Saucedo, was issued a straight red card for a rash sliding tackle on Mauro Rosales, who was making his return after missing five matches with an ankle injury.
It only took four minutes for the ‘Caps to take advantage of the extra man. Teibert made a terrific run up the left flank and swung in a perfect cross to a rising Mattocks who guided a header into the net for a 1-0 lead.
Any chances of a comeback for Salt Lake were extinguished in the 89th minute. Mattocks was nearly off and running, but centre back Jamison Olave yanked him to the ground. With one yellow card earlier in the match, the Colombian was shown another and delivered his marching orders to put RSL down to nine men.
Late pressure from RSL was easily dealt with as the ‘Caps posted their third shutout on the road, and their third victory away from home.
The league leading ‘Caps return to BC Place next weekend for a home match against Eastern Conference side DC United. Kickoff for that match will be 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
Match Details
Budweiser Man of the Match: Darren Mattocks
Referee: Ted Unkel
Attendance: 20,414
Scoring Summary
80′ – VAN – Darren Mattocks (Russell Teibert)
Match Stats
Shots: Salt Lake 9 – Vancouver 9
Shots on Goal: Salt Lake 4 – Vancouver 1
Saves: Salt Lake 0 – Vancouver 4
Fouls: Salt Lake 15 – Vancouver 14
Offsides: Salt Lake 0 – Vancouver 3
Corners: Salt Lake 5 – Vancouver 5
Cautions:
6′ – VAN – Russell Teibert
41′ – RSL – Jamison Olave
83′ – VAN – Sam Adekugbe
89′ – RSL – Jamison Olave
Ejections:
76′ – RSL – Sebastian Saucedo
89′ – RSL – Jamison Olave
Real Salt Lake
18.Nick Rimando; 2.Tony Beltran (27.John Stertzer 84′), 4.Jamison Olave, 12.Elias Vasquez, 17.Demar Phillips; 10.Luis Gil, 5.Kyle Beckerman, 19.Luke Mulholland (49.Devon Sandoval 88′); 7.Jordan Allen (50.Sebastian Saucedo 64′), 15.Alvaro Saborio, 13.Olmes Garcia
Unused substitutes
24.Jeff Attinella, 16.Wellington Paeckart, 21.Aaron Maund, 29.Abdoulie Mansally
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 33.Steven Beitashour, 4.Kendall Waston, 44.Pa-Modou Kah, 3.Sam Adekugbe; 28.Gershon Koffie, 15.Matías Laba, 31.Russell Teibert; 9.Nicolás Mezquida (7.Mauro Rosales 71′); 11.Darren Mattocks (19. Erik Hurtado 90′), 29.Octavio Rivero
Unused substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 2.Jordan Harvey, 20.Deybi Flores, 23.Kekuta Manneh, 88.Robert Earnshaw
