VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 2 – SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 1

‘Caps rally behind Adnan, Ricketts goals for massive win 

PORTLAND, OR – Vancouver Whitecaps FC rallied from a halftime deficit to win 2-1 over San Jose Earthquakes in a crucial matchup at Providence Park on Saturday evening.

Second-half goals from Ali Adnan and Tosaint Ricketts led the way for the ‘Caps, who now pass the Quakes for seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race with their third win in the last four matches.

The Quakes took the driver seat on 24 minutes when Cristian Espinoza set up a Carlos Fierro volley on a breakaway.

However, the resilient ‘Caps would overturn a goal deficit for the second time in four matches, with a pair of scores in a six-minute span early into the second half.

First was an Adnan laser off a free kick from long distance in the 51st minute.

With the momentum shifting the ‘Caps way, Cristian Dájome kept the pressure on the Quakes defence with an attacking run along the left side moments later, testing James Marcinkowski. The Quakes keeper stopped the initial shot but was helpless against Ricketts’ putback goal.

Whitecaps FC held strong late to keep the 2-1 final score, and now look forward to work their way further up the standings on Tuesday versus Seattle Sounders FC. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT live on TSN and TSN Radio 1040.

MATCH DETAILS

VWFC Man of the Match: Cristian Dájome
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira

Scoring Summary
24′ – SJ – Carlos Fierro (Cristian Espinoza)
51′ – VAN – Ali Adnan
57′ – VAN – Tosaint Ricketts

Statistics
Possession: VAN 38.7% – SJ 61.3%
Shots: VAN 9 – SJ 10
Shots on Goal: VAN 4 – SJ 2
Saves: VAN 1 – SJ 2
Fouls: VAN 17 – SJ 7
Offsides: VAN 0 – SJ 0
Corners: VAN 6 – SJ 6

Cautions
82′ – SJ– Marcos Lopez
90’+1′ – VAN – Russell Teibert
90’+3′ – VAN – Leonard Owusu

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
30.Evan Bush; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 22.Érik Godoy, 53.Ali Adnan (3.Cristián Gutiérrez 90’+4′); 87.Tosaint Ricketts (31.Russell Teibert 69′), 19.Janio Bikel, 17.Leonard Owusu, 11.Cristian Dájome; 12.Fredy Montero © (14.Theo Bair 89′), 9.Lucas Cavallini (15.Andy Rose 90’+3′)

Substitutes not used
1.Bryan Meredith, 13.Derek Cornelius, 27.Ryan Raposo, 32.Patrick Metcalfe, 55.Michael Baldisimo  

San Jose Earthquakes
18.James Marcinkowski; 24.Nick Lima (27.Marcos Lopez 72′), 23.Florian Jungwirth (19.Siad Haji 80′), 4.Oswaldo Alanis, 22.Tommy Thompson (6.Shea Salinas 71′); 93.Judson; 10.Cristian Espinoza (44.Cade Cowell 80′), 25.Andrés Ríos, 14.Jackson Yueill, 21.Carlos Fierro; 8.Chris Wondolowski ©

Substitutes not used
17.Daniel Vega, 15.Tanner Beason, 26.Eric Calvillo, 33.Paul Marie, 96.Luis Felipe Fernandes