In a time where anyone with an internet connection can spew forth an opinion on their favourite team onto social media or a blog, what can one more game preview really add to the discussion? Instead, Pucked in the Head takes you on a trip into the future! Here, complete with highlights, is a recap of this coming Saturday’s game, as it will most assuredly happen. (Probably. OK, possibly. Alright, fine, it’s hardly likely at all.)
Apologies to those Whitecaps fans heading down to LA this weekend, but it seems EA Sports thinks you’re about to get rained on. My best guess, as Vancouver went into a rainy Home Depot Centre, was that Kenny Miller would be slotted back into the Caps’ lineup after missing the Houston game on international duty, while Joe Cannon would be replaced in goal by Brad Knighton.
More after the jump.
Kobayashi has the first chance in the 6th minute. Darren Mattocks took the ball towards the right flag, drawing a foul and eventual booking on Bobby Burling. The ref waved play on, though, as Mattocks turned back towards goal and found Daigo in the box. Kobayashi turned, and fired just past the post. The Caps continued to pour it on. On the ensuing goal kick, Vancouver recovered the ball, and Kobayashi played a lovely little through-ball for Mattocks to run onto. The sophomore chipped keeper Dan Kennedy, but again put the shot just wide.
It was the 28th minute before Chivas had its first decent chance. Brad Knighton, making his first start of the year, dove to his left to make the stop off of Juan Agudelo, and the rebound was put just wide.
Vancouver probably felt hard done by, coming out of the first half still 0-0. They controlled 58% of the first-half possession, forced a number of good reflex saves from Kennedy, and dealt easily with the limited Chivas pressure, outshooting the goats 8-3.
One started to get the feeling that this wasn’t the Whitecaps evening when, in the 52nd minute, Nigel Reo-Coker found Daigo Kobayashi in space near the top of the 18. Daigo ripped a shot past Dan Kennedy and off the post. The rebound caromed straight to a charging Darren Mattocks who hit the same spot on the same post.
Vancouver’s breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute. After a long stretch of play in the Chivas end, Kobayashi looped a short ball into the box for Mattocks, who volleyed a shot on target. He was stoned yet again by Dan Kennedy, but the save left the keeper helpless as Camilo ran onto the rebound and put Vancouver in front.
Unfortunately for Vancouver, the goats under El Chelis just can’t be counted out this year. Chivas were pressing in injury time, but made a crucial error, getting flagged for offside in the corner. Brad Rusin, taking the free kick, decided to try and keep possession, and played it short for Alain Rochat. Tristen Bowen managed to steal the ball, playing it off Rochat and out for a throw-in. Set piece defending would again cost Vancouver as Carlos Alvarez received the throw-in, and volleyed a cross into the box. Andy O’Brien tried to deal with it, but his header was straight onto the head of an unmarked Miller Bolaños. Brad Knighton dealt with the initial header but, like Kennedy on the opening goal, was helpless to deal with the rebound.
Vancouver will be disappointed with the 1-1 result. They would have had this match circled as an opportunity to take some points on the road, and certainly didn’t make the best of their chances. It gets no easier for the Whitecaps, as they’re at Buck Shaw Stadium in San Jose next week to take on the Earthquakes.
Vancouver: Knighton; Lee, O’Brien, Rusin, Rochat; Reo-Coker, Koffie (Davidson 62′); Camilo (Manneh 90′), Kobayashi, Miller (Hurtado 90′); Mattocks.
Chivas: Kennedy; Borja, Velazquez, Burling; Avila, Alvarez, Mejia, Minda; Bowen, Agudelo, Morales (Bolanos 62′).
Chivas Statistics Vancouver
1 Goals 1
6 Shots 13
4 On Target 5
43% Possession 57%
74% Pass Accuracy 82%
Man of the Match: Camilo
Around the MLS
Toronto FC 1-2 LA Galaxy
NY Red Bulls 1-1 Philadelphia Union
New England Revolution 0-2 FC Dallas
Colorado Rapids 2-1 Portland Timbers
Sporting KC 0-2 Montreal Impact
Houston Dynamo 1-0 SJ Earthquakes
Real Salt Lake 2-2 Seattle Sounders