The memories of the last five games were almost erased but the Vancouver Whitecaps allowed a late goal to the Rapids and had to settle for a 2-2 draw. After gifting the opening goal to Omar Cummings in the first half, the Caps took the lead with two goals in less than five minutes from Alain Rochat and Kenny Miller before allowing Jaime Smith the opportunity to score the equalizer.
It was a good start for the Whitecaps who carried the play in the midfield and led to the first chance of the match when Barry Robson attempted a shot from distance that forced Pickens into making a save. It wasn’t until the 20th minute when the Caps got another chance as Dane Richards crossed the ball along the deck attempting to hit Mattocks in the box but Wynne was able to step in front and clear it over for a corner.
It was just minutes later, after working the ball through the middle, Camilo was stopped by Pickens on a shot from outside the box but the ball was spilled and almost converted by Mattocks before the keeper was able to recover and grab it. Around the half hour mark it looked as though the Caps had Mattocks in on goal but a close offside call negated the chance.
The missed chances proved costly for the Caps as the Rapids capitalized on their first chance when Rivero was allowed to walk in and fire his shot past Knighton. The strike hit the post and went directly to Omar Cummings who made no mistake on his shot giving the Rapids the lead.
The Whitecaps tried to get back the goal but a wide header from Camilo and a stop from Pickens off Mattocks were unable to even the score. It was just before the half Knighton came up big when Castrillon’s header from a corner was sent to the net. If it wasn’t for the keeper leaping at the last moment to keep the home side would have been down two at the half.
Coming out of the break it was the Rapids who almost made it a two goal game when Casey found Larentowicz alone in the box but the midfielder was unable to find the net despite having Knighton at his mercy. It wasn’t until the 60 minute mark that Caps generated their first chance of the half when after a scramble a cross to Richards was volleyed just wide of the net.
The pressure finally paid off Rennie’s side when off a corner Koffie collected the ball at the edge of the box and sent a pass into Rochat who deflected the ball past Pickens to even the score at one. It took the Caps less than five minutes to take the lead when Robson found Miller in between the defenders and the struggling striker found the net for his first goal before the home crowd.
The Whitecaps had the better of the chances in the minutes after the second goal as Koffie was stopped from distance and then Miller was unable to Pickens from a tight angle. Then the Rapids, with five minutes to go, sent in a cross which was headed by Casey directly toward Knighton.
A defensive miscue by Lee and Rochat would prove costly a minute later when Jaime Smith was gifted the ball inside the box and tied the game at two for Colorado. The two teams traded chances for the lead as Thorrington rose to meet a cross but fired the attempt wide of the net. Then it was Knighton’s turn to come up big as he stopped Cummings from in close to preserve the draw and the single point.
The result ends the franchise record five game losing streak but does extend their current six game winless streak. In the end the Caps had to earn their goals but gave up two due to miscommunication and horrid decisions on the backline. Vancouver will try to get everything in order as they remain home and face their Cascadia rivals, Seattle Sounders, next weekend in order to get closer to the playoffs.
(image courtesy of Bob Frid)
