Vancouver Whitecaps v Real Salt Lake – The Story In Pictures
Vancouver Whitecaps’ objectives for this one were simple: score a goal, get the win, keep 11 men on the pitch. Ah well, in the words of Meat Loaf, two out of three ain’t bad.
After 275 minutes of scoreless football at BC Place, the Whitecaps finally put the ball in the old pokey. In fact, they did it twice! And it got them all three points in an “at least it got the job done” performance that saw them give up 68.8% possession to a poor looking, and under strength, RSL team that hit the bar in the first half but really threatened very little else with all the ball time they had.
The Whitecaps didn’t look that great shakes either but at least they got the win, shut the back door and kept a clean sheet, but blotted their disciplinary copybook again when Cristian Techera opened the scoring and then promptly got sent off for a second yellow for taking his jersey off in celebration. Sigh.
Ah well, onwards and upwards.
Regular AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk (@ResidualImage) was there to capture the action before, during and after the game. Here’s the “Story In Pictures”, with a full Flickr slideshow at the end.
[Also check out Tom’s website www.residualimagephotography.com for more of his photos and work].
Southsiders Banner of the Year contender
Your Whitecaps starting XI
Probably thinking of freakin’ printers
Now that’s the face of an experienced pro
Anthony Blondell had a great chance to open the scoring in the 15th minute, racing in on goal, rounding Nick Rimando, but a defensive touch and a loss of balance and the chance was lost
And no-one could believe it, including Blondell himself
Both teams hit the woodwork, with RSL crashing one off the bar in the first half and Brek Shea somehow hitting the bar and other post in the same chance in the second
Cristian Techera picks up a 72nd minute booking for going in late on Nick Rimando
Two minutes later and referee Sorin Stoica points to the spot after Nicolas Mezquida goes down in the box
Up steps Cristian Techera and fires home the opening goal in the 75th minute – 1-0 ‘Caps!
Then he stupidly takes off his jersey to celebrate, which can only mean one thing…
A second yellow, followed by a red, and Vancouver are down to ten men – again
And he still can’t keep his shirt on after all that!
Undeterred, the ‘Caps pile forward and Alphonso Davies sends a brilliant low cross to the back post in the 79th minute
And Anthony Blondell taps in his first MLS goal to make it a 2-0 final for Vancouver
Saskatchewan’s finest, Brett Levis, celebrates his first MLS start by doing the Humba with Curva Collective
You can see all of Tom’s photos from the game HERE and in our full Flickr slideshow below:
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