Report and Reaction: Vancouver Whitecaps dominate Dallas as they get playoff campaign off to strong start

For the second straight week Vancouver Whitecaps took to the pitch against FC Dallas and dominated them. This week though they took their chances, destroying the Texans 3-0 and it could have been a lot more if it wasn’t for some stellar defending and goalkeeping from the visitors.

Daniel Rios headed Vancouver into the lead two minutes before half time, before a Thomas Müller penalty on the hour mark removed any lingering doubts of a Dallas comeback. Kenji Cabrera added a third with seven minutes to go to make it 3-0 and secure the Whitecaps’ victory in game one of their best-of-three playoff series.

It was as lopsided a playoff game as you will see, with Vancouver outshooting Dallas 22 to 0, and they’ll head to Frisco next Saturday looking to put the series to bed and give themselves an extra week off before a potential big Western Conference semi-final showdown with LAFC.

Jesper Sorensen made just one change from the team that dominated Dallas last weekend but couldn’t find a way through their resolute defending. An enforced change, with Ralph Priso coming in at centre back for the suspended Mathias Laborda.

The match continued in the same vein as last week, with Vancouver bossing the play and finishing the first half with 67% possession. The same problem remained, however. Could they find a way through.

Emmanuel Sabbi had three good chances to break the deadlock, but was denied each time by the Dallas defence.

Osaze Urhoghide stopped him with a last ditch tackle in the 11th minute, before Michael Collodi kept him at bay with saves in the 15th and 18th minutes.

Collodi game up big again to keep out Ali Ahmed in the 35th minute and Dallas almost shocked the ‘Caps in a rare foray forward two minutes later. Yohei Takaoka came flying off his line to clear a long ball, but failed to make contact allowing Bernard Kamungo to get past him with the goal gaping. The Dallas wing back completely sclaffed his shot, with better options awaiting the cut back.

The breakthrough finally came for Vancouver in the 43rd minute.

Continuing to move the ball around the Dallas box, Sebastian Berhalter played the ball out to Ahmed, who whipped an inviting cross in for Rios to rise up and bullet home.

Dallas finished the first half without a single shot on target, and it already felt that a quick second for Vancouver and it was very much game over.

Despite Dallas needing a goal to get back into the game, it was pure Vancouver domination in the second half as well.

Sabbi drove a shot just past the far post in the 58th minute, but a minute later the winger was off again, dancing through the Dallas defence before being brought down in the box by Urhoghide. Referee Victor Rivas pointed to the spot and up stepped Müller, who buried the penalty with aplomb.

After that it was just wave after wave of Whitecaps attack, with their best chance to add to the scoring coming in the 63rd minute when Ahmed blasted a Müller cross high and over the bar.

A third was to come for Vancouver, seven minutes from time.

Rayan Elloumi held off the attention of Lalas Abubakar, who was very keen to take home his jersey as a postgame souvenir, hitting the byeline and cutting the ball back for Cabrera to slide in and tuck the ball past Collodi.

Collodi came up big for his side again two minutes later, superbly snatching the ball out of the air to deny Andres Cubas with a sprawling save. And the Dallas keeper wasn’t finished, preventing Jayden Nelson getting on the scoresheet at his near post in stoppage time.

An absolutely dominating performance from the Whitecaps. Can Dallas be as bad two games running? They have to go for it at home next Saturday, and the danger for them doing that is that they leave themselves exposed, lose their defensive shape, and get taken apart. An extra week off to get banged up players fit and healthy would be very much welcomed by the ‘Caps and on the basis of the performance tonight, you wouldn’t bet against them going to Texas and doing just that.

FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 3 – 0 FC Dallas

ATT: 32,066

VANCOUVER: 1.Yohei Takaoka; 28.Tate Johnson, 6.Ralph Priso, 12.Belal Halbouni, 18.Édier Ocampo; 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 20.Andrés Cubas (23.Joedrick Pupe 86’); 22.Ali Ahmed (25.Ryan Gauld 76’), 13.Thomas Müller (7.Jayden Nelson 86’), 11.Emmanuel Sabbi (17.Kenji Cabrera 76’); 14.Daniel Ríos (75.Rayan Elloumi 66’) [Substitutes not used: 32.Isaac Boehmer, 26.J.C. Ngando, 27.Giuseppe Bovalina, 59.Jeevan Badwal]

DALLAS: 30.Michael Collodi; 18.Shaq Moore, 25.Sebastien Ibeagha (24.Joshua Torquato 66’), 3.Osaze Urhoghide, 77.Bernard Kamungo (99.Enes Sall 80’); 55.Kaick Ferreira (5.Lalas Abubakar HT), 17.Ramiro; 11.Anderson Julio (20.Pedrinho 67’), 12.Christian Cappis, 28.Samuel Sarver (23.Logan Farrington HT); 9.Petar Musa [Substitutes not used: 1.Maarten Paes, 8.Sebastian Lletget, 19.Paxton Pomykal, 32.Nolan Norris]

SCORING SUMMARY:
43’ – VAN – Daniel Ríos (Ali Ahmed, Sebastian Berhalter)
60’ – VAN – Thomas Müller (penalty kick)
83’ – VAN – Kenji Cabrera (Rayan Elloumi)

STATS:
Possession: VAN 62% – DAL 38%
Shots: VAN 22 – DAL 0
Shots on Goal: VAN 10 – DAL 0
Saves: VAN 0 – DAL 7
Fouls: VAN 18 – DAL 7
Offsides: VAN 2 – DAL 4
Corners: VAN 10 – DAL 1

CARDS:
73’ – DAL – Ramiro
89’ – DAL – Enes Sali
90’+4 – VAN – Tate Johnson
90’+6 – DAL – Osaze Urhoghide

REACTION:

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

JESPER SORENSEN

On the atmosphere:

“I think it was unbelievable. I loved it and I know the players did as well. Coming in and watching all the flags and the excitement and really all the support, all the love of the team, it was such a great game and such a great atmosphere. We really wanted to pay [them] back and I think we paid back well on the pitch so I think that was really great.”

On the constant pace of attack:

“Sometimes the ball goes in and sometimes it doesn’t. Also, their goalie [Michael Collodi] has had two great games, and done very well. So, it’s a little bit frustrating, but on the other hand, I would rather that we have the chances and we are dominating, and we are playing well, with the right rhythm of the game instead of not. But yes, we were talking sometimes on the bench [that] hopefully, we have to also profit from this very dominant performance. But it came, and also, all credit to the players – they were never frustrated, they never showed any frustration – they worked hard and they kept working. And then eventually, it came.”

WINGER EMMANUEL SABBI

On drawing the penalty kick:

“I saw the defender pressuring up close to me, and so that made me take my first touch inside and from there, I just saw the space and I attacked the space and when he closed up, I wanted to get a better chance to look at goal so I cut in and it was kind of a blur. I think there were three, four defenders, so I kind of just waited to see if something would open up. And then, the contact and I [was taken] down.”

On the atmosphere:

“It was amazing. It was very loud today, so it was great for us. It continued to give us energy throughout the game. As you can see, when we have a crowd like that, it was nearly impossible to lose, so we thank them and we appreciate them.”

MIDFIELDER THOMAS MÜLLER

On his team’s performance tonight:

“It’s 3-0. We controlled the game from the beginning, that was our plan. To get the control, to have this fine balance between attacking – being ready for the second phase balls, being ready for also for their counterattacks. They [FC Dallas] have good strength, especially with their deep runs. But we controlled them well, we shared the ball well. We have an amazing crowd here in BC Place. Yeah, I think it was a strong performance. But you know as it is in sports, it was just part one, we now have one win in the books. We need a second.”

On his evaluation of the team:

“If I would be not a player now, if I would be an expert and I see this team with this dominance, I would say that this team has a strong bond. You see that they work together. But now I’m a player again – and I don’t share anymore secrets now. But it’s not secrets, you can see if you rewatch this game. We feel quite comfortable as a group, as a whole club, also the connection with the fans is growing and growing. So we are ready for more, and I want to have fun with these guys.”

FC DALLAS

HEAD COACH ERIC QUILL

On the match:

“They outplayed us in every phase of the game. They were obviously very motivated, and from what happened last week, they beat us and we have to bounce back, and we have to be better. We can do this. But we got humbled tonight.”

On moving on:

“Our mentality was missing for whatever reason that is. We’ll take a look at it, figure out as a staff where we got it wrong. We have to get back to that win or go home mentality. So credit to Vancouver, in their quality, in the win tonight, but we’re going to come after them on Saturday night.”

On Ramiro:

“Ramiro gives his heart and soul to this team. He started at wing back and then went on to play in the midfield, so he’s a versatile engine for us. This is a guy with a mentality of sliding around and giving his heart and soul, he never lets up. That’s who he is every day of his life. I’m proud of him, but as a team, we just got to be better. We weren’t good enough tonight.”

MIDFIELDER CHRISTIAN CAPPIS

On tonight’s performance:

“Obviously that was not what we wanted to do today. I don’t think it’s what we expect from ourselves. So we have to look at ourselves, look inward, and get ready, because we have a win or go home game next weekend at home, and we need to show up because we can’t do what we did today and expect to win.”

On playing in front of the home crowd next game:

“I think that there’s no better place for us to turn around than at home, to give our fans what they’ve been supporting us for all season. It’s not always been easy. But we’re going to show up, play for them, play for each other. And if we do what we can do and play to our level, I have no doubt that we can get a result at home.”