Vancouver Whitecaps v Atlanta United – The Story In Pictures
If you were putting money on the opening scorers for each team before this one, the chances of picking two defenders from the array of attacking options of offer would have been slim.
But it was the defenders who led the way and showed the strikers how to do it at BC Place on Saturday afternoon as Vancouver Whitecaps saw off Atlanta United with a come from behind 3-1 victory.
Greg Garza had opened the scoring for Atlanta just seven minutes in, ghosting in unmarked at the back post to tuck away a Julian Gressel cross. But two goals in the last 15 minutes of the half from Kendall Waston had Vancouver ahead at the break and it was a lead they weren’t to give up.
Fredy Montero/Tim Parker (delete as you saw it) got the crucial killer third for the ‘Caps in the 68th minute, giving Vancouver three, perhaps unexpected, points and moving them up to 5th in the Western Conference standings ahead of their upcoming bye week, six points off first place but with two games in hand on Sporting KC.
AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk was there to capture all the action before, during and after the game. Here’s his “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].
Respect to the travelling Atlanta fans
Your Whitecaps starting XI
The ‘Caps get off to a horrible start when Greg Garza is allowed to ghost in unmarked at the back post to bury a Julian Gressel cross in the 7th minute
And he fires off his jetpack apparently
But anything an Atlanta defender can do, a Vancouver one can do much better, as Kendall Waston stays up after an attack and gets the ball on the edge of the box
Showing nice control to bring the ball down, and show some of the striking skills he used at Saprissa
Firing past Alec Kann in the 31st minute to level things up and send Costa Ricans and Vancouverites into a frenzy
But there was more to come, this time from his head, a minute before half time, when Waston rises to powerfully head home a Cristian Techera corner
Should this be the ‘Caps new striking tandem?!
As the ‘Caps push for the killer third in the second half, Fredy Montero heads narrowly over
And Waston nearly grabs his hat-trick heading just past the right post
Before Tim Parker’s goalbound header may or may not have cross the goalline in the 68th minute
Kann thinks he’s kept it out
But Montero blasts the rebound high into the net, getting the credit for the goal, and it’s 3-1 Whitecaps
And the Southsiders are in full voice
Confusion abounds later in the half as Montero is sent crashing in his own box and referee Robert Sibiga points to the spot for a penalty before realising he’s got confused as to which way the ‘Caps are shooting!
While at the other end, Waston can’t believe he wasn’t awarded a penalty after being fouled
And it wouldn’t be an all-round Waston performance if he didn’t have a booking along the way too!
Robbo says Tata to Martino
While Brek Shea does 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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