There are some games of football that you just need to get through.
And the visit of FC Cincinnati felt very much like that for the both the players and supporters of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
A Canadian Cup hangover, key player missing through injury or rest and an opponent who live and die by single goal victories combined to make this one of the less memorable games of the season.
For most of the game both teams were relying on half chances to get near to the scoresheet but, in the end, it took a moment of quality and a moment of stupidity to give the game two goals it probably didn’t deserve.
For the Whitecaps it was a case of three at the back once again taking more than it gives in terms of offensive output and when the go to creative move is a Veselinovic long ball it’s clear that things aren’t truly going to plan.
But on the bright side Sergio Cordova had his best performance since his signing (that’s not a huge achievement to be fair) and there were signs that his pace in behind a defence could be a useful asset, especially on the road.
It’s not often that an MLS team looks forward to their travels but, in this case, it feels as though the Whitecaps have used up so much emotional energy in the recent home stand that the change of environment will be as useful as the rest they will get before resuming their season in ten days time.
The success of that season will now hinge on how they perform on those travels.
If they can play with the freedom they’ve shown they are able to do at BC Place they’ll pick up enough points to comfortably get into the playoffs. If they let the road get into their heads they’ll struggle.
The first half of the season has been far more promising that it initially appeared to be but MLS (like many of our lives) is remembered and often defined by the manner of the ending.
The second half of the campaign starts now.
Time for the Soccer Shorts player ratings!
Takaoka-5, Laborda-5.5, Veselinovoc-5, Brown-5, Raposo-4.5, Martins-5, Cubas-5.5, Berhalter-4.5, Vite-5.5*, Cordova-5, White-4
Soccer Shorts (The Director's Cut) 