If there’s a defining feature of this Whitecaps season it’s their inability to control a game when in the lead.
That’s probably a feature rather than a bug of the way Sartini wants his team to play but the 2-2 tie against DC United was a textbook example of a game that Vancouver let slip away from their control, not once but twice.
The almost traditional early goal was followed by the equally traditional inability to build on it and allow an equalizer against the run of play. A pattern that was repeated in the second-half.
Maybe the hope was that signing three Canadian internationals would imbue a sense of calm when needed? But, thus far, that hasn’t materialized with none of the three making a significant contribution (other than being much needed bodies on the field).
It could even be argued that their arrival has given Sartini selection decisions that he didn’t really need to make. Laryea as right back, wing back, right sided midfielder, left sided wing back? None of those options have produced the end results required from a player purported to be heading for a DP contract nest season.
So, once again, it fell to Gauld and White to provide the clinical touch with Gauld, once again, being the main creative outlet and White, once again, demonstrating that his overall hold up play has improved exponentially this year.
The caveat to this has something to do with putting all their attacking eggs in one basket and the late arrival of Ali Ahmed showed that having a midfielder who can also offer a goal threat makes the Whitecaps far more difficult to defend against.
Still, a tie wasn’t a disaster given that all the teams around them seemed to tie as well and that means one less game for those below them to overtake the Whitecaps.
It also means one less game for the Whitecaps to get the one win they probably need to ensure a postseason berth and the two wins they probably need to ensure a favorable match up.
They just need to learn to take a deep breath every now and then.
Time for the Soccer Shorts player ratings!
Takaoka-4.5, Berhalter-5, Laryea-4.5, Brown-5.5, Veselinovic-4.5, Blackmon-3, Cubas-5, Schopf-4.5, Vite-4.5, Gauld-6.5*, White-6.5 (Adekugbe-5, Raposo-5)
Soccer Shorts (The Director's Cut) 