Chicago Fire vs Vancouver Whitecaps Post-Match Reaction: Great start to this 7 road trip

Road trip

This was the 2nd game of this 7 game road trip, and the Whitecaps gained 6 out of a possible 6 points on the road trip thus far, winning in Portland and now in Chicago away from home. This is the 3rd away win of the season, which is already more than last season where they got 2 away wins out of 17. Vancouver has grabbed 3 wins out of 11 away games, with 5 more games left on this 7 games away from home, safe to say that this is a good start for the Whitecaps. Some fans were scared of this road trip, and the end result of this away trip, but now less of a worry for the Whitecaps, as you've already won 2 games out of 2, if they can win 2 out of 5 on the remainder of the road trip, then that's 4 wins in 7 games on the road trip, which will be a decent result. The pressure is a bit freed by Vancouver as before the start of the road trip, I believe the Whitecaps fans would've been pleased with 3 wins, now you are already two thirds of the way from the expectations of your fans, and I believe if you only win 1 out of the next 5, you will still be in a spot, where if you get things done at home, you will get a automatic playoff spot. And as mentioned, you always look to build off of wins, and this game the defence is something to be remembered about as they keep their first clean sheet since May 24 in all competitions and May 20, in MLS play.

Standings

After the 1-0 feisty affair against Chicago, the Whitecaps jump up 2 spots from where they started before the match, they went from being 7th to being 5th after Matchday 29 in Major League Soccer. With 9 games remaining for the Caps in the regular season, if they keep up this form on this road trip and in the rest of the season, it isn't unrealistic that the Whitecaps finish in 2nd place as you're only 3 points off, current 2nd seed in the Western Conference LAFC, and you do have a game in hand with most of the MLS teams, and you have two games in hand with Seattle. If the other results went your way, then you could be 3rd place right now, but Seattle won away from home, and Houston won. But on the other hand, some results did go your way as San Jose lost at home to the Galaxy, and Real Salt Lake was defeated by Portland. So mixed results in the other games, will make you finish as 5th after Matchday 29 in the MLS.

Clean sheet

It's the first time in over 3 months where the Whitecaps have kept a clean sheet, the last time the Whitecaps kept a clean sheet before this was a 3-0 win against Pacific on May 24, if you only count the MLS competition, you will date back to the 2-0 win versus Seattle on May 20. Now for Yohei Takaoka and the Caps, that drought was broken finally in this game, where they got a 1-0 win against Chicago, as the defence was decent tonight, not too many major chances for Chicago and they kept a clean sheet against Chicago on Wednesday night. Takaoka didn't have to do much tonight, he saved 3 shots, one of them denying Kei Kamara in probably the best chance for Chicago in this game.

Game Recap

It's a midweek MLS match between Vancouver and Chicago.

An early chance for Kei Kamara, as a well through ball by Chicago's Gutierrez, Kei Kamara is potentially through he shoots in on goal, but the precision was right at Takaoka and he saves it.

Now here Richie Laryea plays it through for Ryan Gauld, Gauld cuts it back in with his right foot to Brian White, and Brian White slides it barely past Brady and the goal line, as Brady got a touch to the shot and the second effort to keep it out was good but is has already barely went past the goal line, and the Whitecaps take the lead in the 19th minute.

Now it's a touch by White that falls for Gauld, Gauld with some space and he runs to inside the 18 and shoots it with the outside of the boot, and it was saved by Chris Brady.

Here is Raposo he slips it in for Gauld, Ryan Gauld he touches it around Brady and he shoots it and it hits the outside of the post. It was a very tight angle for Gauld to squeeze into.

Gauld on the left flank, he again plays it into Brian White, and White slides again, but this time Chris Brady with a great save. Almost a identical setup from the first goal, but this time it wasn't a goal.

It's halftime, and it should be a 2 or 3 goal lead for the Caps, but they've only gotten one in, it seems like this has been a story of the Whitecaps this season though, but it's happening yet again, where Vancouver has all the chances in the world but can't finish them.

Now into the 52nd minute, Doumbia shoots it, it takes a awkward deflection off Brian White I believe, and it hits the crossbar and it stays out.

Not much happened between the 52nd and the 87th minute, but here in the 88th minute, it was a long throw for Chicago, a Fire player throwed the ball in and it lands for Kamara he had to jump to the side to get his head to it, and it was a simple save for Takaoka.

And that's the final whistle, it's a 1-0 away win for the Whitecaps, with Brian White's goal bein the decider for this game.

Man Of The Match

While most people will say Brian White who scored, or Ryan Gauld who seted him up for that goal. I'll give the Man Of The Match for the Whitecaps to Tristan Blackmon as the Whitecaps finally kept a clean sheet, and I believe out of the defence he performed the best. As he felt very calm and composed during the game, as he didn't make many mistakes, he blocked 2 shots and he won 2 tackles. It felt like in this game, you never really had to concern when Blackmon has the ball, as he has great IQ in what to do in this game. He won both of his ground duels and his aerial duel, thus why I'm picking Tristan Blackmon for Man Of The Match.