Whitecaps vs D.C United Post Match Reaction: Vancouver Whitecaps drop detrimental points

Initial Thoughts

My initial thoughts are really simple, we gave up two goals that are unaffordable at this stage of the season. We were unfortunate not to bag another goal as I believed we had so many great build up plays including a 2v1 between Laryea and White which I thought was a big waste and very poor end product by the Whitecaps on that play. Ali Ahmed when substituted built a spark for a team placed a well aimed shot on net, Bono the D.C goalkeeper made a spectacular stop. It feels like this is the story of the Whitecaps season not able to get the necessary 3 points when you deserved it. Also having the lead two times and also let up two silly goals for the equalizers, easily avoidable by just with better awareness. So I think this has been the key factor for the Whitecaps all season long, just giving up leads extremely easily and always just not being prepared after a goal scored and instead of trying to build the lead they always concede a goal and is unsuccessful defensively as this defending is probably horrific compared to how we thought Vancouver has built a defensive structure. Not able to keep leads and build off the momentum is a huge issue for the Whitecaps.

On a positive note, the Whitecaps can clinch the playoffs on Wednesday as even though the opponents for the final 3 matches are tougher, a win might secure it as if Minnesota lose or draw and LA Galaxy lose or draw then Vancouver will be locked in and clinching a playoff spot and that basically means around 4 points in those final 3 games will most likely clinch a playoff spot. It is very possible as Minnesota and the Galaxy are facing difficult opponents, so next match will be huge for us with this hard earned point helping the circumstances and scenarios. The Caps are now tied with the points total of the 2022 campaign and it is always refreshing to outscore your points previously. Our head coach is indifferent compared to the other coaches as he doesn't care about the seeding all he wants is to clinch a playoff spot and then look forward from there, so the odds are in favour of the Whitecaps as they probably just have to grab a few more points to clinch a playoff spot if the tams facing Galaxy and Minnesota do us a favour. That is a relief for Whitecaps fans that were concerned as they will just need around one more win and some slip ups from the others to qualThe Whitecaps just have to keep composure now something that they were lacking in this one to me and has loads of room for improvement the end product.

Explanation

There's no excuses for the Whitecaps now here at the end of the season, as it has happened several times where the Whitecaps aren't winning the matches they are supposed to win. It is really annoying and frustrating for Vanni and the supporters as this is another one of these examples of that important dropped points, as it has happened way to many times than wanted for the Whitecaps. Maybe 1 or 2 times is alright, nearly optimal. But I would argue almost 4-6 times where we were the better team and deserved the victory but they drop important points. I can list 4 matches that immediately stand out as unnecessary or unlucky dropped points where we deserved to win, this match, San Jose, earlier this season against Colorado at BC Place and the season opener against Real Salt Lake. Those are the 4 matches which could've placed us already in the playoffs and in a optimal position. Beginning this season it felt like Brian White was not finishing his chances, but now his capitalization seems on point, while now it seems like after the departure of Julian Gressel it is only the White and Gauld show while the rest of the team isn't providing the chances and the creativity required to take the load off White and Gauld a little bit. It's players like Laryea and Ahmed failing to convert heavy chances in this pivotal match. So there are multiple reasons why the Whitecaps struggle to win matches convincingly as they say, or win matches that they should on paper easily get the victory.

BC Place

I was sitting at BC Place and the supporter groups were sizable in this one. As especially the Southside was rocking all night, while Rain City Brigade was also watching intensely. The atmosphere from section 246-254 that side seems to be the side where it was more passionate, and the other side where I was sitting at seemed more quiet. This seems like a positive note for the Whitecaps as the attendance is going upwards, if the Whitecaps can consistently get 19K in that'll still be below average but it will certainly be enough and not having to worry about getting the stadium and club to fund. It is fascinating how the Whitecaps can produce a huge crowd for their standards once in a while, now they'll have to figure out how do they do it more consistently as the potential of this stadium is there, and I feel like if the Whitecaps can go on a entertaining playoff run, then more fans will join and come back from before. It will be interesting to see how the Whitecaps approach the supporters to coming back to reinforce the attendance and crowd it was from previous years. As there are games where if it is a decently big occasion fans will show up. I feel like upwards is the way that it will slowly go as this game is certainly going in the correct direction for the Whitecaps.

Game Recap

Early on for the Whitecaps as Laryea is dribbling forward, can't get the cutback and then it falls for Gauld after the deflection just inside the area flicks it towards White first time and Brian White heads it home to make BC Place rocking.

Vancouver just playing around the back Vite just plays it back to Yohei Takaoka who passes it to Blackmon but he slips just on the edge of the box and DC United with the pressure and Ku-DiPietro who capitalizes the mistake and slides it, Takaoka went for a stop but he passes it for Benteke who just taps it into the empty goal. A huge mistake by the Whitecaps, Vite played it to Takaoka where he was being pressed heavily and it didn't help the Blackmon slipped on the BC Place turf.

Then the Whitecaps on a counter attack and it is a 2v1 Laryea and White vs a DC United defender abut Laryea over hits the pass and White could catch up but not in a optimal position and that major opportunity didn't even go on target.

Halftime and not much action along the rest first half.

The second half starts and the Whitecaps are on action right away as some opportunities in the opening minutes and Laryea goes wide on a tight angle and takes a shot near post that was covered up well by Bono.

A few moments after the shot by Laryea, Berhalter is wide down the flank and cuts it in but it was weak and taken by the DC United defender but White sneakily retrieves back the ball and goes down inside the box as he got contact by Pedro Santos who interferes with Brian White's knee and initially the referee Drew Fischer wasn't convinced, but after a VAR check he has overturned his decision.

Ryan Gauld is the person who steps up against Bono and he slots it down the bottom left corner as Bono dived the right way but couldn't keep it out.

After that, only a few moments later a ball popped up and controlled well by DC United a few moves by Durkin does well to maneuver the Vancouver defence swings it out wide to Ku-DiPietro who swings a ball in deflected to the outside the box and Klich tries a world class volley and gets it perfectly inside the far post. It seems to be deflected by a white shirt and in it was Veselinovic's shoulder which impacted the shot.

Benteke gets beyond Veselinovic and plays a driven cross or a cutback and Pirani left in tons of space but he places it wide of the right post as it goes wide with a huge opportunity as he was wide open had a lot of time to think and shoot but the execution was off from Pirani.

Now nearing the ending of this pivotal match where both teams are desperate for 3 points. White out in a wide position plays it back to Adekugbe who plays a lovely position to put Ahmed in a great position on a angle that's acceptable and is unmarked but his shot was well aimed but denied by Bono.

Maybe the last half opportunity the ball by Adekugbe and it was swarmed inside the box and somehow falls for Raposo as he was just a spectator of the battle inside the box but his shot lacked the power and was blocked in front.

That'll do it and it is a 2-2 draw inside of BC Place where both teams were hungry and wanted the 3 points which would have done them amazingly but they will have to split the points.

Man of the match

It is really difficult to choose between Ryan Gauld and Brian White as both players helped generate two goals. These two are right now are combining like PB&J, with both players being again great this game. It is just a matter of when does the other acquisitions and player steps up, as currently it seems like it is only Gauld and White doing all the contributing. It is remarkable how these two has contributed to the Caps success this season and this duo has a lot more time we would hope. As they are so cohesive and the chemistry between them two is unreal and a huge factor in this team. But for me I think Brian White slightly edges out Gauld for Man Of The Match for Vancouver as he did a splendid job forcing a collision in the box to get that penalty. The way he battled for the ball there and then getting the contact and the physically proves that his intelligence for the game is increasing as his finishing and composure in key moments, especially for headed has been spectacular as he keeps getting close to that Golden Boot with his consistent goalscoring lately. The header to be fair, was created very well by Gauld and White kept his composure as he beats his defender for the header while always being the the right spot at the right time and his runs I thought was a really underrated part about his night, we saw him down in a unfamiliar wide position where he just didn't panic and placed a safe pass. Now he tallied his 14th goal of the season in the 2nd minute of the match to set the tempo and make BC Place loud and ongoing early. Really impressed by Brian White tonight, as I thought his effort was there I want his pressure to work sometimes as his effort in that department I thought was pretty good, while drawing that contact for the penalty that put at first put a doubt in the referee's mind, but after a VAR check it was clarified to be a penalty then the header early on that went past Bono deserved Man Of The Match for me.