Whitecaps create chances, but can’t score in 1-0 loss to Colorado

Colorado went ahead in the 43rd minute on an own-goal by Whitecaps defender Marcel de Jong.

The goal came off a scramble which started when Rapids forward Yannick Boli hit the cross bar with a shot from the right side of the six-yard box. Whitecaps goalkeeper Brian Rowe made a diving stop on a shot from Joe Mason, but the rebound hit de Jong and rolled into the net.

“One slip up and that’s what killed us this game,” said de Jong.

“It was a magnificent save by Brian. It went off my shin and into the goal. It was a bit unlucky. We should have won this game.”

There were boos from the crowd of 21,038 at BC Place Stadium as the Whitecaps left the field.

It was the second-consecutive defeat for the Whitecaps (6-7-5), who have gone two games without a goal. Vancouver is 2-2-0 in the last four games and 2-2-4 in the last eight.

Vancouver holds the sixth and final playoff spot in the MLS’s Western Conference with 23 points. Just five points separate the fourth place Portland Timbers from the eight-place L.A. Galaxy.

The Whitecaps mustered plenty of chances but failed to make good on their opportunities.

Striker Kei Kamara came close four times.

Just five minutes into match he took a cross from de Jong and headed the ball just wide. Later Howard made a leaping save to send a Kamara header over top of the net. In the second half Kamara headed a shot into Howard’s arms and banged another off the post.

One of Vancouver’s best chances came in the 28th minute. Winger Alphonso Davies made a couple nice moves with the ball, then sent a cross into the centre of the box where Nicolas Mezquida got off a shot that Howard stopped.

Head coach Carl Robinson said his team deserved a better fate.

“Sometimes in football you don’t get what you deserve,” said Robinson. “We didn’t play well last week. We were awful, we got what we deserved.

“Today we didn’t get what we deserved. The performance of the players was very good, very strong. What we need to be better at, and it’s a reoccurring theme, is stop giving away bad goals.”

The struggling Rapids (4-9-3) have two wins and draw in their last three games after losing eight straight matches. The Rapids are 1-5-1 on the road and, dating back to last year, had gone nine games away from home without a victory (0-8-1).

Colorado defender Deklan Wynne said the Rapids refused to crack under pressure.

“We had to fend for out lives but I thought we did magnificent at the end,” he said. “We let them have a few chances, but things went our way and we got the goal.

“We’re just happy to come away with three points. It’s away from home too, which is a key bonus.”

Wynne heaped praise on his goalkeeper.

“He had a few important saves,” said Wynne. “We know he’s a really important player for us. He stepped up again today.”

Captain Kendall Waston started at centre back for Vancouver after returning home Friday following Costa Rica being eliminated from World Cup play. Waston was replaced by midfielder Jordon Mutch to start the second half after his groin began to stiffen.

NOTES: Whitecaps midfielder Cristian Techera, who has six goals this season, served the first game of a three-match suspension handed out by the league for offensive language during Vancouver’s loss 4-0 loss to Philadelphia June 23. … Vancouver defender Jose Aja and forward Yordy Reyna also both missed the game after being given red cards in last week’s loss. … Prior to kick off 15 members of Canada’s 1986 FIFA World Cup team were recognized. …The 17-year-old Davies has been named to the MLS all-star team that will play Juventus FC Aug. 1 in Atlanta.

Jim Morris, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Whitecaps create chances, but can’t score in 1-0 loss to Colorado

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