Columnist image

TSN Soccer Analyst

| Archive

Formations

Both teams made two changes from their last games and for the Whitecaps both were forced with the suspended pair of Kekuta Manneh and Diego Rodriguez replaced by Pa Modou Kah and Erik Hurtado.

Derby game

History has taught us that these two teams do not like each other very much and much of the first half played out that way. The match struggled to gain any kind of identity with both sides struggling to keep the ball until Darlington Nagbe started to take over the game in a central area. Portland are not a side known for 4-4-2 and although they started that way the system became very fluent and in possession. Nagbe moved centrally to add an extra man in midfield while the visitors got their width from their full backs. 

The Good

Nagbe was outstanding and easily Portland's best player in an all-around good display from Caleb Porter's side. Portland did more than enough to get points from this match and could easily have taken all three. In the end they left with nothing but at this stage of the season, missing a number of key men, Porter should be happy with the performance despite the result. Porter recognized that the game could be controlled in wide areas. Nico Mezquida, who played on the left, and Hurtado are both dangerous players on the break but are not players who can dictate possession, keep the ball and bring other players into play (more on that shortly). That allows opponents to push on and challenge them defensively because too often giveaways that prompt attacks happened far away from Portland's goal. Alvas Powell and Jorge Villafana took over the game - with Nagbe, in the first half - and that's how the match continued throughout the next 45 minutes. Villafana would lead the game with 86 touches and Powell, just behind Liam Ridgewell and Nagbe, was fourth with 79. For all of their possession it should be noted that Portland didn't create anywhere near the amount of chances they should have based on the amount of final third entries. Through width, they attempted 16 first half crosses and in the end had 41 in total, compared to just six from the Whitecaps. With Nagbe central and the full backs high the front three of Wallace, Fanendo Adi and Maxi Urruti didn't click and it was only when Urruti was removed that true combinations up top could be created, with Adi deservedly getting the equalizer nine minutes from time.

The Whitecaps, however, once again found some late magic to take the victory and another new signing earned his money quickly with Robert Earnshaw needing just one chance to score the winner. Two of Earnshaw's greatest assets have always been one-on-one situations and an ability to get up to the speed of the game instantly when required. Both were needed when he was sent in all alone by a fantastic pass from Pedro Morales and the rest was history. Whitecaps boss Carl Robinson, who it should be noted is turning into a magnificent recruiter with his signings, deserves real credit for the late substitution, bringing on Earnshaw for Hurtado with just three minutes left at a time when his team were under tremendous pressure. The move forced Morales into a slightly wider area where he picked up the ball and was finally able to get in between the lines. Earnshaw did what all great strikers do, going with the deepest defender, in this case Ridgewell, whose partner Nat Borchers, pushed up and allowed the Welshman to drift into the space to win the match in stoppage time.

The Bad

Portland head home shaking their heads in disbelief at how they lost the game, but it came down to two mistakes that were punished. Nico Mezquida's first half free kick should have been saved and the miscommunication between the two centre-backs cost them a point late on. Porter goes home pleased with a performance and not a result and Robinson will do the opposite. It will be interesting to see if he starts to think about a possible move away from 4-2-3-1 in the next couple of home games. Vancouver are at their best when they create triangles around the field that provide their ball treasurers key outlets to play with and off. Too often this season, though, they have looked like a team of six at the back and a team of four going forward. The full-backs rarely got forward on this game and Morales got deeper and deeper the more Portland dominated possession.  This gives their opponents too much room on the ball, particularly in midfield where they are not pressured tightly enough. This continues to raise the biggest question in this side around the role of the 'sixth man'. Robinson started the season with Russell Teibert in that role and Gershon Koffie started against Orlando and Portland. Both are good players but neither have a lock on that position for a reason. The introduction of teenage debutant Deybi Flores gave us a glimpse of how different the team looks when penetration comes from a central area. Not only does this mean attacks can start deeper, in a more controlled fashion (too many Whitecaps possessions are played to a member of the '3' in a 4231 and quickly stopped because they are rushed) but it also gives central midfielders another option meaning more space, in a forward position, can open up for Morales. It is a fascinating conundrum for Robinson and his coaching staff, who have proven that they have found a way to be difficult to break down, leading MLS in clean sheets since the start of last season. However, with everyone available, should they play a 4-1-4-1 or Morales in the 2 of a 4-2-3-1 it does mean they could be exposed but it is hard to imagine them being more exposed than they were in this match despite playing with a double pivot. This could also help their wide players get more involved in the game. Hurtado held the ball up well when required but he and Mezquida were too easy to defend against and ultimately helped Portland take over the game on the flanks.

Individual Brilliance

Morales had struggled to get involved in this game but one moment of brilliance from the Chilean allowed the Whitecaps to win another game of football. Through four games that's where Robinson's team are at the moment. Hit by injuries and suspensions to key players early in the season it is clear many relationships across the team need work (19 players have already played MLS minutes) but the team is finding ways to stay in games and then relying on individual moments of brilliance to pick up points. It is this kind of trait that requires true consistency from big players. Ousted was magnificent once again in this game and isn't just one of the most underrated goalkeepers in the league but is one of the most underrated players in MLS. Kendall Waston was very good in defence on a day that Matias Laba struggled in front of him. Much of this wasn't Laba's doing as it is clear that when the team struggles to keep the ball the three in front of him can be passengers from a defensive point of view. The Argentine can't do it all and was absolutely magnificent last week in Orlando, when the team was up against it helping them across the line on a key midpoint relay leg before one of their magicians, in this case Rivero, took the baton and crushed the opponent at the end. Remember, with the scores level in the 89th minute, Orlando and Portland had great chances to win their games against Vancouver before ultimately losing them. Rivero didn't score in an MLS game for the first time but his impact was felt again. His first touch came on eight minutes when he glided towards the penalty area and won a free kick when fouled by Diego Chara. Four minutes later he picked the ball up again and dribbled around a midfielder, this time, George Fochive who was surprised by Rivero's desire to go on his left foot this time and was forced, again, to foul the striker. From that free kick, Mezquida made it 1-0.

What's Next  

The Whitecaps stay home for the next ten days as they prepare to play LA Galaxy at home next Saturday and then welcome Columbus Crew to BC Place on Wednesday April 8th (both games at 10pm et/7pm pt. live on TSN).