There was alot going on at Swangard Stadium as the Whitecaps prepared to take on their Canadian rivals Toronto Lynx. First of all, the game would be broadcast on national television. Secondly, the Whitecaps would be welcoming some key players back from injury. Thirdly, the memory of a tight 1-0 loss to the same Lynx a little while ago would be brewing in the players' heads. So the recipe was all there, including another gorgeous evening for soccer in Vancouver. It's too bad that the game never really lived up to the billing, as the home team had to be content with a share of the points in a rather drab 1-1 draw.
It's all a bit technical these days- neat passing movements, and precise positioning. Rather than blasting their way through, the Whitecaps are content to build up slowly, side to side, and look for openings to slice into. But when you play a technical game it doesn't really matter how well you play if you lack the killer instinct, and that very thing would eventually prove costly.
Perhaps an omen arrived in the 21st minute when Dave Morris pulled up lame on a seemingly harmless play at the sideline going for a clearing header. He hit the ground in some real pain and was eventually replaced. The resulting twisted ankle would conspire against the team once again.
The game started brightly enough, and there were a few encouraging moments. Jason Jordan took on the defense at every opportunity, and was quite willing to play directly at goal, but all too often the chances were mopped up by the well-organized Lynx defence. The Whitecaps were the better team for a while but the opening goal, though well-deserved, seemed to wake up the sleeping Lynx. However the visitors took a while to wake up at the start, and were perhaps lucky that the 'Caps didn't bury a chance earlier. Tired legs were probably responsible for some of the lethargy from the visitors, but they were overall content to sit back and wait for an opening. The opening would be a long time coming, but the Lynx were opportunists and deserved the equalizer.
They would have to deal with Jordan first. The opening would come from the Whitecaps first corner kick of the evening in the 23rd minute. Alfredo Valente took the ball and delivered a high floater that went over everybody. Toronto keeper Theo Zagar flapped uselessly at the ball in an unusual blunder and the ball fell directly at Jordan who only had to control the ball and slot it home. The goal had the promise of more to come as the Whitecaps had pretty much controlled the game to that point, but it was the Lynx who ended up playing the more inspired game for the duration of the half. They always seemed to have the extra man in midfield, and it was the Whitecaps that were chasing the ball around. But the visitors never really showed anything dangerous at the crucial moments. They were playing their third game in four nights to be fair, but other than Cincinnatti discard Ryan Lucas, nobody looked like being able to put the ball past Whitecaps keeper Jim Larkin.
Larkin himself was a surprise starter. After a couple of shaky games against the Sounders early in the season, Larkin lost his spot to rookie Alex Marques who had started the last 16 games. It showed a little, as his kicking game was rather adventurous in the early going. He settled down though, and other than the equalizer, wasn't really tested over the course of the game. One weakness still remains, though, and that is a slight hesitancy in taking the ball off the cross. He is a good shot stopper, though, and to be fair the keeper spot hasn't really been a downfall of the Whitecaps this year.
By the time the first half ended the visitors looked slightly more likely to snatch a goal, and they did right after the restart. Lucas was the recipient of some sloppy coverage in the middle of the Vancouver box as two 'Caps defenders got their signals crossed as to who would cover Lucas and he took a feed from Kojic and tapped home from in close on 48 minutes.The Whitecaps looked a bit down when they lost the lead and the equalizing goal seemed to give them the shot in the arm that was needed against a stubborn and resolute Toronto squad. But in the end, there was nothing to be had from this game that was at times tense, at times sloppy, and really not that well played. Vancouver had more clear cut chances, but as I mentioned earlier, that lack of a killer instinct when near the goal was costly.
Probably the one play that summed up the evening occured just on the stroke of halftime. The Whitecaps had worked the ball upfield nicely and a real chance was presented to Niall Thompson who found himself all alone in front of goal from about 10 yards. He had the chance handed to him and as he fell his leg swung agonizingly over top of the ball which ended up harmlessly in the arms of a grateful Zagar.
But maybe a silver lining can be had in all of this: Chris Craveiro, Paul Dailly, and Oliver Heald all returned from injury. It's been a difficult campaign this year with the huge glut of injuries that seem to happen on a weekly basis. Right now, I think the Whitecaps would be grateful for a few weeks of fielding a full lineup more than one game at a time.
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