Vancouver Whitecaps and LA Galaxy play controversial goalless draw as Major League refs cop more criticism

April 2, 2016 Christopher Vose

2016-04-02 Round 5; Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Los Angeles Galaxy.jpg

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2016-04-02 Pedro Morales and Jake Joachim.jpg

2016-04-02 Robbie Rogers and Jordan Harvey.jpg

2016-04-02 Kekuta Manneh and Robbie Rogers.jpg

2016-04-02 Nicolas Mezquida and Nigel de Jong.jpg

2016-04-02 Jelle Van Damme, Nicolas Mezquida, and Baggio Husidic.jpg

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Matías Laba was shown a straight red card in the first half, but the Vancouver Whitecaps still held on for a 0-0 tie with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night.

The midfielder was sent off in the 28th minute for a challenge on Los Angeles counterpart Mike Magee, outside the Whitecaps' penalty area.

Vancouver is now unbeaten in three straight, while Los Angeles picked up its first away point of the season.

After an emotionally charged opening 45 minutes that included Laba's dismissal, the Whitecaps sat back after halftime, down a man, content to soak up the pressure, and try to hit the visitors on the counterattack.

Dubious penalty earns Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo

March 26, 2016 Christopher Vose

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2016-03-26 Cristian Techera, Raul Rodriguez, and Octavio Rivero.jpg

2016-03-26 Octavio Rivero, DaMarcus Beasley, and Joe Willis.jpg

2016-03-26 Pa Modou Kah and David Horst.jpg

2016-03-26 David Gantar, Joe Willis, and Raul Rodriguez.jpg

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2016-03-26 Leonel Miranda and Octavio Rivero.jpg

2016-03-26 Raul Rodriguez and Octavio Rivero.jpg

2016-03-26 Kudo Masato and DaMarcus Beasley.jpg

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2016-03-26 David Ousted and David Horst.jpg

Pedro Morales scored a penalty kick in the 23rd minute, and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Houston Dynamo 1-0 on Saturday night.

The Whitecaps' captain sent goalkeeper Joe Willis the wrong way from the spot, after Dynamo defender Jalil Anibaba was judged to have fouled Vancouver striker Kudo Masto in the box.

Morales currently leads the Major League with four goals in four matches to start the season, all penalties. Vancouver's other two goals also have come from dead-ball situations — off a corner and an indirect free kick.

Post-Match: Vancouver 2, Seattle 1

March 19, 2016 Christopher Vose

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Manager Carl Robinson

Opening statement:

"It was a better performance. This game is a process, and if you put the right performances in, the results will come. I think we tripped ourselves up with mistakes in the first two games and we accepted that. Today was a team performance."

On Seattle's equaliser:

"(There was) lots of character shown today. It's not an easy place to come. We know we have to have a very good game against a very good team. We know they're going to put you under pressure, and they did that today. When they got the goal, it was a set piece, and a fantastic finish on a free kick. But we showed character, and we probably played our best little bit of football after they scored. That shows the team has character."

Montreal Impact beat Vancouver 3-2 in Major League opener

March 6, 2016 Christopher Vose

Montreal Impact beat Vancouver 3-2 in the Major League, with Argentine midfielder Ignacio Piatti the star. The Impact didn't have Designed Player Didier Drogba, but as it turned out, they didn't need him. Piatti scored twice, assisted on a third, and proved the Impact were right to reject the "transfer offer in excess of $5 million" dollars, which they received from an unnamed Latin American club during the close season. "In different moments, he made it look easy," said Montreal manager Mauro Biello. "He's a first-class player, and when he plays like that, it's hard to defend." The first of these moments came in the 19th minute. Piatti effortlessly wove through a Vancouver defence that included Kianz Froese, Christian Bolaños, Fraser Aird, and Kendall Waston. Aird overcommitted, Waston slipped, and Piatti fired it home.

Portland nullified by Vancouver in goalless Quarter-Final first leg

November 1, 2015 Christopher Vose

The Portland Timbers had less than 72 hours to recover from Thursday's epic 120-minute, penalty kick victory over Sporting Kansas City in the preliminary round of the 2015 Anschutz Cup. If they were feeling the effects on Sunday afternoon, it certainly didn't show. The Vancouver Whitecaps started the match without the services of Captain Pedro Morales, former designated player Mauro Rosales, and perennial starter, Pa Modou Kah, although the first two would see action after they replaced Kekuta Manneh and Gershon Koffie, respectively. The match was officially a sell-out, with an announced capacity attendance of 21,144, although there was a large swath of empty seats sprinkled throughout the stadium. The Timbers Army unveiled a Bob and Doug McKenzie-inspired banner in honour of regular goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, but the New Zealander was left out after he developed the flu.

Vancouver 0-0 Dallas: 'Caps Qualification Clarified

October 7, 2015 Christopher Vose

The Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club has once again qualified for the Anschutz Cup, not that you will hear it referred to by that name from the Major League, or many of its media partners. They prefer to use its sponsored, and no doubt focus group approved name, the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. Vancouver's "qualification" comes after their scoreless draw with FC Dallas. The problem is that they have not actually qualified yet. The Whitecaps have assured themselves of at least a spot in the play-in round, where they lost to Dallas in 2014, and Los Angeles in 2012, but they aren't in the Anschutz Cup proper just yet. In a sense, they have qualified for the qualifying round.

Vancouver Whitecaps return to the top of the Major League

August 22, 2015 Christopher Vose

Before the first blow of the whistle, athletes like to warm up. They will run and jump and try to simulate match-like situations. For the Whitecaps, this includes leaping up for headers, crossing the ball to their teammates, and other things that you would naturally expect of a professional footballer. But Dallas, they're a funny lot. When they warm up, they like to fling themselves to the ground. At least two of them practiced that today. We're not making any judgements, but it was quite a peculiar sight to behind. We've never seen anything like it before. Perhaps they were curious about the new turf at BC Place and wanted to test it out for themselves. After seeing that, you might expect a Dallas player to be the first one to hit the ground. But that honour was reserved for Cristian Techera.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Rout Salt Lake

August 8, 2015 Christopher Vose

The 'Caps traditionally start well, have a mid-season dip in form, and improve in the final third of the campaign. It's a tradition that they're on course to replicate this year. The key difference being that their highs have been are higher, and their lows are not nearly as pronounced as in seasons past. In the first third, they finished with a 6-2-3 record, good enough for 20 points. In the second, they were 5-1-5, which dropped them down to 16. And in the third, they've already added 6 from two matches. After tonight's victory, they trail only DC United, who they have a game in hand on. They have conceded the fewest goals, and have the best goal difference. They're flying high, though Sporting Kansas City, with all their games in hand, remain a concern.

Kah of Cascadia

August 1, 2015 Christopher Vose

Seattle is not an easy place to play. They're big on the 12th man, here in the Emerald City. You see it on cars, in shop windows, on t-shirts, flags, scarves, and anything else they can get their little hands on. But the Whitecaps needed to get a result. They needed it for the league, where they're mounting a serious Supporters' Shield challenge, and they needed it to keep their search for a record sixth Cascadia Cup alive. It didn't take long for Carl Robinson's men to get on the score sheet. After Dylan Remick brought Cristian Techera down on the edge of the box, Nicolás Mezquida found Kendall Waston. The Tico's header glanced off of Brad Evans' chest, and Pa Modou Kah capitalised on the confusion to put the visitors up one nil. It's a good thing that the majority of the 53,125 wore green, as they weren't looking too good around the gills after that effort.

Whitecaps avalanche buries the Earthquakes

July 26, 2015 Christopher Vose

The San Jose Earthquakes will always hold a special place in the heart of every Vancouverite. They were the Whitecaps very first opponent, way back in 1974. It was a one all win… but before this article gets bogged down in the nuances of the original North American Soccer League, suffice it to say we have a history with the boys from the Bay Area. The less said about regulation stoppage time penalty shootouts and tie-wins, the better. Tonight was the last chance for both sides to get a win in July. Los Angeles (twice), Portland, Houston, Club America, and Manchester United have already defeated San Jose this month in a mixture of league, cup, and friendly encounters. Meanwhile, Vancouver has dropped a pair of results to Colorado and Kansas City, before their ten-men were able to nick a point in the Rose City. With Jordan Harvey unavailable through suspension, Christian Dean bravely stepped into the breach. For some time now, we've extolled the virtues of the young Californian, and he did not disappoint.

Japanese survive a Swiss surge in Group C

June 9, 2015 Christopher Vose

Four years ago, Japan overcame the United States to capture their first Women's World Cup. Today, they began the true defence of their title. And while they did not impress, they were able to get all three points. We don't know yet whether Switzerland raised their game to meet the level of their opponents. We'll have a better idea after Friday's match with Ecuador. But for now, Group C appears to be wide open. Cameroon have the clear goal advantage thanks to their six nil win over Ecuador, but Japan have three points as well, and Switzerland look quite capable of being one of the third place sides to qualify for the knockout phase.

Cameroon's Indomitable Lioness' maul Ecuador's La Tricolour

June 8, 2015 Christopher Vose

On paper, Cameroon v Ecuador looked to have the makings of a compelling affair. Only thirty points, and five positions, separate them in the FIFA World Rankings. But when it comes to the Women's game, the FIFA World Rankings can be left at the door. Points are earned by matches played, and some associations play far more matches than others. Outside of the top ten or so associations, the rankings are meaningless. And that begins to explain how a match between two closely ranked sides can end in a six nil drubbing. Gaelle Enganamouit may only be listed as 171 cm, 5'7" if you like, but against La Tricolour, she looked like a giant. She used her size and strength, clashing with Ecuador's Shirley Berruz from the whistle, and made life miserable for the girls in blue. They weren't about to handle her, and we're not sure that Switzerland or Japan will fare any better. She is a force to be reckoned with.

Draw gives Rabbits a slender advantage heading into the Second Leg

May 13, 2015 Christopher Vose

With a match against defending League Champion Seattle Sounders FC on the weekend, Vancouver Whitecaps FC manager Carl Robinson elected to field a weakened side against visiting division two side FC Edmonton. That decision could come back to haunt him, as the Rabbits hopped out to an early lead thanks to a 4th minute Tomi Ameobi strike.

Road Work Ahead, Caps and Crew play to a Stand Still

April 8, 2015 Christopher Vose

With four wins through five matches, Vancouver Whitecaps FC stood alone at the top of the table. By comparison, Columbus Crew SC were all the way down in 16th place. But after tonight's two-all draw, nothing much has changed. At least on paper. The Whitecaps found something here tonight. In seasons past, going behind would have meant that the Caps would push up, leave themselves vulnerable to a counterattack, and they would invariably concede the insurance goal. But this squad is different. Whether ahead or behind, they play as a unit, and the play to win. They didn't quite do that tonight, but it was not for lack of trying.

Whitecaps banish LA's fear factor to a Galaxy, far, far away

April 4, 2015 Christopher Vose

The Los Angeles Galaxy are winners. They are the class of the Major League. They have five Anschutz Cups, four league Championships, two U.S. Open Cups, and a Champions' Cup to grace their cabinet. But that's the past. In the here and now, Vancouver are the class of the league.

Caps Continue their Winning Ways

March 28, 2015 Christopher Vose

Cascadia Cup matches are events. There is nothing quite like them. The energy in the building is electric. The passion is palpable. To someone who's never experienced a Cascadia Cup match, the best analogy we can give you is that it feels like a playoff atmosphere, but these roots run so much deeper. The experience is far more pronounced. It's tribalism at its finest. You want to win every game, but you enjoy it more when it comes against a rival.

Clash of Clans: Mackenzie v Simon Fraser

March 20, 2015 Christopher Vose

Alan Koch returned to his old stomping ground when his new charges, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, took to Fox Field against his old charges, the Simon Fraser Clan. Koch's seven seasons with the Clan was an unmitigated success, winning several conference titles and making the Semi-Finals in two of the three years that the Clan were eligible for postseason play.

TFC Rise as Whitecaps stumble at the goal line

March 7, 2015 Christopher Vose

So Toronto FC have bought themselves an anthem. We're not too surprised, their parent organisation, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, have so much money that anthropomorphic ducks swimming through it is a genuine concern. They have money to burn, and they frequently do. The actual song they bought, Love Me Again by John Newman, is an immensely likeable song. It's catchy, memorable, the kind of song you can dance to, and it will get stuck in your head. Listen to it at your own risk, but if you do, be sure to listen all the way through. Trust us, it's worth the wait.

Time to mess with Texas

October 25, 2014 Christopher Vose

In 19 seasons of Major League Soccer, 119 players have combined to keep 1,925 clean sheets. On Saturday night at BC Place, Vancouver's David Ousted made it 1,926. It was his 13th of the year and two better than his closest rival, DC United's Bill Hamid.

Whitecaps must now wait after clash with the Quakes

October 18, 2014 Christopher Vose

The Whitecaps retained the Cascadia Cup last week in Washington. Vancouver's win meant that the Los Angeles Galaxy could take a three point lead over the Seattle Sounders FC with a win in Dallas. And while Stefan Ishizaki's 22nd minute effort proved insufficient to the task, watching the Curva Collective, Rain City Brigade, and Vancouver Southsiders present the Cascadia Cup to Pedro Morales and the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club still hurt. A lot.

CHRISTOPHeR VOSE

Mynor Campos

Tyler Green