2019 has not been kind to the Vancouver Whitecaps. After blowing up the squad that finished the previous year with a respectable, if not ideal, 13-8-13 record, and a sizeable -13 goal differential, changes were needed. They allowed too many goals, and didn't score enough. Clubs can sometimes get away with one, but never both.
Heading into tonight's match, the 'Caps sported a 5-9-12 record, with a -19 goal differential. Even more egregious is that Vancouver has not won a match at BC Place in almost three months. One's home is supposed to be their fortress, but BC Place has been anything but, with just three of those five wins coming at home.
Their most recent win, at any ground, was at the recently promoted FC Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium on August 3rd. Not exactly something to write home about.
But the 'Caps are trying, after a fashion. The game marked the return of former Whitecap Felipe Martins, who incidentally scored the winning goal at Cincinnati. Hopefully the $75,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and the 2020 International Roster Spot can come in handy... next year.
Yordy Reyna scored his fifth goal of the season, and Max Crepeau made two saves to earn his fifth clean sheet of the season, some of them coming in scoreless draws.
"Any clean sheet feels amazing," Crepeau said after the match. "At that point, it's three points. After that, it's keeping a clean sheet. If it's against Rooney, even better. It's a great evening."
Despite United boasting arguably the best goalkeeper of the last decade in Bill Hamid, Reyna was able to curl an inside strike to the far post that outstretched the keeper.
Wayne Rooney at BC Place
"It was a good goal by Yordy," said Teibert, who earned an assist on the goal. "If he can get close to the box, he can have a good strike at net. Get the ball to Yordy, he's going to score."
The win was Vancouver's first at BC Place in 85 days, and their sixth on the season. It also marked the first, and very likely last, visit by England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney.
Whitecaps manager Marc Dos Santos said that "even if many people come to see Rooney, the sum of our parts have to be the difference maker. I think that today in every facet of the game, in everything we did, there was such a commitment from everyone. I'm proud of that, there's no sign of this team giving up."
It was a frustrating night all around for the all-time England leading scorer and his teammates, who managed 24 shots, but only two on target.
Rooney was subbed off in the 74th minute to an emphatic round of applause. As he exited the pitch, Rooney had a few choice words for fourth official Pierre-Luc Lauziere, appearing to say, "Every f***ing game. Every f***ing game."
Speaking after the game, "I have my opinions of the referees," Rooney was careful with his choice of words. "It's not very good. I feel they need to improve the game. That's my opinion, and I feel like I'm entitled to my opinion. I said a couple of weeks ago, I got kicked, and the referees do nothing."
"All I'm asking for is a bit of protection. It'd be nice if Howard Webb," General Manager of the Professional Referee Organisation, "could come to the training ground, and let us speak to him over it. I feel it's happening, game after game. To get some clarification, it'd be nice if Mr. Webb come down to the training ground to speak with us."
In the 72nd minute, a spectator in a Manchester United kit ran halfway across the pitch, heading towards the sidelines. The overzealous and misguided individual completely missed Rooney, ultimately being grabbed by Whitecaps Public Relations Manager Nathan Vanstone.
"I actually didn't see the pitch invader." Rooney said. "I played in a pass, and ran into the box. I didn't know why the game was stopped."
"Is that what it was?" Rooney asked.
"I didn’t see it. It's sad when people interfere. It's not good for anyone, the fans, or the players. It stops the game."
It took a herculean defensive effort to hold United. Can the 'Caps build on this surprising win next week when they visit the San Jose Earthquakes on August 24th, before returning to Vancouver for a match against the Montreal Impact on August 28th? While we certainly hope for the best, the season thus far would suggest otherwise.