<i>We're going to start a new occasional feature today, <b>Pitch Perfect</b>, where we break down various moves of perfection in Whitecaps matches.
Kicking things off, Steve Pandher takes a look at the move which led to Darren Mattocks fourth minute opener against Houston Dynamo on Sunday....</i>
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Coming out of the extended break it was important for the Whitecaps to get off to a quick start against a Houston team that was missing a number of defenders. It didn’t take long as Darren Mattocks converted to give Vancouver the early lead. Here’s a look at how the play broke down from the beginning.
After winning the ball, Martin Bonjour passes the ball off to John Thorrington who makes a quick run forward evading a Dynamo player. He spots Sebastien Le Toux coming back towards him so Thorrington sends the ball to him and continues his run forward. At virtually the same time Lee Young-Pyo starts his run down the right sideline which Brad Davis doesn’t notice.
Le Toux collects the ball and readies for the return pass to Thorrington while Lee continues his run past Davis. In moving back to receive the pass Le Toux dragged the Dynamo’s left back, Corey Ashe, with him which leaves a large open space behind.
At this point Thorrington gets the ball back from Le Toux while at the same time Lee keeps going forward and has already passed Davis on the pitch. Just before Adam Moffat can make a tackle Thorrington is able to put a through ball for Lee, between Moffat and Ashe who is completely out of position.
Lee has open space to collect the ball as Ashe is up the field and Davis was too slow to pick up on Lee’s run. Sturgis, normally a midfielder, seems unsure whether he should hold his position or put some pressure on Lee. Both Darren Mattocks and Davide Chiumiento start their runs into the box.
Lee has time and space with the ball, due to Sturgis being caught in no man’s land where he is not attacking the ball. He has also left too much space behind him as well which forces Bobby Boswell to play tighter to Sturgis. Chiumiento slows his run at the top of the box to give Lee another option but it also freezes Creavalle from continuing to the net giving more space to the rookie. Mattocks makes it look like he is about to go inside of Boswell but then moves behind him. Lee delivers a perfect cross which Mattock finishes clinically giving the Whitecaps a vital early lead on the Dynamo.
Take a look once again at full speed. Deadly. Perfect.
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