<i>Our <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/tags.php?tag=pitch+perfect" target="_blank"><b>Pitch Perfect</b></a> feature, where we break down various moves of perfection in Whitecaps matches, is back and it's nice to kick it off for the new season with a goal in the opening game.</i>
Coming into the game against TFC, the Whitecaps were a heavy favourite, especially considering their opponents had a number of starters who were signed and just arrived in the days leading up to the game. The Caps were able to squeak a 1-0 result from this match with a spectacular goal that displayed skill, technique and trust among the players.
Andy O’Brien had just sent the ball long which Darren Mattocks headed down to YP Lee. Kenny Miller, who had started his run down the middle, curls to the right past the central defenders, Danny Califf and Darren O’Dea, dragging them with him creating space in the central area. Daigo Kobayashi finds this space and starts moving toward it.
A couple of things occur off the ball in this frame. First, Mattocks makes a run down the right side taking Ashtone Morgan with him and creating more room for Miller. Also, Terry Dunfield decides to stay with Kobayashi because Richard Eckersley may be too far away to mark him. As a result of this there is a vast space behind Jeremy Hall who is coming to close down on Lee. Lee makes the pass to Miller and sees the space as gets past Hall and readies for the return pass.
At this point Lee has received the pass from Miller and continues his move while both Hall and O’Dea track him down. Kobayashi is now being marked by Eckersley but the defender doesn't have the ideal position on him. Dunfield spots Koffie moving towards the box but also has Lee moving towards him.
With Koffie seemingly positioning himself for a pass ten yards outside the box, Dunfield takes a step towards him which leaves a clear passing lane for Lee to Kobayashi. As soon as Lee makes the pass, Koffie makes his run into the box.
The path to goal for Koffie is clear due to the central defenders getting split. O'Dea has to cover Lee after he got past Hall while Califf follows the pass to Kobayashi. Califf is unable to recover from the misstep and is caught flat footed as Koffie takes the pass and beats Bendik for the only goal of the game.
The Whitecaps had good movement in this game, especially in the second half, but what they displayed on this goal was a perfect display. What this goal also displays is how much Martin Rennie and the coaching staff want their holding midfielders to push forward in order to create more chances.
Watch the goal one more time at full speed, complete with commentary from Pete Schaad. Perfection.
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