<i>[Match report and post game reaction from Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes]</i>
<b><u>Report:</u></b>
Another strong second half performance brought Vancouver Whitecaps a vital victory against San Jose Earthquakes at BC Place on Saturday afternoon, in a game which had huge implications for the playoff race no matter the result.
In an ever tightening Western Conference, a Vancouver win kept them in the playoff spots ahead of the teams breathing down their neck, whilst a San Jose win continued their momentum and put them right back in the playoff mix and was the result most in the West were not wanting to see. A draw was what neither side really wanted but the visitors would take it.
In the end, second half goals from the Whitecaps' in form striking due of Camilo Sanvezzo and Kenny Miller did the damage in the 2-0 win, but a return to form of Nigel Reo-Coker played a big part in the result.
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The <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?4402-The-Wall-San-Jose-v-Vancouver-played-out-on-Facebook" target="_blank">last meeting</a> between the two sides was lively to say the least and with that history and recent form, fireworks were expected once again in this one. They never really materialised.
San Jose came in looking for their fourth win on the bounce, with their previously forlorn playoff hopes looking revived once again of late. Vancouver's results were going in the opposite direction and they were looking for their first win in four.
Vancouver made two changes from the team that started last week's draw in Portland, with Gershon Koffie coming back from suspension and Kenny Miller returning from injury up front. Despite nearing full health, it was felt too soon to risk centreback Andy O'Brien and he found a place on the bench.
It was the home side who had the first chance of the game when Camilo whipped in a free kick from the left and Miller's flicked header went inches over and landed on the roof of the net.
San Jose's response was a low long range effort from Rafael Baca, which was fumbled by David Ousted on his home debut and put out for a corner.
The action settled and became something of a midfield battle and the tight game that was expected.
Miller had a nice turn and shot on the edge of the box in the 27th minute but that was about the closest either side came.
As half time approached, the ball broke to Cordell Cato on the edge of the Caps' box in the 39th minute and the former Sounder unleashed a fierce, low drive but Ousted got down quickly to produce a fantastic save.
There was no further real action in the half and it was already looking like it was going to take a piece of individual magic or a mistake to break the deadlock in a tight game.
That piece of magic nearly came from Camilo eight minutes into the second half when he went on a mazy from the left wing into the box, but his shot was deflected for a corner when he was eventually closed down.
San Jose came the closest yet to opening the scoring in the 55th minute when a deep free kick found Clarence Goodson at the back post and his goalbound header was acrobatically tipped away by Ousted. It looked like the ball was going to fall for Chris Wondolowski, with an open goal three yards out, but the ball fell just behind him and it was the Earthquakes DP that ended up in the net and Nigel Reo-Coker blasted the danger clear.
It was a huge let off for the Caps, but the game was now more open with both teams creating more chances and finding more space.
The breakthrough finally came a minute after the hour mark and it was a goal of perfection that did it for Vancouver.
Young-Pyo Lee did well to dispossess Cato on the edge of the Caps box and found Reo-Coker at the halfway line. The Englishman went on a bulldozer run, leaving three Earthquakes in his wake before creating the time and space for himself to play the perfect cross into Camilo in the box and the Brazilian finished off the move with some perfection of his own, getting on the goalside of Steven Beitashour and directing the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
San Jose quickly pushed for the equaliser and had the Vancouver defence working hard. There were a few scrambles in the penalty box and Cato shot wide, but the Caps was holding firm.
That strong defending reaped dividends when the Caps hit the killer second in the 74th minute.
Camilo's cross field pass found Russell Teibert on the edge of the box. He took a touch and played it inside to Reo-Coker who mishit his shot completely but managed to direct it straight into the path of an unmarked Miller and the Scot made no mistake in firing home.
San Jose just couldn't find a way past the Vancouver defence and the closest they came was when substitute Jaime Alas curled a free kick inches over with minutes remaining.
Vancouver easily saw out the rest of the match and had some late trickery from Camilo and Heinemann nearly pay off.
The result lifts Vancouver up to second place in the West for now. If they can continue to get results in the upcoming huge Western Conference clashes, then they'll be there or thereabout for while to come. A few bad results and they could fall out of the playoff spots altogether.
It's tight and that's just what MLS want.
FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 - 0 San Jose Earthquakes
ATT: 20,100
VANCOUVER: David Ousted; Young-Pyo Lee, Carlyle Mitchell, Johnny Leveron, Jordan Harvey; Gershon Koffie, Nigel Reo-Coker, Daigo Kobayashi (Matt Watson 75); Russell Teibert, Kenny Miller (Tommy Heinemann 86), Camilo Sanvezzo [subs Not Used: Brad Knighton, Andy O'Brien, Jun Marques Davidson, Erik Hurtado, Kekuta Manneh]
SAN JOSE: Jon Busch; Steven Beitashour, Clarence Goodson, Victor Bernardez, Jordan Stewart; Cordell Cato (Jaime Alas 76), Sam Cronin, Rafael Baca (Adam Jahn 90+1); Shea Salinas, Chris Wondolowski, Steven Lenhart (Alan Gordon 67) [subs Not Used: David Bingham, Justin Morrow, Jason Hernandez, Mehdi Ballouchy]
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<u><b>Reaction:</b></u>
<b>Martin Rennie on the game:</b>
"Really pleased with the overall performance. I think in the first half we kept the
ball quite well without creating too many chances, but we were comfortable defensively, and then in the second half we created more opportunities and we've got a couple of strikers who put the ball in back of the net."
<b>Martin Rennie on overall team performance:</b>
"Today was definitely a game where you could look at every player and say you know what, they had a good game today."
<b>Martin Rennie on defence playing physically:</b>
"It's always a physical game against San Jose. They play a lot of direct balls, a lot of balls that you have to challenge for and if you don't challenge then you're going to be in a difficult position."
<b>Martin Rennie on Koffie as DM:</b>
"Really, really good. A lot to build on. I think that's one of his best performances for a long time. He did so much of the things we'd been asking him to do. I was actually really pleased with him."
"I really think he's got the attributes to play that position really, really well and I think that's the best balance we've had in the midfield this season."
<b>Martin Rennie on Ousted's important saves:</b>
"Those kinds of saves win you games, win you points."
<b>Camilo Sanvezzo on the team scoring more goals this year:</b>
"I think we play more forward this year and we have more good players who can find a pass and this makes it easier."
<b>Nigel Reo-Coker on his mishit assist on the second goal:</b>
"I'm just happy a teammate got on that and we got the goal and we got the result."
<b>Nigel Reo-Coker on the win:</b>
"Make no mistake, that wasn't an easy game. It was a tough fought game. First half was very tight but to come through that and get the result, and at home, 2-0, it's a fantastic result for us."
<b>Nigel Reo-Coker on what is expected from this team:</b>
"Everyone has to work hard. Put in a shift for each other, covering for each other and then after that you have to go and play football. Express yourself, show people how much of a good team you are and how far we've come this season. For me, that was the best we've played this season....We're showing a lot more football intelligence."
<b>David Ousted on home debut:</b>
"It was perfect. A 2-0 win, the fans made it a really good experience. They were loud and they were singing, so it was great."
<b>David Ousted on his defence:</b>
"I think they did well again today. They were really good on set plays."
<b>Gershon Koffie on playing as a DM:</b>
"To play in the midfield you have to know both positions, so it's not difficult for me to stay back or to move forward, but I can make that run too sometimes."
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