"Caps Countdown" is our Vancouver Whitecaps player rankings with a twist. The starting eleven is ranked from eleven to one, from worst to first. Who was the 'man of the match' and who, if anyone, had a game to forget in the first Cascadia Cup clash of the season, the 2-2 draw with Seattle Sounders? Aaron Campbell makes his selections. Do you agree?
STARTING XI:
11 - Sebastian Fernandez
Was quiet most of the game. Struggled a bit playing off Pedro Morales, and always seemed to be playing behind Morales' pace.
10 - Kekuta Manneh
Had a few chances early in the game. Has to work on the his passing in the final third of the pitch.
9 - Jordan Harvey
Quiet most if the game but overall played an ok game. Would take a quiet, ok game for Harvey every week.
8 - Andy O'Brien
Also played a quiet, but solid game. Covered Reo-Coker well when he was up the pitch attacking.
7 - David Ousted
Wasn't credited with a save during the game but did well in his positioning. Didn't have a chance on either goal. Came out well to challenge Martins in 83rd minute making him only have an angle to hit the post.
6 - Jay DeMerit
I have been hard on DeMerit all season long. Thought he had a good game. Was strong in the box. Got a bullshit penalty called in the box on him to set up the 2-2 draw goal.
5 - Nigel Reo-Coker
If this is indeed his final game in a Whitecaps jersey (which seems unlikely as there is simply no other RB cover), he went out attacking. Loved his jump into the attacking third of the pitch.
4 - Matias Laba
So strong in the middle of the field. Little concerned he is one yellow away from a one game suspension. But you expect him to miss 1-2 games a season from that. Fair trade off with his style of play.
3 - Pedro Morales
Had some quiet moments on the pitch. His cross field passing accuracy is one of the best skill levels in MLS. Great chip over top to Hurtado on opening Whitecaps goal.
2 - Erik Hurtado
You can see him oozing with confidence now on the pitch. Attacking at right time. Great build up on his goal. Goal of the week candidate in my opinion.
1 - Gershon Koffie
Was all over the pitch. Best game of the season from Koffie. Had chances for 2-4 goals. Great awareness on his goal to just get a quick shot on the net. Looks more comfy in the attack when he knows Laba is covering his part of the defensive midfield.
SUPER SUBS:
Unusually only two subs from Carl Robinson in this one.
2 - Russell Teibert
Couldn't gain a lot of traction by coming into the game in the 79th minute. Does look a lot more comfy on the wing then Manneh does.
1 - Nico Mezquida
Came in for a struggling Fernandez. Was an improvement on the wing for those final 19 minutes.