Vancouver Whitecaps were keen to bounce back from a two game losing streak and they did just that at BC Place tonight, claiming three vital points in a 1-0 win over Western Conference rivals Dallas.
Martin Rennie has been unhappy with the performances of late and rang the changes.
Eric Hassli, Davide Chiumiento, Atiba Harris and John Thorrington all dropped to the bench. Camilo Sanvezzo returned to the starting line up, with Omar Salgado getting his first start of the season on the left wing. Jun Marques Davidson returned to his defensive midfield role, in an attempt to support the back line, and Matt Watson came in to plug the hole in the middle.
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The Whitecaps had the first chance of the game five minutes in. Davidson weighted a beautiful ball over the Dallas defence for Camilo. The Brazilian did well to control but fired over as he rapidly ran out of room.
It was only to be five more minutes before the striker got his name on the scoresheet, with the only goal of the game.
Collecting a short pass from Young-Pyo Lee on the right touchline, Camilo cut inside past two Dallas defenders, ran into the box and curled an unstoppable shot past Chris Seitz and low into the net.
The Whitecaps were happy with the pace of the game and reduced Dallas to long range shots.
With 24 minutes gone, Brek Shea collected a throw in, ran at the Caps defence and fired a 20 yard grasscutter (turfcutter?) past Joe Cannon’s left hand post. It was the closest the visitors had come so far and was a couple of feet wide.
The game fell in to a lull which Shea nearly awoke from when he blasted over from a good position, 14 yards out, in the 40th minute.
The Caps finished the half in the ascendency but as the second half got underway, it was more lacklustre stuff from both sides, with Vancouver showing very little spark or bite and seemingly happy to let the visitors take the game to them.
Brek Shea had the first chance of the second half in the 62nd minute, when Lee allowed him a lot of space and he drilled a low shot at Cannon from inside the box.
Two minutes later and it was the same again, with the same result.
Vancouver had a great chance to add a second when Le Toux tried to play through Camilo, but he overhit his pass.
The Whitecaps won a free kick to the right of the box in the 72nd minute when Lee was fouled, and the Korean played a short pass inside to Camilo who fired just past the right hand post from the edge of the box.
Camilo had another chance for his second three minutes later. Matt Watson broke on the right, hit the byeline, then cut the ball back perfectly to the Brazilian who drilled a low shot towards goal, forcing Seitz into a leg save.
As the game ticked into the final seconds of normal time, a quick breakaway by the Caps saw Le Toux running one on one at goal with Carlos Rodriguez.
The Dallas defender hauled Le Toux down for the foul and despite being the last man, only a yellow was produced by referee Edvin Jurisevic.
It wasn’t to matter as the final whistle soon came and the Caps held out for a much needed morale boosting three points.
Vancouver never looked in too much danger for the whole match and although a little flat at times, the performance and a return to the clean sheets from earlier in the season will be very pleasing for the Caps management.
The need to go on now and build upon that in Columbus next week.
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FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 0 Dallas
VANCOUVER: Joe Cannon; Young-Pyo Lee, Martin Bonjour, Jay DeMerit, Jordan Harvey; Gershon Koffie, Jun Marques Davidson, Matt Watson; Omar Salgado (Atiba Harris 73), Sebastien Le Toux, Camilo Sanvezzo (Eric Hassli 80) [subs Not Used: Brad Knighton, Davide Chiumiento, Carlyle Mitchell, Long Tan, John Thorrington]
DALLAS: Chris Seitz; Ugo Ihemelu, Carlos Rodriguez, George John, Zach Lloyd; Bruno Guarda (Scott Sealy 72), Daniel Hernandez, Bobby Warshaw (Matt Hedges 89), Brek Shea; Fabian Castillo, Blas Perez [subs Not Used: Kevin Hartman, Ruben Luna, Hernan Pertuz, Jonathan Top, Victor Ulloa]