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Offsetting second-half goals leave Whitecaps and Chivas USA with a 1-1 deadlock
Chivas USA has quietly put together a nice little run of form for the past couple months, going 3-2-4 in their past nine matches. The Vancouver Whitecaps have not fared as well, going 0-5-5 in their past 10, which ultimately led to the firing of coach Teitur Thordarson.
The teams that face off at Home Depot Center on Wednesday could look different from the ones we're accustomed to, though. Chivas USA will be missing Jorge Flores (red-card suspension) and Alejandro Moreno, Simon Elliott and Andrew Boyens (international duty). The Whitecaps will be led by new coach Tom Soehn, who could very well have some changes in mind.
All four of those players have been significant contributors to the Goats' recent form. Flores and Boyens each scored goals last week, Moreno is tied for the team lead with three goals and Simon Elliott has not been subbed out since breaking into the starting lineup seven matches ago.
The biggest change for the Whitecaps may simply be more of a playmaking focus being placed on Davide Chiumiento, whose use was supposedly one of the points of friction between Thordarson and the front office. Chiumiento leads the Whitecaps with five assists, but hasn't had one in five matches and has been used almost exclusively in wide positions.
Prediction: Whitecaps 1-0.
Chivas USA Vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Eric Hassli Picks Up 3rd Red In 1-1 Tie
Eric Hassli has shown two things during his eight-match MLS career: He can score and he tends to attract red cards. Well, he did one of those things during the Vancouver Whitecaps' 1-1 tie with Chivas USA on Wednesday. Unfortunately for him it wasn't the one he wanted, as the Frenchman picked up his third red card of the season on a late challenge in the 66th minute.
Prior to picking up the red card, Hassli was having himself a nice little game. He hit the crossbar with a first half shot after making a nifty move to create some space and a clever backheel helped set up the Whitecaps' goal.
That goal, which tied the game, came off the foot of Camilo Sanvezzo. It was the fourth goal of the season for Sanvezzo (he's no longer just Camilo, in case you were wondering), but his first since April 10.
Chivas USA got their goal from Nick LaBrocca who scored just as the second half started. It was LaBrocca's third goal of the season, a career high for the fifth-year MLS veteran. LaBrocca nearly had a second goal when Whitecaps goalkeeper Joe Cannon made a nice save on a shot and the rebound came out to the midfielder. LaBrocca fired his shot at the open net, but Whitecaps defender Jay DeMerit made a sliding stop to preserve the tie.
Jun 02 1:50a by Jeremiah Oshan - 0 comments