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Vancouver Whitecaps: 3 Key Takeaways from 2-0 loss to Toronto

By Gareth Wolff

Mar 18, 2017; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps forward Fredy Montero (12) kicks the ball toward the net of Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono (25) during the second half at BC Place. The Toronto FC won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps forward Fredy Montero (12) kicks the ball toward the net of Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono (25) during the second half at BC Place. The Toronto FC won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 18, 2017; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps forward Fredy Montero (12) kicks the ball toward the net of Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono (25) during the second half at BC Place. The Toronto FC won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps forward Fredy Montero (12) kicks the ball toward the net of Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono (25) during the second half at BC Place. The Toronto FC won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

Vancouver Whitecaps FC suffered a second defeat of the season at home to Canadian rivals Toronto FC. The Whitecaps have one point after three matches and have yet to score at home in the league.

The home fans at BC Place have now sat through 180 minutes of MLS play without a goal to celebrate. Against Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon, the Vancouver Whitecaps put in an all too familiar performance, ending in a 2-0 defeat after Brek Shea was sent off for dissent.

The first half was a dull affair. Missing Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto looked content to clog the midfield. Missing a functional midfield, the Whitecaps looked content to pass the ball around in defense and send long balls forward for Fredy Montero or Brek Shea. Both teams had penalty calls in the first half, but neither Spencer Richey – making his MLS debut in the absence of David Ousted – nor Alex Bono had much to do.

The most fascinating part of the match was the physical battle between Toronto’s front two of Jozy Altidore and Tosaint Ricketts and Caps central defenders Kendall Waston and Tim Parker. Parker held his own in several aerial challenges against Altidore, and was named Whitecaps man of the match.

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Second Half Collapse

At halftime, Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson pulled off Alphonso Davies and replaced him with Christian Bolaños. Davies had been ineffectual in his battle with Justin Morrow and Jonathan Osorio. Bolaños managed to inject some creativity into the Whitecaps midfield, and they looked dangerous at the start of the second half.

It all came crashing down in the 70th minute, however. Brek Shea was shown the yellow card for a tackle, talked back to the referee, and was promptly red carded. After the card, the Whitecaps collapsed. In the 76th minute, Victor Vazquez scored a header from close range. Jozy Altidore doubled the lead four minutes later. There was just time for Erik Hurtado to miss the target when one-on-one with Bono, and for some pushing and shoving after Michael Bradley took issue with a tackle from Matías Laba.

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