News » playoff race to four points over the Portland

The Vancouver Whitecaps defeated FC Dallas 2-0 on Saturday, temporarily extending their lead in the Western Conference playoff race to four points over the Portland Timbers. The Timbers would claw that lead back to just one point late Saturday night when they defeated the San Jose Earthquakes by a score of 2-1. THE FORMATIONS For the third game running, Whitecapsa€? head coach Carl Robinson named an unchanged lineup. The 4-2-3-1 formation has served Vancouver well over the last three games, where the club has picked up six out of nine available points. FC Dallas made one change to the team that beat the Seattle Sounders 3-1 last week, with Ryan Hollingshead replacing Jair Benitez in midfield, and they lined up in a 4-4-2 formation. THE GAME The Whitecaps started the game brightly, carrying on from where they left off the previous week in their 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake. Their high pressure in midfield paid off early in the first half, as Sebastian Fernandez scored in the 14th and 18th minutes to put Vancouver in control of the match. Fernandeza€?s first goal was an unlikely one, as the diminutive Uruguayan out-jumped Je-Vaughn Watson to head home Mauro Rosalesa€? cross. Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez got a hand on the header, but couldna€?t keep it from nestling in the top corner of his goal. Vancouvera€?s second goal highlighted their tenacity in midfield and their quickness in transition. Pedro Morales a€“ usually renowned for his pinpoint passing and control of the ball, rather than for his tough tackling a€“ harassed Moises Hernandez into a turnover, with Rosales picking up the lose ball and then driving at Matt Hedges and Zach Lloyd. Rosales stalled his run long enough to allow Fernandez to jump into the attack, and after Rosales slid the ball into Fernandeza€?s path, the winger took one touch to set himself before poking the ball beyond his namesake in the Dallas goal. It was all the Whitecaps would need to secure a precious three points in the Western Conference playoff race. FC Dallas offered very little buildup play through central midfield on Saturday, where neither Michel nor Victor Ulloa did much to support Blas Perez and David Texeira offensively. If their buildup play didna€?t come down the flanks through Andres Escobar, Perez and Texeira often had to drop into midfield themselves to get the ball. This made the defensive side of the game relatively straightforward for Whitecapsa€? defenders Andy Oa€?Brien and Kendall Waston. The absence of both Fabian Castillo and Mauro Diaz for Dallas was a mitigating factor for the visitors; both players are very influential for Dallas, although Diaz has played sparingly this season due to injury. This turned out to be a blessing for the Whitecaps, who really only had to contain Perez and Texeira to ensure David Ousted kept his 10th clean sheet of the season. THE GOOD There were some excellent performances from Vancouver. Ousted was solid in goal and dealt with everything that came his way with ease. The back four were strong in the second half after they got a bit of a talking to at half time for being a little slack in the opening 45 minutes. The goal in every game for a defender is to keep a clean sheet, and in this respect the Whitecaps back four plus Ousted certainly delivered. In midfield, Matias Laba was excellent, while beside him Russell Teibert had a quietly effective game. Neither player had as much to do as they did against RSL the previous week, but they nonetheless were tireless in their defensive work in front of the back four. The attacking midfield trio of Rosales, Morales and Sebastian Fernandez were a thorn in Dallasa€? side all game. Their movement and interplay was delightful at times, and all three linked well with striker Erik Hurtado. His performance was arguably his best of the season, and while he didna€?t score, he held the ball up really well and constantly threatened the Dallas back four with his pace. THE BAD Fernandez picked up a yellow card late in the game, meaning that he will be suspended for Fridaya€?s crucial game in Seattle against the Sounders. Suspensions could prove to be a big factor for Vancouver over the last three games of the regular season, as Morales, Teibert and left back Jordan Harvey will all be suspended if they pick up another yellow card. THE STAR MAN Fernandez deserves praise for his two-goal performance, as do the others mentioned above. But on reflection, the best player on the pitch was 33-year old Rosales. The Argentinian has achieved a great deal in his career, but he puts himself about like hea€?s a 19-year old trying to earn his first contract. His work rate was tireless, his distribution superb, and it was fitting that he picked up assists for both of Fernandeza€?s goals. Vancouvera€?s next game is in Seattle to take on the league-leading Sounders on Friday, Oct. 10 (10pm et/7pm pt on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5). Chris Pontius Jersey . Price also posted the longest shutout sequence since 1960 at 164:19 minutes. He stopped a combined 55 shots in Canadas final two games and 70 of 71 shots in Canadas three elimination games, allowing only a breakaway goal to Lauris Darzins of Latvia. For his efforts, Price was named best goalkeeper by the tournament directorate. Prices outstanding play is marred only by the extremely strong defensive play of Canadas top six defencemen; Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, Drew Doughty, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester. Matt Hedges Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the New York Rangers winger skated with extras and goalies today. http://www.usasoccerauthority.com/matt-miazga-usa-jersey/ . The ongoing funk on penalty kill and an unusually quiet night on home ice for the power play divided the Leafs from the Bruins at the ACC in a rare Sunday night affair. Bill Hamid Jersey . Moors, from Cambridge Ont., landed a double-twisting, double somersault in the layout position, en route to a score of 14.600 points in the womens floor exercise, more than a full point ahead of runner-up Pia Tolle of Germany. Tim Howard USA Jersey . Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated that performance Tuesday night. Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks.SOCHI, Russia - Carey Price has been named Team Canadas starting goaltender for Wednesdays quarterfinal game in the mens Olympic hockey tournament. Price will face the winner of Switzerland and Latvias playoff qualification match scheduled on Tuesday (TSN Radio in Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Ottawa). "Hes the one playing," Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock said of Price. It is the goaltenders third start of the Sochi Games. Price saved 19 of 20 shots in Canadas 3-1 victory over Norway. He stopped 14 of 15 shots in the Canadians 2-1 overtime win against Finland. Babcock made some other adjustments to Canadas lineup at practice on Tuesday, reuniting Chris Kunitz and Sidney Crosby on a line with Patrice Bergeron. Jamie Benn, who was rotating with Matt Duchene aloongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, was on Crosbys left wing in Canadas last game against Finland.dddddddddddd Not surprisingly Babcock kept the line of Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Toews and Jeff Carter together after praising their play. Patrick Sharp, Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis rotated on the fourth-line wings with centre John Tavares, who took a shot to the left ankle and was in pain but remained on the ice. The defensive pairs of Duncan Keith with Shea Weber, Marc-Edouard Vlasic with Drew Doughty and Jay Bouwmeester with Alex Pietrangelo went unchanged. Six of Canadas 11 goals have come from the blue-line: four by Doughty and two by Weber. Babcock said Monday he would not announce his scratches until Wednesday. ' ' '