By JOSE M. ROMERO
On the outside looking in for a playoff spot to begin the night, the climb toward the MLS postseason got a little steeper for D.C. United.
The Vancouver Whitecaps played spoiler Wednesday night at B.C. Place Stadium, holding on for a 2-1 victory thanks to strong defensive play for 56 minutes, another goal for leading scorer Camilo and the first career MLS goal for forward Long Tan.
DCU was energized by Brandon McDonald's 57th-minute goal that cut the Whitecaps' lead to one, but it lost an opportunity for a PK — and potentially a tie — when officials failed to see a handball on the Whitecaps' Jeb Brovsky. It came in the 76th minute when Marc Burch got off a shot on goal that was deflected wide of the goal, and the deflection was the result of the ball striking Brovsky's elbow, TV replays showed.
DCU got another good chance two minutes later with Santino Quaranta's header that went wide — Quaranta was a second-half sub who played well in a losing cause — and United never seriously threatened to score thereafter.
The loss kept DCU at 38 points with three matches to play — all at RFK Stadium. It plays Chicago, Portland and Sporting KC over the next 11 days, so the playoffs are certainly still within reach, but DCU will need to rely on help from other teams as it is five points away from the current 10th and final berth.
D.C. United hasn't been to the postseason since 2007.
D.C. United was without injured Chris Pontius and Dwayne DeRosario, who'd played for his national team one night earlier, Wednesday night and probably could have used the offensive firepower. Instead it was the Whitecaps, guided by former DCU coach Tom Soehn, setting the tone on offense.
It took less than a minute for the Whitecaps to score, Camilo netting his 12th goal of the season off a long service from Jordan Harvey, who was playing left midfielder. The pass came down to Camilo for an easy shot between two defenders who were out of position.
Vancouver (6-16-10) scored its second goal in almost identical fashion. Not a minute into the second half,Tan was on the receiving end of a long ball from defender Alain Rochat, and his header found the net to give the Whitecaps a 2-0 lead.
Tan, the first MLS player from China in league history, got a smile and warm embrace from teammate Eric Hassli in the 59th minute as Hassli came on for Tan as a substitute.
we brought our reserve team to the most important game of the year against the worst team in the league.
ben olsen should be fired immediately.
he keeps giving his friend mark burch chances on the field.
awful awful awful. two sh..tty crosses turn into goals for vancouver.
That’s the joke
man, hate to say it but DCU doesn’t deserve a playoff spot…the last 3 games have been so poor.
Minor point of correction – the former worst team in the league. The worst team in the league tag now falls to NE.
Second game in a row that Thorrington is healthy… second straight win for the Whitecaps. It ain’t no coincidence, friends.
And,….”Budweiser Man of the Match: John Thorrington”
Well done, Thorr!
think Sad. is talking about the non penalty call in the second half.
So the referee made the back line of DC out of position? Let Tan get that header? DC alone allowed Vancouver to have more goals than them. It was their hole they dug in the first place.
This is two games in a row in which the refs have given wins to Van. Not that RSL or DC really earned a win, but neither did Van.
Good call… Makes it that much better for the red bulls
NY is on the road at KC, but they’re at home hosting Philly. They’re not away for both.
Still a favorable schedule for DC and an unfavorable one for NY with their last two on the road in KC and Philly.
Portland has two road games too (including one against DC) after their home game against Houston (who is tied with NY but has an away against Portland and a home against Galaxy left).
It’s a pretty fun little October for the playoff race in MLS. No matter which way you look, one team in contention is playing another team in contention. That said, that goal differential for Red Bulls is looking pretty nice right now.
They did not look the same since Pontius went down against Chivas. It would be hard to make the playoffs.
Burch as usual sucked. He is only good for the ever predictable left sided crosses. He was faulty for that 1st goal by not covering Sanvezzo. This is basic soccer defending knowledge just like Ream on the Ecuador goal.
Playing without DeRo, Pontius and Jakovic, this is not a playoff team.
That is a lot of ifs there. If, If, If, If…. Doesn’t matter they didn’t play well enough to win against the worst team in the league.
If only DeRo had played, that hand ball in the box had been called and they didn’t give up goals at the beginning of each half, DC would have won.
Not yet. RCTID.
DC United ROX. +1??
yep, Red Bulls in.