Categories: DC UnitedMLSVancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps held by DC in seesaw battle

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

Vancouver Whitecaps 3-3 DC United

VANCOUVER, BC–The Whitecaps were without Andres Cubas to international duty. Likewise, DC were without Tai Baribo. However, it appeared that the Whitecaps missed Cubas more as the teams played to a 3-3 draw at BC Place. The Whitecaps maintain a three-point lead at the top of the Western Conference while DC get their ninth draw in their last 15 league matches (2-4-9). DC remain three points adrift of the Eastern Conference playoff line.

DC took the lead in the 16th minute after Kimito Nono found himself with space in front of goal and scored on the rebound after his initial shot was cleared off the line. The Whitecaps responded nine minutes later, also a goal off the rebound. Brian White made good on his second chance after his initial shot was saved by Sean Johnson. The hosts then took the lead just before halftime with Bruno Caicedo finishing off a give-and-go with Thomas Müller.

DC proved resilient, though, and in the 65th minute, they got an equalizer. Keisuke Kurokawa’s corner would be headed in by Lucas Bartlett to restore parity. Vancouver got the lead for the second time seven minutes later as Müller called his own number making a run towards the box and shot from just outside the box, off the post, and in to make it 3-2.

However, DC would end up rescuing a point ten minutes from time as Nono got his second on the volley from a cross by Hosei Kajima–ensuring all three of DC’s Japanese players in their lineup got goal contributions. In the end, the teams combined for 38 (22-16 DC) shots with 18 on target (nine each side), and the result was a point for each side.

Vancouver next play on Tuesday, October 6th at Chicago to make up a match that was supposed to have taken place July 16th, but was postponed due to poor air quality at the time stemming from wildfires in Northern Ontario. Kickoff is at 5:30pm PT (Apple TV). DC’s next match is at Inter Miami on Saturday, October 10th (7:30pm ET, Apple TV).

Photos by Gerrit te Hennepe