Whitecaps lose first in the West after loss to Dallas

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

Vancouver Whitecaps 1-2 FC Dallas

VANCOUVER, BC–Vancouver needed only a draw to clinch the top seed in the Western Conference. FC Dallas needed a win and results in their favor to make the playoffs. The latter occurred as FCD clinched the seventh spot with a 2-1 win at BC Place. With San Diego winning in Portland, the Whitecaps fell to second place and will play FC Dallas in a two-out-of-three first round matchup.

Things started inauspiciously for the hosts as Manuel Laborda tripped Samuel Sarver while on a breakaway. VAR determined it was a denial of a goal scoring opportunity and the Whitecaps were down to ten men. Seven minutes after the red card was handed out, the Whitecaps were down a goal as well as Patrickson Delgado’s cross was headed in by Osage Urhoghide to give FCD the lead.

Int he 27th minute, the tables turned a bit, thought not entirely, as Lalas Abubakar bundled over Emmanuel Sabbi in the box for a penalty. Abubakar received a yellow card for his troubles. Thomas Müller converted the spot kick and the Whitecaps were back on terms.

However, FC Dallas were quickest again off the mark in the second half. Sarver would tee up Kaick Ferreira who would score from 12 yards out to make it 2-1. The Whitecaps had several chances, despite being down to ten men for over 80 minutes, to get an equalizer; but they were either wide of target or stopped by Michael Collodi who made six saves on the evening.