Rivero, Techera score, Whitecaps beat Rapids 2-0

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (15W-10L-3D) returned to the top of the league with a 2-0 home win over Colorado Rapids (8W-10L-9D) at BC Place on Wednesday.

The provider turned goalscorer four minutes later although he needed a bit of luck.

Octavio Rivero finally broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute, beating the offside trap to head home Cristian Techera’s ideal cross.

The win moves the Whitecaps (15-10-3) into top spot in Major League Soccer with 48 points, two ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy. “(Or) you can play with not much quality and have a moment of magic and get three points. “It’s nice we have that same understanding (on the pitch)”.

Meanwhile, the Rapids are the second to the last club in the Western Conference and are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive against Vancouver.

The first good chance of the second half came on 55 minutes as fullback Jordan Harvey swung in a cross from the left flank that was headed on target by Rivero but right into the arms of Iriwn.

The Whitecaps were without midfielder Matias Laba and defender Kendall Waston after both were sent off in Vancouver’s 2-0 road loss to the Houston Dynamo on August. 29.

Vancouver’s offensive capabilities were reduced when captain Pedro Morales picked up a hamstring injury just before halftime and was replaced at the break.

The Rapids came closest yet in the 71st minute when Kevin Doyle got his head on a Marc Burch cross, forcing David Ousted to make a diving save on his goalline.

“We didn’t click attacking-wise (until the goals), but we certainly defended very well”.

The biggest worry for Robinson will probably be how sluggish his team looked after an extended break and with a Champions League tie against CD Olimpia still a week away followed by a Cascadia clash with Seattle on the following Saturday he may even feel that a few of his first teamers would benefit from action more than rest from here on in.