Wednesday May 15th at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Colorado Rapids played host to Vancouver Whitecaps in a match that would see the hosts win the game with a score of 1-0.
With Vancouver being just short of a dozen games into their season, they sat at 4th place in the west with 18 points (5-3-3) coming into the matchup, while Colorado sat in 6th place with 18 points (5-3-4). In last weekend’s match against LAFC, Whitecaps continued their struggle against LA based opponents, but Wednesday provided an opportunity to demonstrate that Vancouver is still one of the top MLS sides. Unfortunately, despite how they performed, they would not achieve a result that they’d hoped for.
With a congested play schedule this month, it was not surprising to see Coach Sartini rotate his squad and give some of his players a rest. To start the game, Vancouver lined up in their patented 3-4-3 formation, with Takaoka in net behind the defensive trio of Utvik, Veselinović, and Brown. From left to right in the midfield was Luis Martins, who returned to the starting lineup after injury, Cubas, Vite, and Ahmed, while Johnson, White, and Gauld got the nod to start up front.
Colorado presented a good challenge for the Whitecaps to test themselves against similar opponents. While Colorado’s underlying stats have not been great (most put them in 15th-20th), they have been able to blow past the expectations that were placed on them sitting 10th in the league standings before this game. With top contributors like Moise Bombito, Cole Bassett, Rafael Navarro, and Zach Steffen, this Colorado squad has the potential to upset any MLS side on a given night.
The match started out as a relatively free flowing affair, with both sides pressing into each other’s end and looking to make something happen. In the 15th minute, after a routine save from Takaoka, Levonte Johnson looked to counter-attack down the left of the pitch, and tried to chip an oncoming Zach Steffen , who only just managed to get a hand to the ball and safely de-escalate the situation.
Throughout the rest of the first half, Vancouver and Colorado searched for opportunities, but could not find any luck on either side of the field.
With most of the shots having gone astray to that point, in the 44th minute, controversy would ensue as Djordje Mihailovic got on the end of a low cross that was whipped in from Cole Bassett. The shot was blocked by Bjørn Inge Utvik, but after a lengthy VAR check the referee decided to award a penalty kick to Colorado, as Utvik’s arm blocked the ball as he was trying to slide into the shot’s path. Furthermore, the referee saw fit to give a red card and send off Utvik for his infraction.
No matter how much protest the team would put up, the decision was made, and just like that, Navarro would step up to make it 1-0 for Colorado. While the decision to send off Utvik was harsh, the Whitecaps would have to try their best to dig themselves out of the hole they were in.
With Vancouver down to 10 men, the Rapids came out in the second half looking to finish the match for good. Colorado took 8 shots in the first twenty-five minutes after the return to play. Takaoka was forced to make a couple big saves to keep Vancouver in it, though he didn’t look to be stressed by anything sent his way. In the 62nd minute, both teams would make a double substitution as Colorado brought on Connor Ronan and Calvin Harris for Oliver Larrez and Kévin Cabral. Sartini sent Tristan Blackmon and Ryan Raposo onto the field for Luis Martins and Levonte Johnson.
Not much would happen in terms of play for Vancouver at this stage of the match, and in the 71st minute, Fafa Picault was brought on to replace Javain Brown. The formation at this point for the Whitecaps resembled something of a 3-3-2-1 with Fafa playing up top and looking to make runs behind the line.
Brian White would take a chance in the 76th minute, but being pressured by the defence and keeper, he couldn’t net one home. In the 88th minute, the 19 year old Tanzania international, Cyprian Kachwele (brought up from Whitecaps 2) was brought onto the field for Andrés Cubas and saw his first minutes in the MLS. Colorado had another flurry of chances towards the end of the game, one of which Takaoka had to get behind and another that hit the post, but in the end the match would finish at 1-0 for Colorado.
This game was a story of “ifs, ands, & buts” for Vancouver. The decision by the referee to send off Utvik for a handball that did not seem intentional, was deemed to be harsh by fans and commentators alike, but sometimes you have to deal with what you’re given and the Whitecaps could not do that on Wednesday night.
If you look at the first half stats compared to those of the second, it’s clear to see that Vancouver’s fortunes could have been different had they not been reduced to 10 men. Fans might take some solace in that, but with a tight schedule over the next couple weeks, Vancouver will have to forget about their ill fortune in Colorado and move onto the next matchup on Saturday May 18th against Seattle Sounders.
the Caps didnt ‘screw themselves’ in the last 2 loses and maybe a 3rd in Seattle
they are paying the price for having a loosing home point record – the Team lacks mental toughness- … as usual… close but no cigar
#7-12 come October
I retired from refereeing in 2020 so unless things have changed I’d say the call was wrong. DOGSO isn’t meant to be double jeopardy punishment. That is it shouldn’t be both a Penalty Kick awarded and a Player being Sent Off. It should be in most cases one or the other. That is if the infraction is a challenge that would result in a free kick (penalty kick) then a Penalty Kick is awarded and the player would be Cautioned. Utvik’s challenge wasn’t a deliberate attempt to block the shot with his arm/hand. He was just sliding/lunging trying to get a block in. Where is his arm supposed to be. It was about 8 inches from his side which is a natural position. Also how close was he to his opponent. 1.5 meters. Close proximity. So in my mind a Penalty and a Caution. But I’d accept that I’m wrong. However, if I’m right then the referee ruined what was becoming a really good game. The Caps were starting to take it to Colorado from minute 30 onwards and I was thinking we could win this game. Nice to see Brown and Martins play very well. And I didn’t realize Bombito was such a good player. He effortlessly covered so much ground. Great for our CMNT
I understand the perspective, my assertion is based upon the written law and that a handball DOGSO is a specific aspect of the law with a very clear decision outcome. Yes where Utvik’s arm was is the interpretation of “handball” infraction, where I agree with the decision is that while it was a part of the lunge to block that’s a risky play to make and it can be (and, was) seen as away from his body enough to be considered a DOGSO handball infraction.
And, again, since Utvik came into (i.e. toward) the ball’s location in making that lunge I think it isn’t unfair to suggest that then the arm as part of that action moved toward the ball (and ultimately denied a goal). Appreciate that’s a bit an explanation, thinking it through in trying to understand how the decision was made. I think there’s a strong and fair foundation for it.
Brown and Martins are, for me, superfluous to the squad and am surprised both have not been moved on yet. As rotational players, and those on decent wages, they simply don’t offer near enough quality even in a tactical role that suits their ability.
Red card was odd on that one. And losing Utvik was even worse. He’s so good back there. Top CB for the Caps with Ranko. Great signing. They found some gems so hopefully our new right wingback from down under is another. Go Caps!
The DOGSO decision appeared harsh (and to the commentators, outright incorrect) however per the Laws, was spot-on. Utvik attempted a hero lunge to block the shot and as a result his arm was raised away from his body, the ball struck it headed into the net and went just over the bar as a result. Personally, I have no issue with the decision, and in such instances want to see it applied every time.
It isn’t a situation that occurs often (though I believe it also occurred in Portland in the late match), so the applicable part of Law 12 isn’t top of mind for most, but since it denies a certain goal the punishment needs to be severe (imo).
Unfortunate for Utvik, but when you attempt plays with a high degree of risk occasionally that risk bites you. The first half was a wash up to that point, I think 1-0 to Colorado was a fair result (and could have been more given a few of the attempts just wide of goal) as other than Vite’s long-range stinger straight at Steffan there wasn’t any high degree chances created in the first half that I think reasonable demonstrated the ‘Caps would win. Perhaps nick or grind out a draw, but when the margin is that fine I don’t think there’s any complaint or suggestion the team was hard done by with the result.
Not playing well at the minute, Sartini’s approach is both being found out and showing it’s limitations (there are many), and the squad simply isn’t deep at all with first-XI quality. Regressing to where it deserves to be, 7th-10th, with a couple of teams behind looking to have sorted out an early-season malaise.
“Brian White would take a chance in the 76th minute, but being pressured by the defence and keeper, he couldn’t net one home.” This was a golden chance for White to tie the match, but after Gauld put him in alone he chose to lob the ball over the keeper. Your writing could be much more descriptive of what actually happened.
That was a difficult finish, what struck me wasn’t that he didn’t convert it but more just how far off it was. He’d not managed any finesse / touch to it at all and it was up into the seats behind.