Soccer is stupid, who cares?

Isaac Boehmer: 5.0

There is a not inconsiderable body of opinion that Isaac Boehmer should be the first choice keeper. For 45 minutes, things were looking great for the Boehmer truthers with a top-class save on Chicho Arango and several other good interventions. But this was followed up by a second half in which he had several nervy moments culminating in shouldering the ball into his own goal. Now, the rub on Boehmer is and always has been that he’s a super athlete and extremely confident but not the most technically sound. Unfortunately for him that second part came to the fore in the second half. He’s not defined by one bad moment, of course, it might still be right that jettisoning Takaoka and making Boehmer the number 1 is the best squad building move. But I think we saw pretty clearly that isn’t as clear cut a decision as some seemed to think.

Bjorn Utvik: 5.0

Watching Utvik try to play out against the press was tough. He did have some success winning the ball back higher up the pitch in the second half but it wasn’t an ideal outing.

Ranko Veselinovic: 6.0

I thought he was basically fine, I don’t put any blame on him for either goal, though he was badly out jumped for Arango’s big chance in the first half.

Tristan Blackmon: 6.0

I thought he was the only centre-back who had any luck playing out against RSL’s press, wouldn’t put too much blame on him for either goal against.

Alessandro Schopf: 5.0

Watching him try to play out under pressure was also tough. Also, he simply loves passing the ball backwards or sideways when there are players ahead of him running into space. I would like it if he did that less.

Ralph Priso: 5.5

Not terrible but he got pulled around a lot and just couldn’t cover the ground. You saw a big difference when Andres Cubas came in. Obviously, I don’t expect Priso to be as good as Cubas but he struggled to impose himself nonetheless.

Sebastian Berhalter: 6.5

Technically Berhalter lead the team in key passes. Great news for Sebastian Berhalter, probably not that good news for the team. He also had quite a lot of tackles, but like Priso, I felt like he struggled to over the ground demanded of him.

Sam Adekugbe: 5.0

Just not a lot of offensive danger from Adekugbe in this one. He did have some good link-up passing but other than that, not a lot to recommend him.

Deiber Caicedo: 5.0

Not a great night for the Caicedo truthers as the Colombian was hardly involved at all. Some good running around but that was about it.

Fafa Picault: 5.0

Obviously there was the penalty miss but even not counting that, he was pretty ineffective. By the way, Picault falling one short of the the goal contribution total that automatically extends his contract presents an interesting conundrum for the Whitecaps. He has been really good, and has earned it by most measures. But what are the odds he has two age-curve defying seasons in a row?

Brian White: 7.0

I honestly thought he was pretty good considering the team’s struggle to create chances from open play. 4 shot contributions as the striker on a team struggling to create anything is nothing to sneeze at.