Good Monday afternoon Caps fans. I hope you all had a lovely weekend and are gearing up for the week ahead.
The Caps got back to winning ways in Austin, turning around a 1-0 halftime deficit into a 2-1 win. It wasn’t a great performance from Vancouver, but I thought they did enough to merit the three points.
Outside of Myrto Uzuni’s goal, which came directly off an undercooked backpass from Tate Johnson, Austin created nothing. Credit to the backline for keeping them at bay, with Tristan Blackmon and Mathias Laborda’s partnership looking much improved.
The Caps dominated in the first half but, once again, had nothing to show for it. In the second half, they weren’t as impressive but were more clinical, converting two of their only three real chances with Ryan Gauld’s header and Yadaly Diaby’s banger. Brian White could have made it three-for-three but continues to struggle in front of goal, a trend I would be more concerned about if it weren’t a trend in White’s career at this point. It is still frustrating, but White is due to snap out of it with a multi-goal game.
Diaby’s goal should steal the show here and, in any other week, it would be a shoo-in for goal of the week. Martin Ojeda’s spectacular backheel flick for Orlando, however, will likely rob Diaby of his honors. But it was a fantastic effort, with the winger quickly amassing an impressive catalog of goals in his time in Vancouver.
With a bit of luck elsewhere in the out-of-town fixtures, the win means the Caps will open up a modest amount of breathing room at the top of the Western Conference. They also earn a full week of rest, with the team looking more than a little tired down the stretch in this game — understandably so, after two draining games and a lot of cross-country travel. A date with Colorado next weekend will bring the road trip to a close and give the Caps a chance to further increase their lead at the top of the table.
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