VANCOUVER, B.C. – Vancouver Whitecaps took the game to the LA Galaxy from the first whistle on Saturday night, putting in a confident and assured performance on the way to a comfortable 2-0 win over the defending MLS Cup champs.
Second-half goals from Kekuta Manneh and Octavio Rivero did the damage as the Whitecaps increased their winning streak to four matches.
The win catapults Vancouver (4-1-0; 12 points) to the top of both the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield standings, for now at least. LA (1-2-2; 5 points) are still looking for their first road win of the season and now fall seven points behind the Whitecaps in the early running.
The home side seized the initiative right from the start. 'Caps captain Pedro Morales showed off the best of the early touches when he collected a short pass from Nicolas Mezquida in the box, turned brilliantly but shot straight at Jaime Penedo in the Galaxy goal.
In a change from their recent games, the Whitecaps dominated possession. But clear-cut chances were hard to come by for both sides, with 'Caps keeper David Ousted not having one save to make the entire half.
LA came more into the game at the start of the second, but as they pushed forward it was Vancouver who took the lead in the 56th minute with another of their trademark counterattack goals.
Morales played a sublime pass through to Kekuta Manneh, who drilled the ball past Penedo for his first of the season.
The Whitecaps sensed blood and doubled their lead in the 66th minute after some Uruguayan magic.
Octavio Rivero showed some nice footwork in the box as he tried to weave his way past a pack of LA defenders. But just as it looked like he would take the ball on his own, he left it for Mezquida to take off his feet and head to the byeline.
As the winger fired a shot towards goal, Penedo could only parry it into the path of Rivero, who grabbed his fourth goal of the season and gave Vancouver the 2-0 lead.
LA pushed for a way back in the game, with substitute Edson Buddle seeing a couple of chances. Meanwhile Erik Hurtado nearly added a late third for Vancouver, but Penedo came up with the save.
Vancouver don't have long to wait to get back into action, hosting the Columbus Crew at BC Place on Wednesday evening. LA head home for a battle featuring the Western Conference's two recent powerhouses, when Seattle Sounders come to town next Sunday.
LA Galaxy 0, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
Saturday, April 4, 2015 – 7:00 p.m. PT
MLS Regular Season
BC Place – Vancouver
Scoring Summary:
VAN – Kekuta Manneh (Assisted by Pedro Morales, Russell Teibert) 56’
VAN – Octavio Rivero 66’
Misconduct Summary:
VAN – Pa-Modou Kah (caution) 41’
VAN – Sam Adekugbe (caution) 59’
LA – Gyasi Zardes (caution) 85’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Jaime Penedo; A.J. DeLaGarza, Tommy Meyer (Alan Gordon 78’), Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant (Edson Buddle 64’); Juninho, Baggio Husidic, Mika Vayrynen (Robbie Rogers 40’), Stefan Ishizaki; Robbie Keane ©, Gyasi Zardes.
Substitutions not used: Brian Rowe, Dan Gargan, Rafael Garcia, Ignacio Maganto.
TOTAL SHOTS: 6; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 7.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: David Ousted; Steven Beitashour, Pa-Modou Kah, Kendall Waston, Sam Adekugbe; Matias Laba, Russell Teibert, Kekuta Manneh (Darren Mattocks 78’), Pedro Morales ©; Nicolas Mezquida (Deybi Flores 82’), Octavio Rivero (Erik Hurtado 86’).
Substitutions not used: Paolo Tornaghi, Jordan Harvey, Tim Parker, Robert Earnshaw.
TOTAL SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; FOULS: 6; OFFSIDE: 3; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 1.
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Referee’s Assistants: Jeff Hosking and Richard Gamache
4th Official: David Gantar
Attendance: 21,000
