The Vancouver Whitecaps' undefeated run in MLS was snapped. On the road, the Canadian squad fell 2-1 to Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field but stayed atop the Western Conference with 35 points through 17 rounds.
The defeat broke an 11-game league unbeaten streak without tainting the team's overall record for the season. Although losing, the Whitecaps share a league-high points-per-game record at 2.06 with Philadelphia Union. They are atop with 35 points, and the Crew are fourth with a score of 31 points.
A lightning start and an early goal by Columbus
It was evident from Columbus. Within two minutes of play, Lassi Lappalainen broke free on the left and crossed perfectly for Ibrahim Aliyu, unmarked in the box and who scored. The goal so early on, however, stunned Vancouver and completely transformed the complexion of the game.
The equalizer did not wait. At six minutes, Pedro Vite made the smartest first-half play. With an outside foot pass behind defense, he played Mathías Laborda alone on the right side. Afterwards, Daniel Ríos shot first time. The ball deflected off JC Ngando and deceived Crew goalkeeper Evan Bush. The 1-1 woke up the Whitecaps and leveled the match.
The Crew were once again clinical in the 23rd minute. Dániel Gazdag sent the pass to Diego Rossi, who was perfectly positioned within the box and fired it directly into Yohei Takaoka’s corner. One minute later, Vite almost equalized again but was prevented from so by the defense.
Canadian pressure and three disallowed goals.
Whitecaps responded in force at the start of the second period. Early on, Édier Ocampo tried from distance and forced Bush to make a quality save. Momentum was built. But it was Columbus Crew which scored, or so it believed. The ball did make it into goal three times, only for each of them to be ruled offside.
Aziel Jackson scored in minute number 60, but was deemed to have been offside. Rossi and Aliyu also scored later on, but the Whitecaps' defensive line was functioning smoothly, and VAR judged both plays to have been offside.
Ocampo nearly scores and Bush preserves the Crew
Its biggest chance of the second half arrived in the 69th minute. Priso created space for Ocampo on the right and the forward fired a powerful cross-shot from just outside goal, which was deflected off the post. Cubas had a go from distance shortly after, but was wide. The Builducu pressure was relentless. Making his MLS debut was JohnnySelemani, whose header attempt was comfortably saved by Bush in the 84th minute.
Takaoka delivers a strong finish and prevents a worse defeat. In the final minutes, the Crew could have sealed the result. On a quick counter, Jacen Russell-Rowe hit it hard, but Takaoka saved it and headed it for a corner kick. That was the final genuine chance of the contest. The Japan goalkeeper kept it from being closer and the defeat from being greater. Although pushed hard until the final whistle, an equaliser was never on their horizon.