Caps Reserves Collapse In Injury Time

A late game collapse in injury time by the Vancouver Whitecaps allowed the Timbers to come back and win their Reserve League match by the score of 3-2.  The Caps held the lead and looked good for the victory when in the first and fourth minutes of injury time goals by Brian Umony and Peter Lowrey turned the tables on the visitors from the north.  The Whitecaps goals were by Mustapha Jarju and Omar Salgado while Lowrey opened the scoring on a penalty kick.

The majority of the play in the first half went the Timbers way and they were rewarded with a penalty kick after a hand ball by Greg Janicki.  Soon after the penalty kick conversion by Peter Lowrey, the Whitecaps tied it before the half with a perfectly placed free kick by Mustapha Jarju.  The designated player was able to just clear the line and out of the reach of the Timbers goalkeeper to the far post.

The Caps played a better second half, at first were unlucky with Khalfan beating the goalkeeper but striking the post.  One of their PDL subs, Caleb Clarke, made a great turn and found Omar Salgado in the box where the first overall pick found the back of the net to give the Caps a lead.  It looked as though the Caps would get their second straight Reserve League win but disaster struck in injury time.  Umony got a hold of a ball that the Caps were unable to clear to even the score and then three minutes later a free kick was able to find Lowrey to bag his second of the match to claim victory.

It was a disappointing way to lose for the Caps four minutes away from being able to take a positive out of their trip to Oregon.  The collapse and disorganization of the backline during injury time was a replica of how the first team’s defense has performed over the last few games. 

There was some experimentation with Jarju playing in the central midfield behind the strikers and the Caps may have found another option for free kicks as his was perfectly placed into the back of the net.  There are also signs of hope for the future with inspired performances, especially in the second half by Salgado, Clarke, Khalfan, Davies and Tan.  Their next action in the reserve league will be at Swangard Stadium on September 6^th when they face the San Jose Earthquakes.

** Re-posted due to original story deletion