VANCOUVER, BC – Despite a flurry of chances, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2W-2L-2D) recorded a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake (2W-3L-2D) at BC Place on Saturday.

Highlights: Whitecaps FC 1 - 1 Real Salt Lake

An impressive finish from Real Salt Lake substitute Olmes Garcia opened the scoring before Whitecaps FC leveled the match with a penalty from Camilo in the final ten minutes

There was one change to the starting lineup from last match in San Jose as Camilo replaced Erik Hurtado.

Following a quiet opening, Whitecaps FC roared into life in the ninth minute following some good work on the right from Russell Teibert as he took out two Real Salt Lake defenders with a clever flick through to the overlapping Young-Pyo Lee. The fullback composed himself and rifled a shot at the far corner which was heading in until being tipped over by RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

From the resulting corner Brad Rusin headed back across goal to Camilo who had two attempts blocked before sending his third effort over the bar.

Vancouver came close again on 18 minutes as Chris Schuler brought down Corey Hertzog, who was on the edge of the box after playing a neat one-two with Daigo Kobayashi. The resulting free kick was taken by Camilo whose shot was heading for the top right corner before Rimando got across to palm the ball away.

On 25 minutes some good pressure from Whitecaps FC saw them win the ball outside the RSL area. Nigel Reo-Coker played the ball to Camilo who took an opportunistic strike at goal which looked to be sneaking into the bottom far corner before Rimando turned the ball round the post.

Real Salt Lake’s first attack of the game almost resulted in a goal on 34 minutes as substitute Yordanay Alvarez played the ball through to Joao Plata. The diminutive attacker applied a tricky backheel flick past Joe Cannon, but not before the referee had called the play back for an offside.

Despite a dominant first half, Whitecaps FC went into the break knotted in a 0-0 match.

POST MATCH

INTERVIEWS:

Real Salt Lake came on strong in the second half and carved out a chance on 61 minutes as Javier Morales made space in the box before cutting back to Olmes Garcia. The substitute’s first time effort was struck straight at Cannon. The ball rebounded back to Morales but the referee called for offside to let Vancouver off the hook.

Whitecaps FC didn’t heed the warning as five minutes later RSL opened the scoring. Garcia found himself with space on the edge of the box and bent a fine effort into the far corner and past Cannon.

Vancouver looked to respond and almost did on 75 minutes as Ned Grabavoy brought down Lee for a free kick on the right flank. Although Teibert’s first delivery was punched out by Rimando, the second delivery into the box found Alain Rochat open at the back post but the defender’s first time strike went narrowly wide.

The deserved equalizer did come on 84 minutes as RSL defender Nat Borchers handled the ball in the area after slipping under pressure from substitute Darren Mattocks. Camilo stepped up to take the penalty and sent Rimando the wrong way to level the scores with less than 10 minutes to go.

Kekuta Manneh almost carved out an opportunity for a winner as the rookie sprinted past Tony Beltran and cut back to deliver a teasing cross for Mattocks. The ball across was just too high for the Jamaican to make contact with the goal gaping.

Despite Vancouver’s pressure throughout the five added minutes at the end of the match it was Real Salt Lake who had the clearest opportunity to score a late winner. A close range header from Borchers was tipped over from Cannon in the 95 minute to preserve the draw for Whitecaps FC.

Russell Teibert was rewarded for a lively performance in the centre of midfield for Whitecaps FC with the Budweiser Man of the Match award as Vancouver recorded a second successive 1-1 draw.

The ‘Caps now head for their second trip to Texas this season as they take on FC Dallas next Saturday, April 20. Kickoff at FC Dallas Stadium will be at 5:30p.m. PT.