P osted by

Steve Bottjer ,

July 27, 2014 Email

Steve Bottjer



Twitter

@BottjerRNO

Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device



With the playoff table becoming very tight in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps returned home to BC Place on Sunday for a big match against conference rivals FC Dallas.



Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson made three changes to his starting lineup after last week's 1-1 road draw with Real Salt Lake. Morales, Matias Laba and Erik Hurtado, who started on the right wing, returned to the lineup in place of Nicolas Mezquida, Mehdi Ballouchy and Omar Salgado. The Opening 45 Team captain Pedro Morales once again set the pace for Vancouver early on, as the Whitecaps 30 shots in this match ended up setting a new club record in Major League Soccer, with only one other MLS side recording as many shots in a single game over the last four seasons.



In the 10th minute, the Chilean put on a cheeky juggling display to keep possession before sending in Mattocks, who saw his shot stopped by FC Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.



Mattocks had another big opportunity less than a minute later and this time he made no mistake. In the build-up, Morales and Gershon Koffie had a nice little combination in midfield before the Ghanaian released Mattocks down the middle with an inch-perfect throughball. The Jamaican striker made no mistake in calmly slotting home his shot.



To their credit, FC Dallas took advantage of their chances and managed to take a 2-1 lead into the break thanks to a Blas Perez rebound from close-range in the 29th minute and a Michel penalty kick in the 39th minute. Final score at BC Place: Whitecaps 2 - Dallas 2. So many chances for Vancouver to win … but again, another single point. — Hosea Cheung (@hosea24hours) July 27, 2014

The Second Half Vancouver continued to control possession and dictate the play through the second half.



The home team broke through and found an equalizer in the 54th minute, with a beautiful passing play between Mattocks, Morales, and Hurtado resulted in a Moises Hernandez handball inside the box.



Morales then stepped up and blasted the ensuing penalty into the bottom right corner to even the score up at 2-2.



The Whitecaps skipper nearly put Whitecaps FC in front less than a minute later, but another one of his long-distance strikes missed just wide.



Man of the Match Darren Mattocks The lighting quick forward continued his fine form this season while scoring a goal from open play. Mattocks caused all sorts of problems for Dallas with his speed and hustle up top and linked up well with his teammates and Morales in particular.



Honourable mention Pedro Morales continues to be the straw that stirs the drink for Vancouver. The Chilean maestro was in fine form again, as he orchestrated proceedings and attacked Dallas with a multitude of shots of his own. There can be no argument that Morales has been a fantastic signing for Vancouver, as it is hard to imagine where the team would be without him. Whitecaps FC Line-up

1.David Ousted; 33.Steven Beitashour (20.Nigel Reo-Coker 90'+2), 24.Carlyle Mitchell, 16.Johnny Leverón, 2.Jordan Harvey; 28.Gershon Koffie, 15.Matías Laba; 19.Erik Hurtado (23.Kekuta Manneh 69'), 77.Pedro Morales, 7.Sebastián Fernández (17.Omar Salgado 90'+3); 11.Darren Mattocks