P osted by

Harjeet Johal ,

September 25, 2015 Twitter

@HarJournalist Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device



VANCOUVER, B.C - Going into this match, the Vancouver Whitecaps talked about running the table and earning four important victories in a row if they had any hopes of making the MLS playoffs. That goal became an even bigger uphill climb following a 3-3 draw vs the Colorado Rapids. A crowd of 21,851 witnessed a back and forth match with poor defending from both teams, and shocking goalkeeping Shkelzen Gashi had a second half brace, Kendall Waston was sent off, and a goal was scored in stoppage time. Vancouver falls to 9-15-8 on the season with their playoff hopes dangling in the wind. Carl Robinson was none to happy with his teams first half performance, at a time in the season when picking up a win was the top priority. Vancouver just didn't have urgency from the start of the match. It was a roller-coaster of a second half, but not a preferred result for either side after 90 minutes. “One word would be wow," said Carl Robinson. "That just sums us up, our season, totally up. First half not good enough, not acceptable. I let the players know that at halftime I thought we were well off the pace. They deserved to be ahead, even though it was a shocking goal, miscommunication. It has happened a number of times this year. We altered one or two things in the second half. The positives I’ll take out of it is that they showed tremendous fight, spirit, heart, but made two mistakes again, which cost us. We had an uphill mountain to climb and we did, and we get back in it in the last-minute. But a lot of positives in the second half, but we’ve thrown two points away.” Colorado Manager, Pablo Mastroeni was equally dissatisfied with the result from his team. "I don’t think it was entertaining at all. I think we dropped two points. I think we had this game under control. Unfortunately, one of the things we take most pride in is defense, it let us down today. I think it just leaves a sour taste in your mouth as you prepare for the game against Portland next week.” Rapids centre-back, Axel Sjoberg scored earlier this season at B.C. Place in a 2-2 draw vs Vancouver. He spoke to Red Nation Online about the match and why Colorado can't seem to defend well at B.C. Place. "I don't think it's been so much about B.C. Place, both games we've played this year have been very emotional, and very hectic on both sides of the ball, especially in the boxes. They throw a lot of people in there. They commit guys, and they commit numbers. For some reason, these two games, the bounces have just gone the way were a lot of goals have been scored. It's just been the way it goes, obviously we're not happy with that on the defensive side of the ball." The Opening 45

The first goal of the match was a microcosm of what the Whitecaps have experienced all season. The inability to cut out little, tiny mistakes came back to bite them. Colorado was rewarded with a gift of a goal in the 8' minute. Sam Cronin sent in the speedy Marlon Hairston. The Colorado Rapids winger was taken out by an emerging, sliding, David Ousted. The ball found a wide open Dominque Badji and he buried his shot inside the vacated Vancouver net. Ousted gambled and lost, Jordan Harvey was taken out of the play as well. "Hindsight is 20-20," admitted Ousted after the match. "He’s suddenly coming over the top on a long ball – we get done by two long balls today. I see it and come out and hopefully pressure him, he takes a touch behind me and I just try to, well head it away to be honest with you. I can always stay on my line, give myself a chance to make a save, but again, guys coming through along and I try to do it. Maybe it wasn't the right decision.” The Whitecaps struggled to put together a consistent flow to the match and create subsequent scoring opportunities. Vancouver missed the target, missed passes to one and other, and failed to really challenge the former English Premier League keeper. The first half wasn't the greatest showing from the Caps. Heading into halftime, the Rapids remained out in front thanks to David Ousted's blunder. Vancouver held a 56% - 44% possession advantage as they looked to regroup for the second half. New rules for #vwfc:

3 at the back.

Play with 10 men.

Attack like your seaon is already over. — Paul S-H (@Subhedgehog) September 25, 2016 It's NOT fine lines, Robbo. It's 90 mins of crap play each week. It's poor subs. It's incorrect transfers. But it's not fine lines. #VWFC https://t.co/BcqjT3K3lg — Vancouver Armada (@VancouverArmada) September 25, 2016

The Second Half

Needing a win, the Whitecaps started the second half with some desperation as they looked for an equalizer. Captain, Pedro Morales attempted to beat Tim Howard from distance with a long-range chip. Howard had to back pedal, leap, and tip the ball over the net. Vancouver kept on pressing and on the ensuing corner they would tie the match. Christian Bolanos sent corner in and Kendall Waston was left unmarked in the box. The Costa Rican international delivered his header into the net, past Tim Howard. Vancouver was back in the match and looked to have taken over momentum. The joy of finding the equalizer did not last long. Kendall Waston was the last man back and chasing a streaking Dominque Badji. The Caps centre-back brought down the Rapids striker. Waston was issued a straight red card from referee Baldomero Toledo and a penalty was awarded to Colorado. Shkelzen Gashi sent David Ousted the wrong way. Colorado went ahead 2-1 in the 57' minute. Vancouver was forced to play with 10 men. Playing down a man didn't seem to hamper Carl Robinson's lads. Vancouver kept on fighting back and soon enough they would strike again with another goal. Pedro Morales scored his first MLS goal since May 22 vs Portland. Morales was setup by Giles Barnes and he finished from in close in the 70 minute. Colorado quickly regained the lead with a sublime cracker of a free kick from Albanian international, Shkelzen Gashi. The Euro 2016 player delivered a beautiful free kick into the top right corner. The Caps were content to take something from the match and through a miracle they eventually found an equalizer for the third time. Deep into stoppage time, Erik Hurtado struck the crossbar. The ball came down and hit the back of Marc Burch's leg and went in. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. It was a game of fine lines. The Whitecaps should have started the first half a lot stronger, and Colorado should have been able to kill the game off when Kendall Waston was ejected. The Rapids have allowed five goals in two matches at B.C. Place this season and still the Caps have not been able to earn a win against them. Vancouver's errors took a toll and they seemed to always be chasing the game. Colorado Rapids, Tim Howard left the pitch in a hurry and was in a foul mood following the result. Red Nation Online caught up with Howard to find out what he made of a difficult match at B.C. Place. "Today we weren't good enough," said Howard. "We took the lead three times and played with eleven men versus ten, we deserved to win, but we made too many... we didn't get it right on too many critical plays. We were a little bit sloppy, that's all." Man of the Match What a free kick this is by Shkëlzen Gashi https://t.co/CHqZNcxPqq — SB Nation Soccer (@SBNationSoccer) September 25, 2016

Shkelzen Gashi

The Zurich born, Shkelzen Gashi stepped up his game in the second half. Colorado wanted to put the Whitecaps away and Gashi scored a second half brace. He was calm from the penalty spot, and accurate with his free kick goal. Big game players step up in the crunch and Gashi did just that. Who was your Whitecaps Man of the Match?

Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Jordan Smith, 59 (Tim Parker) David Edgar, Kendall Waston, Jordan Harvey; Christian Bolaños, 64 (Andrew Jacobson) Matias Laba, 85 (Nicolas Mezquida) Pedro Morales(C), Alphonso Davies; Giles Barnes, Erik Hurtado. 4-4-2. Colorado Rapids Starting XI: Tim Howard; Marc Burch, Axel Sjöberg, Jared Watts, Eric Miller; Michael Azira, Sam Cronin; Shkelzen Gashi, Dillon Powers, 85 (Marco Pappa) Marlon Hairston, 81 (Sebastien Le Toux); Dominque Badji, 89 (Mekeil Williams). 4-2-3-1 Notes: Vancouver Whitecaps FC's Alphonso Davies (15), became the second youngest player to start an MLS match.