VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Head coach Martin Rennie
Thoughts on the match:
“We’re just happy to get the win. There were some great performances by some individuals today. We played well, we passed the ball well and scoring three goals is always a great thing. We saw the first home game of Darren scoring goals and hopefully we’ll see more of that. We saw a lot from our young players, but everybody played well.
We came up against a very strong team. Houston is a top team in MLS and they put us under a lot of pressure at the end of the first half and the start of the second half. One of the signs of improvement is we stood up to that and we came through in the end. I’m very pleased with how it went and it’s a great start for the month of June for us.
Every time we get a chance to play at home, fans get behind us and there’s a lot of passion in the stadium and it’s up to the players to bring the same on the field and today we did that and it made the atmosphere fantastic. We look forward to the next one and I hope the fans do as well.”
Thoughts on the play of Gershon Koffie:
“Gershon Koffie was absolutely outstanding today. He won a lot of second balls and was good with his possession. He was athletic and powerful, but he played great balls behind as well.
His overall play was excellent. What’s important for him and the team is for us to be consistently good. I can think of a couple of other games where he has played well in spells, but that’s the most consistent 90 minutes overall. He wasn’t the only one, but I thought at times he was excellent.”
Thoughts on the play of Darren Mattocks:
“One thing about Darren is that he creates chances and today he created maybe four or five others. Almost every game he creates chances and if he’s consistent with his finishes, he can score a lot of goals. Scoring goals helps him get in the lineup and if he scores more, it will build his confidence.
His speed opened up the game and we were able to pass the ball really well and part of that is because there’s a threat behind the opposition that Darren creates. Both he and Eric can contribute a lot to our team and the fact that they play differently is a positive. Some games it may be more suited for the way Eric plays and some others for the style Darren brings and some games it will be suited for both of them to play together. They have great attributes and we love having guys like that on our team.”
Darren Mattocks
Thoughts on the match:
“It’s really amazing. We’ve been working really hard all week after a two week break, so it’s really good that we had a fantastic performance our first game back. We’ve just got to keep working hard, stay disciplined and focused, and realize that this is just one of many games in a season.”
On his chemistry with Gershon Koffie:
“Those are fantastic passes he gave me. We’re really close on the team and it’s really good for us and the whole team that we have that chemistry.”
On the early goal:
“It’s really fantastic. From the get-go we were really flying and focused to get the lead, and that’s what we did.”
On getting the start:
“There are a lot of fantastic guys on the team. Anyone can make the starting eleven at any point, that’s the depth of our team. Once you get your chance you just have to make the most of it.”
Gershon Koffie
On playing with Mattocks:
“I know he can run that fast. I keep telling him at practice that as soon as he can run he should just keep going and I will put the ball behind the defenders.”
On the match being his best as a Whitecaps FC player:
“That was my dream game with two assists. I think my confidence keeps growing game after game. Last year I was here too so I know what all of the players can do.”
On his building confidence:
“I think sometimes the game might not be going your way but the coach will give you confidence the next game to start so you have to improve your game.
Jay DeMerit
On starting the home stand strong:
“That was our focus all week, to make sure that after a good break you come and do the right thing on the field, otherwise it doesn’t seem like that break is worthwhile. We focused on that, but to see the eleven and the subs come on tonight and change the game is a positive sign for us. You look at the stages of a long season, and we started a new one tonight. To start off on that note is a major positive.”
On beating a consistently elite team in Houston:
“You look at the advantages you have to take on certain nights and they’re missing a couple of their key guys so we have to take advantage of that. I think we did that tonight. I thought we exposed them well at the back and that’s what it’s all about.”
On getting off to a quick start after a long break:
“I think having our home field advantage was good. We got to train in here this week; we [had] to make sure we were doing the right things as far as our squad games and our fitness were going. When you focus on coming out strong and starting the performance right – which we did tonight – that helps. Everyone has got to be up for it and today we were.”
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Dominic Kinnear
Thoughts on the match:
“We gave up an early goal and were chasing the game. We were great for the first half, we controlled a lot of it but we were still chasing the game. We had enough chances to score more than one goal today; we had some looks at goal, Joe Cannon made a couple of great saves too so give him credit. The way we started the game was a problem for us tonight, but overall on the road to carry possession is obviously great but the most important thing is a result.”
On Camargo:
“I thought he did ok, he battled hard. I thought he did battle pretty well against some good players in Chiumiento and Le Toux out wide, but he did ok.”
Going forward:
“We have 22 games left. We play Dallas on Saturday which is an important game for us. We have some catching up to do and it's important to start putting together some wins.”
Tally Hall
Thoughts on the match:
“There were times that we were the better team but at the end of the day it's about the score and I think we were kind of our own worst enemy at times. Obviously not starting the game out well and giving up that chance is disappointing. I thought we rebounded. Hats off to Joe Cannon, he came up with some really big saves today and kept the team in it. We're disappointed with the loss.”
On giving up an early lead:
“I think we've got a mature team and the way we played was excellent after we gave up the goals. I think it's a team that can handle different situations well and I thought we did that especially in the first half. Then in the second half it was a little bit less. It can be tough but I have faith in this team.”
Looking forward to FC Dallas:
“It's obviously a big game for us, not just three points it's also the biggest rival of the year, so we're going home and we're looking for three points.”
Macoumba Kandji
On scoring his first goal for Houston:
“At the end of the day we lost, so it didn't really feel good. We've just got to move on from it and focus on the game next week in Houston.”
Thoughts on the match:
“I think we played really well, just a couple of mistakes they were able to take advantage of and score on us, but I think we did well overall.”
On Joe Cannon's performance:
“He came in big for them today, really big. You have to give him props for that. Especially the shot I got in the last minute that he saved, I have to give him props on that.”
On the Whitecaps performance:
“They were definitely a very difficult team to play today, but even though I think that we still broke them down really well. Darren Mattocks did really well up top for them, with his speed he definitely came up big for them today.”
Moving forward:
“I think we did everything, we’ve just got to finish our chances. We were just unlucky; we usually finish those but we were unlucky today. We've got to move on from it and focus on the game in Houston against Dallas next Saturday.”
NOTES
- Whitecaps FC end a three-match winless streak in MLS and five-match winless streak overall
- First two-goal game in MLS for a Whitecaps FC player (Darren Mattocks) this season
- First assist in MLS for Gershon Koffie
- First goal as a Whitecaps FC player for Jordan Harvey
- Houston remain winless in Canada 0W-4L-3D
- The loss for Houston ends their four-match unbeaten streak in MLS
