VANCOUVER, BC – Redemption.
After an agonizing stoppage-time miss in last Saturday’s scoreless draw with Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC attacker Camilo put in perhaps his best performance of 2012 in his club’s 4-0 rout of Chivas USA on Wednesday.
“It’s a strength of character,” Barry Robson said. “He had a good game but he missed a chance. In my long career, I’ve missed loads of chances, so I know how it is. The thing is that’s football for you. And then he goes out tonight, makes a few goals, and everything’s fine for him again.”
The Brazilian had a role in every goal in the victory, which ended Vancouver’s seven-game winless skid. First, he played a through ball for Kenny Miller, who teed up Gershon Koffie for the opener 11 minutes in.
Then, he played a one-two with Dane Richards for the 2-0 goal 10 minutes before the break.
In the second half, Camilo continued his strong performance by getting on the end of a deflected cross from Richards to bag a goal of his own in the 62nd minute, before breaking out the “Gangnam Style” dance move from South Korean rapper Psy’s viral YouTube hit to the delight of the Whitecaps faithful.
“I looked at the video, and I said, if I score, I’ll dance this,” Camilo said. The striker said there was no input from Young-Pyo Lee, the club’s South Korean defender who shares an agent with his now famous countryman. “No, no – Y.P. is a shy guy!”
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The 24-year-old then blew past John Valencia with a nutmeg before crossing a ball into Robson for the final goal of the match, as the Scotsman cranked a shot past Kennedy on the half volley.
“The highs and lows of soccer,” head coach Martin Rennie said after the match. “We saw Camilo, the disappointment of the chance he missed on Saturday. Tonight he was involved in every goal. He had two goals and an assist and played the pass to Kenny for the [opener].
“What I liked about that was how our players backed him up and supported him when he had that disappointment.”
Martin MacMahon covers Vancouver Whitecaps FC for MLSsoccer.com.
