Whitecaps FC see off Chivas USA with 3-1 victory

VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6W-5L-4D) earned their fourth win in their past six matches by seeing off the challenge of Chivas USA (3W-9L-2D) with a comfortable 3-1 victory in front of 16,130 fans at BC Place on Wednesday.

The victory kept the 'Caps undefeated at home this season and moved the Blue and White up to fourth place in the Western Conference. With two assists, Russell Teibert is now tied for the league lead with six - all in the past four matches. Camilo's two goals, meanwhile, now give him seven in his past six matches in all competitions, while Jordan Harvey's goal was his third in the past four matches.

NEXT HOME MATCH JULY 6 VS. SEATTLE

For the first time this season head coach Martin Rennie named an unchanged lineup, with the team that started the weekend’s 4-3 victory against New England Revolution also lining up against Chivas USA. Centre back Johnny Leveron started after returning from international duty with Honduras on Tuesday night.

Chivas USA took an early lead in the seventh minute when Carlos Alvarez fed the ball wide for Tristan Bowen with the striker unleashing a fizzing shot that appeared to deflect off of Harvey, sailing over Brad Knighton into the far corner of the net.

There was almost an equalizer for Whitecaps FC in the 18th minute when Russell Teibert took a quick throw-in from the right to Kenny Miller, who in turn sent an inviting cross in to Camilo. The Brazilian got his head on it from close range, but wide of target.

There was a nervy moment in the 25th minute for Whitecaps FC when a surging run forward by Jorge Villafana saw the midfielder find space for a shot, but a fine block from Leveron denied Chivas USA a second goal.

Some good combination play from Vancouver almost came off in the 33rd minute when a ball forward from Leveron was flicked by Camilo into the path of Miller. However the Scot’s first time effort was drilled wide of the post with Whitecaps FC pushing for a goal to level the match.

That equalizer finally came on the stroke of halftime when Camilo played the ball through to Teibert two minutes into added time. The young winger cut the ball back across the box and, after a touch from Camilo, the ball fell to Harvey whose shot was deflected past Dan Kennedy and into the Chivas USA goal to make it 1-1.

That wasn't the end for the action in the first half though. Barely a minute later, Camilo grabbed another for Vancouver after running onto a ball from Teibert. The 'Caps in-form striker kept his composure and slotted the ball into the far corner to give Whitecaps FC a 2-1 lead going into the break. The one-minute and 22 seconds between goals was the fastest pair of tallies for the 'Caps since April 2, 2011, when Camilo scored two goals in added time to salvage a 3-3 draw at home to Sporting Kansas City.

At halftime, centre back Leveron received three stitches under his right eye after a collision in the first half with rookie Chivas USA midfielder Alvarez. But the 'Caps confidence was certainly not battered after a fine end to the first half as they looked to carry that momentum into the final 45 minutes.

After a quiet opening to the second half, Vancouver carved out an opportunity in the 66th minute when Teibert raced down the right wing and drilled a cross into the area. Camilo looked to get a first time shot away but a timely challenge denied him the chance.

Another chance came Vancouver’s way in the 73rd minute when Camilo raced down the right wing and sent the ball across the box for Miller but again the ball was cleared before the striker could get a shot on target.

The match was finally wrapped up in the 81st minute. Teibert again beat his defender on the right wing before settling himself and picking out Harvey on the edge of the area. The defender played a quick one-two with Matt Watson before playing the ball back into the box. A deflection saw the ball fall kindly for the Camilo, giving him enough space to lash in his second goal of the match. The third goal also brought Vancouver's season total to 25 goals scored in MLS, tied for the most in the league with Portland Timbers and with Whitecaps FC having played one less match.

There was a final sight of goal for Whitecaps FC two minutes into injury time when Reo-Coker won the ball in midfield and charged forward. The midfielder played the ball to his right to substitute Tommy Heinemann who in turn sent a cross to Camilo, who was open at the far post. The striker brought the ball down and tried a backheel finish but saw his effort cleared off the line. The rebound fell for Erik Hurtado who fired a shot at goal, but he too saw his shot blocked off the line as the match finished 3-1 to Vancouver.

After a performance that featured two goals and an assist, Camilo was awarded the Budweiser Man of the Match award.

Whitecaps FC now have a 10-day break from MLS action. The 'Caps next play next on June 29 as they travel to Washington, D.C. looking to improve on their 4W-1L-0D record against Eastern Conference sides this season. Kickoff at RFK Stadium will be at 4 p.m. PT.

MATCH DETAILS

Budweiser Man of the Match: Camilo
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Attendance: 16,130

Scoring Summary
7' - CHV - Tristan Bowen (Carlos Alvarez)
45' + 2 - VAN - Jordan Harvey (Russell Teibert, Camilo)
45' + 4 - VAN - Camilo (Russell Teibert)
82' - VAN - Camilo

Match Stats
Shots: Vancouver  14 - Chivas USA 8
Shots on Goal: Vancouver 6  - Chivas USA 1
Saves: Vancouver 0  - Chivas USA 3
Fouls: Vancouver 8  - Chivas USA 12
Offsides: Vancouver 0  - Chivas USA 2
Corners: Vancouver 4  - Chivas USA 2

Cautions
40' - CHV - Carlos Alvarez
54' - CHV - Tristan Bowen

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

18.Brad Knighton; 12.Young-Pyo Lee, 24.Carlyle Mitchell, 16.Johnny Leveron, 2.Jordan Harvey; 14.Daigo Kobayashi (27.Jun Marques Davidson 79'), 13.Nigel Reo-Coker, 8.Matt Watson; 31.Russell Teibert (19.Erik Hurtado 89'), 7.Camilo Sanvezzo, 9.Kenny Miller (29.Tommy Heinemann 90')

Substitutes not used:

1.Joe Cannon, 11.Darren Mattocks, 26.Corey Hertzog, 33.Adam Clement

Chivas USA

1. Dan Kennedy; 3. Mario de Luna, 5. Carlos Borja, 4. Walter Vilchez, 11. Gabriel Farfan; 6. Jose Manuel Rivera (18. Aaron Ponce 69'), 20. Carlos Alvarez, 30. Oswaldo Minda, 19. Jorge Villafana (12. Marco Delgado 73'), 7. Tristan Bowen (31. Marvin Iraheta 75'); 27. Jose Correa

Substitutes not used:

24. Patrick McLain, 2. Bobby Burling, 23. Joaquin Velazquez, 25. Steve Purdy