VANCOUVER, BC – Thanks to an inadvertent handball in the box from Real Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers, Vancouver Whitecaps FC scampered out of BC Place on Saturday afternoon with a point.
Camilo converted the resulting penalty with ease for what would turn out to be the game-tying goal in the 1-1 draw, but in what is becoming a recurring theme for this Whitecaps squad, the story once again was an inability to finish in front of goal.
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Full match recap
And it was the goalscorer himself who was the most wasteful in the final third, botching three chances to beat Nick Rimando from close range in the 10th minute. The Brazilian then hit a swerving free kick toward the top right corner which forced Rimando into a strong save, before attempting a long range effort that the goalkeeper touched out for a corner.
“I have a couple of chances and I need to score,” Camilo said of his squandered opportunities. “But I continued on the game and keep focused. I listen to what the coach said before the game – ‘be focused on the next game, be focused on the next ball, be focused on the next ball,’ and the next ball I’ll try to put in the net.”
Despite his side’s lack of finish, Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie was adamant that he was pleased with the performance and felt that it would soon lead to wins.
“I think we dominated for long spells, especially in the first half,” Rennie said. “We were really happy with how we were playing, but we didn’t manage to convert the opportunities we had, which was a little disappointing. But over the course of the game, I think it was one of those days where we deserved more out of it.
“Rimando made a number of fantastic saves and sometimes you come up against a goalkeeper who’s having a great, great afternoon, and that happened to us today.”
OPTA CHALKBOARD:
Camilo's day vs. Real Salt Lake
The Scotsman also seemed upset when a reporter suggested it was only a stoppage-time save from Joe Cannon that prevented this draw from becoming a defeat.
“I think that’s a glass very half-empty approach,” Rennie said. “Because just before that we had multiple chances. We just missed on the back post with [Darren] Mattocks and that’s professional soccer at this level.
“If we have a lapse of concentration to give away a corner and Joe makes a good save, that’s what he’s there for. We defended the next corner well. But before that we had multiple chances, so I mean it all depends on your perspective.”
Martin MacMahon covers the Vancouver Whitecaps for MLSsoccer.com
