The Vancouver Whitecaps were in desperate need of something positive to happen for them on Wednesday night as they welcomed the San Jose Earthquakes to B.C. Place for a massive Western Conference match. It has been exactly one month since the last time that Vancouver has scored a goal, a span of 411 minutes over five matches. Their fortunes changed with a big 2-0 win that propelled them back into the fifth and final playoff position in the Western Conference.
Vancouver would score first on a penalty kick from Pedro Morales in the 39th minute to break the goal-scoring drought at 449 minutes. The penalty was made possible by a poor challenge in the box by San Jose defender Victor Bernardez. He was not able to keep an eye on new Whitecaps signing Kendall Waston off of a costless kick.
Waston got between Bernardez and the goal while being the primary target for the costless kick. Bernardez gave the opposing center-back a little nudge in the back as he went up for the costless header but it was spotted by referee Juan Carlos Rivero and thus the penalty was given. Pedro Morales stepped up to the spot and fired a low ball past Jon Busch to make the score 1-0.
It would be another set piece that would set up the second goal for the Whitecaps. In the 56th minute, Morales whipped a costless kick across the face of goal. Kendall Waston outmuscled Victor Bernardez to keep his head on the ball, the header was low to the ground and hard enough to get past Busch before he could get a paw to it.
The Whitecaps had some good chances to add to their lead but realistically this was the perfect result for them. A win that puts them back above Portland Timbers in the Western Conference before the teams meet for the final time next Saturday the 20th at Providence Park. That will be a very important game for the playoff positioning but also to see if Vancouver can take a leg up in the race for the Cascadia Cup which will be decided on October 10th at CenturyLink Field.
Vancouver travels to Dallas for a Saturday evening showdown with FC Dallas. San Jose Earthquakes return home to host the final California Clasico of 2014 against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday afternoon from Buck Shaw Stadium.