The Vancouver Whitecaps shook off an early deficit to score three consecutive goals in a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Crew at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. With the win, the 'Caps broke an eight-match winless streak but stayed in seventh place in the Western Conference, one place behind the final playoff spot in the West. Meanwhile, the Crew remained rooted at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and will need to win out in order to earn a playoff spot. The Crew also moved to 4-4-8 at home and is now the only team in MLS without a winning record at home this season.  

Whitecaps' substitutes prove to be the difference on Saturday

The game was delayed for more than an hour and a half because of heavy rain, but that didn't stop the Columbus Crew from getting off to a great start. In the 11th minute, Crew midfielder Mohammed "Mo" Saeid delivered an in-swinging corner kick into the Whitecaps' 18-yard-box, and Ola Kamara used his right foot to flick the ball past Caps goalkeeper David Ousted to give the host Crew a 1-0 lead. 

Just two minutes later, the Caps equalized in rather bizarre fashion. Caps central midfielder Russell Teibert crossed the ball from the left side of the Crew's 18-yard-box, and his cross deflected off of Crew center back Michael Parkhurst before hitting Parkhurst's center back partner, Gaston Sauro, square in the forehead. The ball deflected off of Sauro's forehead and flew past Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark for a Crew own goal. 

The Crew was determined to retake the lead before halftime. Crew right back Harrison Afful and left back Corey Ashe ran up and down their respective flanks and put copious amounts of pressure on the Caps' back line. Forward Kamara put the ball in the back of the net in the 41st minute but was ruled offside on the play. The Caps were able to withstand the Crew's heavy pressure and the two teams entered the halftime break tied at one.

In the second half, the Caps made two changes, bringing on Major League Soccer veteran Andrew Jacobson for the injured Teibert and replacing starting forward Giles Barnes with substitute Erik Hurtado. It was Jacobson who would give the Caps the lead in the 74th minute. Christian Bolanos found Jacobson in yards of space and the 30-year-old did the rest, dribbling through the heart of the Crew's midfield before unleashing a low drive that beat Crew goalkeeper Clark. It was Jacobson's second goal of the season and could not have come at a better time for the Caps. 

The Crew brought on forward Adam Jahn and left back Waylon Francis as they searched for an equalizer, but it was the Caps who would score the game's next--and final--goal. In the 82nd minute, Caps defender David Edgar redirected teammate Bolanos' corner kick towards goal, forcing Crew goalkeeper Clark into an acrobatic save. But no Crew defender picked up Caps forward Hurtado, who slammed home the rebound to give the Caps a 3-1 lead. It was Hurtado's first goal in almost two years and his goal led some Crew fans to file towards the exits. 

The Caps' third goal knocked the fight out of the Crew and the home team finished the game with 10 men. In the 86th minute, midfielder Tony Tchani petulantly kicked Hurtado away from the ball and center referee Fotis Bazakos showed Tchani a red card. By then, the game was already done and dusted, and when the final whistle sounded, the Caps players and coaching staff celebrated as the dejected Crew trudged off the field. 

Men of the match

Columbus Crew: Harrison Afful

The 30-year-old World Cup veteran was the Crew's best player on Saturday. Not only did Afful do a solid job defending Caps left midfielder Cristian Techera, but he also worked tirelessly to support the Crew's attack. The Ghanaian finished with three shots, one shot on goal and two fouls suffered. On the defensive end, Afful finished with three interceptions and five tackles. The Crew has played far below expectations this season, but Afful has been the lone bright spot and he showed why on Saturday. 

Vancouver Whitecaps: Andrew Jacobson

When Jacobson was subbed in for center midfielder Teibert in the 55th minute, no one expected him to score the game-winning goal. Yet Jacobson did just that in the 74th minute, turning Crew midfielder Nicolai Naess inside out before hitting an outside-of-the-box rocket that flew past Crew goalkeeper Clark. Jacobson also did some crucial defensive work in the last fifteen minutes of the match and finished with three tackles, two interceptions, and one clearance. If Teibert is out for the Caps next match, Jacobson should be one of the Caps' two starting center midfielders for the time being. 

Andrew Jacobson (in right, blue) scored a great goal and helped preserve the Whitecaps' win. Photo credit: Darryl Dick/The Canadian Press
Andrew Jacobson (in right, blue) scored a great goal and helped preserve the Whitecaps' win. Photo credit: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

What's next for both teams

The Columbus Crew will travel to Orlando, Florida to take on Orlando City SC on Saturday, September 17, at 7:30 PM ET. If the Crew lose against Orlando City next Saturday, their playoff dreams will be dashed. Even a draw won't suffice; the Crew must beat Orlando City if they hope to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. 

The Vancouver Whitecaps will wrap up the 2016 CONCACAF Champions League group stage when they take on Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park on Tuesday, September 13, at 8:00 PM ET. The Whitecaps need just a draw to advance out of the group stage and move onto the knockout round.

The Whitecaps will then take on the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, September 17, at 4:00 PM ET. Whoever wins next Saturday's match will keep their playoff dreams alive for another week, so the Caps will need to defeat the Sounders on the road in order to stay alive in the Western Conference playoff race. 

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About the author
Matt Niksa
Matt is a junior at Boston University, majoring in journalism and minoring in economics. He is a Vancouver Whitecaps supporter, a Chelsea FC supporter, and an avid soccer player himself. You can follow Matt on Twitter and LinkedIn.