P osted by

Harjeet Johal ,

August 8, 2015 Twitter

@HarJournalist Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device



VANCOUVER, B.C - Carl Robinson and the Whitecaps busy month of August continued with a match against Real Salt Lake at BC Place. Coach Jeff Cassar decided to leave a lot of his regular players back in Utah. The players that Real Salt Lake did insert were no match for the high-flying Vancouver Whitecaps. The good times kept on rolling as Vancouver won 4-0 in front of 20,638 fans. Cristian Techera scored a second half brace while countryman Octavio Rivero scored his 9th goal of the season. Pa-Modou Kah also scored his third goal in a span of 8-days. Jordan Harvey added a pair of assists and David Ousted picked up his league leading 9th MLS clean sheet. Carl Robinson was pleased with his team's performance after a needed pep talk during the interval. "I think we didn’t play well in the first half, but, we got our noses in front from a penalty. I said to them at halftime, they need to tidy up a few things. I think the second half was a lot better. Obviously, got two goals, disappointed not to get one or two more. It was a trap game for us. It was difficult. Jeff (Cassar) decided to rotate his line-up, leave a couple of his bigger players at home based upon the game on Wednesday, which every team in this league does."



The Opening 45

Nick Rimando, Javier Morales, Joao Plata, and Kyle Beckerman did not make the trip to Vancouver. RSL was victorious 1-0 in CONCACAF Champions League play on Tuesday in Guatemala City against CSD Municipal and decided to play a strong lineup in that fixture. As a result, Real Salt Lake presented a Team B like roster against the top team in the Western Conference. The Whitecaps got off to a quick start once again, but this time it was not a centre-back that delivered the opening goal. Octavio Rivero earned himself a questionable penalty after contact with Real Salt Lake defender, Elias Vasquez. Referee Chris Penso pointed to the spot and awarded Vancouver a penalty. Rivero stepped up and calmly scored giving Vancouver a lead 7' minutes in. The Whitecaps had no trouble taking control of the match and keeping possession against a disjointed Real Salt Lake side. Vancouver pressed forward and had several opportunities to score against the makeshift Real Salt Lake squad. Coach Jeff Cassar was not pleased by a free kick decision that went against his team, after Nicolas Mezquida was tripped up. Chris Penso promptly ejected Cassar from the match. Cassar's second ejection of the season. After the match Cassar was still unsure as to why he was kicked out of the match. "I did nothing. I’ll talk to our general manager and our owner and see about it. I didn’t do anything wrong. If I can’t say anything to him (referee) then it’s ridiculous. I didn’t use the F word, I didn’t use any swear words at all." He scores when he wants, Pa-Modou Kah scores when he wants, and he added to his remarkable form with his third goal in two matches. In the 40' minute, Kah was in the right spot for a lovely pass from Kekuta Manneh for a tap in past Jeff Attinella. The reigning MLS Player of the Week was giving all the credit to Manneh and Meqzuida following the match for all that they do to help the team succeed. "Kekuta was going to hit it first. I told him after the goal, hit it, because he did all the hard work, so him and Nico today really deserved a goal. Especially Nico because he’s been working very hard the last couple of games and he absolutely deserved a goal. But what he brings to this team, it’s invaluable and same with Kekuta. Both of them deserved a goal today. But the most important thing is that the team did well and we kept a clean sheet. That’s what I’m most happy about." Tonight is what title contenders do. They take no prisoners. They make no apologies. They have swagger. #VWFC — Yukon Scött (@yukon_scott) August 9, 2015 Robbo's thoughts on Koffie's first half yesterday: "Beep, beep, beep." Yes, that's what he said. Second half? "He was outstanding." #VWFC — Farhan Devji (@farhandevji) August 9, 2015

The Second Half

Vancouver kept their foot on the gas and continued to take it to Real Salt Lake. The goal-scoring continued in the 50' minute thanks to a fast break opportunity for the home side. Jordan Harvey broke down the left-flank and sent the ball towards the RSL net. Jeff Attinella was not able to cut off Harvey's pass. Octavio Rivero attempted to poke the ball into the open net, but missed. Cristian Techera was at the far back post and made no mistake scoring into the vacated net. The Vancouver crowd was in a roaring frenzy with the Whitecaps dominating. The spectators started singing a "You're Not Rimando." chant at RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella. It was simply not a good day to be wearing the red and yellow kit of Real Salt Lake. The visitors had no answer for the Whitecaps, who for the first time, scored three goals in three consecutive matches. The only downside during the match for the Vancouver Whitecaps was a yellow card to Kendall Waston. The Caps towering centre-back will now miss the Whitecaps away fixture next Saturday at Sporting Kansas City due to accumulation. Vancouver will insert Tim Parker, Christian Dean, or Diego Rodriguez alongside goal-poacher Pa-Modou Kah. Cristian Techera added to his goal tally with his second of the match in the 68' minute. 'El Bicho' as he is affectionately called by his teammates, sent a nifty little laser from distance into the far corner of the RSL net. Once again, goalkeeper Jeff Attinella had no help whatsoever and was left on his own. The lineup that Real Salt Lake put forth showed a lack of respect to the Vancouver Whitecaps. The hosts took full opportunity of what was presented to them and routed the visiting Utah side. The Caps have played at their full potential and teams around the league are going to have to start taking note. Frustration for Real Salt Lake boiled over in the closing minutes of the match. Full-back Abdoulle Mansally was issued a straight red card for a challenge on Kendall Waston. Whitecaps fans also serenaded Mansally as he left the pitch. It was a night that saw everything go wrong for Real Salt Lake. This. So much this! #VWFC https://t.co/vp5GZkb0Av — FTBL Podcast (@FromTheBackline) August 9, 2015

Man of the Match



Cristian Techera

Techera was a man on a mission. He took full opportunity of his playing time alongside no.10 man Nicolas Mezquida and Pedro Morales in the later stages of the matches. Techera has massive amounts of heart and determination. His speed and agility more than make up for his height disadvantage. Techera has a nose for the net, and a terrific shot. Tonight we saw why he was the most dangerous player on the pitch. With Techera on form, this gives Carl Robinson another weapon to his already deep and strengthening attack going forward. Techera talked about how his recent trip home to visit family in Uruguay recharged his batteries for the remaining matches. "It’s always great to go back and see your family, and it’s always very nice to have that support from them. Anytime I can go back it’s nice and it helps me move forward and advance in my career." Who was your Whitecaps Man of the Match?

Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted(C); Steven Beitashour, Kendall Waston, Pa-Modou Kah, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba (Russell Teibert 69), Gershon Koffie; Cristian Techera, Nicolas Mezquida (Pedro Morales 62), Kekuta Manneh; Octavio Rivero (Darren Mattocks 76). (4-2-3-1) Real Salt Lake Starting XI: Jeff Attinella(C); Phanuel Kavita, Elias Vasquez, Justen Glad (Boyd Okwuonu 72), Abdoulle Mansally; John Stertzer, Luis Gill (Pecka 69); Luis Silva; Olmes Garcia, Devon Sandoval, Sebastian Saucedo. (4-2-1-3) Notes: Crisitan Techera's second goal was the Vancouver Whitecaps 200th goal in MLS play.