Vancouver Caps’ Mixed Performances in Unlucky Loss to San Jose
In their last match before embarking on a long road trip, the Vancouver Caps suffered an unfortunate defeat at the hands of San Jose. Despite a brief moment of counter-attacking efficiency, the Caps couldn’t secure a result, leaving them disappointed. Let’s take a closer look at the player ratings and analyze their performances.
Yohei Takaoka received a rating of 5.5 for his performance. Although there wasn’t much he could do to prevent San Jose’s goal, he didn’t stand out in any particular way during the match.
Ryan Raposo, who was deployed on both sides at different points in the game, earned a rating of 6. He handled Cristian Espinoza’s threat on the left side reasonably well, but failed to make a significant impact in the attacking third.
Tristan Blackmon, rated at 6, had an average outing. While both Blackmon and Ranko Veselinovic performed adequately, Blackmon’s few sloppy clearances and misplaced passes pushed him down the pecking order.
Ranko Veselinovic, on the other hand, received a rating of 6.5 for effectively intercepting the few balls San Jose managed to put into the box. Although he struggled a bit on the goal, it’s unfair to expect him to handle a one-on-one situation with Jeremy Ebobisse.
Mathias Laborda, rated at 6.5, had some difficulties dealing with the pace and threat posed by Cade Cowell. However, he did provide an outlet to alleviate San Jose’s pressure at times.
Richie Laryea, also rated at 6.5, exhibited moments of brilliance. Alongside Sergio Cordova, he created challenging situations for the Quakes on the right side. Despite some signs of unfamiliarity playing with a new team, Laryea’s pace had a significant impact on the game.
Andres Cubas earned a rating of 6.5. While he made a couple of errors in the first half, getting caught too far forward or out of position, he tightened up his game in the second half to halt San Jose’s advances when the Caps pushed players forward.
Pedro Vite, rated at 7, showcased his worth by delivering a couple of fantastic balls into the box, despite playing from a deeper position. However, his influence on the game diminished as time went on, and it might be wise to relieve him of free kick duties moving forward.
Alessandro Schopf, with a rating of 5.5, struggled to replicate the comfort in tight areas and the ability to spring counterattacks that his teammates Gauld and Gressel possess. While his ball movement and defensive contributions were commendable, he lacked the killer pass necessary to unlock San Jose’s defense.
Brian White, rated at 6, had to drop deeper without Gauld on the pitch but managed to create a few quality scoring opportunities. Although he started brightly, there were times when his runs and timing of passes didn’t align with his teammates.
Sergio Cordova, rated at 7, showcased good distribution skills and seemed more confident on the ball, taking on and beating defenders. While some may criticize his failure to convert one of his numerous chances, credit must be given to San Jose’s goalkeeper Daniel for making crucial stops.
Sam Adekugbe, who received a rating of 7, made an immediate impact upon his introduction to the game. He displayed composure in defense and provided a stronger attacking threat than expected. Unfortunately, his dream return to BC Place was denied by the upright, as his excellent free kick narrowly missed the equalizer.
Ryan Gauld, rated at 7, made an instant impact after coming off the bench. His tenacity in winning back possession and testing San Jose’s defense added a new dimension to the Caps’ attack.
Ali Ahmed, also rated at 7, was introduced into the game by coach Sartini relatively late. However, his quick feet and ability to break down a resilient Quakes side proved to be vital.
J.C. Ngando and Levonte Johnson, who came on as substitutes, provided a spark during their limited time on the pitch but didn’t play long enough to receive a rating.
Despite their mixed performances, the Vancouver Caps showed moments of promise against San Jose. With improvements in certain areas and the bedrock of their strong performances, there is hope for better outcomes in future matches.
