Post Match: Vancouver Whitecaps vs FC Dallas

The match started out ominously enough for the home team. Vancouver could've easily found themselves down 3-0 within the opening twenty minutes, but Dallas winger Fabian Castillo missed the net on a pair of attempted chips on 10' and 14', and then five minutes later, Maximiliano Urruti had a dipping volley parried over the bar by David Ousted. It was the first of a slew of magisterial saves from the Great Dane, who continues to be the undisputed star of the Whitecaps squad.

That save proved to be something of a turning point in the match, with the Caps generating a couple of chances of their own in the minutes that followed and then opening the floodgates with a Maynor Figueroa own-goal on 35'.

Up until that goal (or perhaps a couple minutes preceding), Kekuta Manneh had looked to be continuing his recent terrible run of form, but on the cross that ended in the goal and throughout the rest of the match, the Gambian-American was his usual chance-creating self.

The second half began with another absolutely magnificent save from Ousted, who robbed Michel Barrios point-blank on 50'. A save of the week contender if there ever was one.

Thirteen minutes later Jordan Harvey slotted the ball coolly past Chris Seitz for the Caps' second of the game. The goal marked the Caps' first from open play this season (though it was from a corner, so perhaps not entirely open play if you want to get nitpicky).

After Octavio Rivero came close with a shot from distance and then picked up a (ridiculous) yellow card for an innocuous header, he was subbed off for Blas Perez, who looked eager to continue the rout against his old team, and did just that with a fantastic bit of play to send in Kekuta Manneh, who slotted the ball home.

The closing minutes were punctuated by one scary moment for Caps fans when David Ousted was knocked to the floor by a combination of a Maxi Urruti shove and a knock from Fabian Castillo's knees. Both Dallas players escaped punishment, which was par for the course in another typically horrific Silviu Petrescu refereeing performance.

Luckily the Great Dane was none the worse for wear, and Vancouver cruised to the finish line after Manneh's insurance marker, bringing on Christian Bolanos and Russell Teibert to close out the game. If it weren't for a few unlucky bounces and overhit final passes, the scoreline could've been even more impressive.

Against Dallas, the Caps exhibited the kind of passion and effort that they had been sorely lacking for a month. The question now is whether or not they can continue to do so against less rivalrous opponents on a more regular basis. Fans won't have to wait long, as Vancouver will face all of Sporting Kansas City, New York City FC and the Portland Timbers over the next two weeks.