VANCOUVER, B.C. – It's been a long time coming. Yet not only is the Vancouver Whitecaps' three-game goal drought over, but in the process they scored their first 2016 goal from open play.
Vancouver soaked up some intense Dallas pressure before a first-half own goal from Maynor Figueroa set the Whitecaps on their way to a 3-0 victory at BC Place on Saturday. Second-half strikes from Jordan Harvey and Kekuta Manneh secured the three points, ending the 'Caps three-game winless streak and delighting coach Carl Robinson, to a degree.
"We scored one goal from open play today, so I'm delighted," Robinson told reporters after the win. "We win a game of football. I say this, as we don't make a big thing of it. It's about winning games. We won the game today with a little bit of luck, which we haven't had in one or two weeks.
"It's nice, we'll take it, but we'll move on."
The Whitecaps goalscoring woes have been well documented this season. With no goals from open play in their first seven games, and three straight matches in which they were held scoreless, it was hard to guess where their next goal was going to come from.
A healthy haul against Dallas was a relief for everyone.
"It doesn't help and make it easier, when you're not scoring as many goals as you'd like," Robinson added. "You go through ruts, as a group of players and as a club. Sometimes it goes against you and doesn't go your way, so you focus on performance.
"We haven't scored as many goals as we'd like, and I keep getting reminded of that. The wide players, the forward players, they've just got to keep going and the goals will come."
But goals were just half the story of the Whitecaps' success. The rest fell squarely on the shoulders – well, in the hands – of goalkeeper David Ousted.
The Dane produced four saves to keep the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield leaders at bay – and it felt like more, with a number of them world-class stops, reiterating just how important Ousted is to the Whitecaps.
"I think his job is to try and keep the ball out of the net," Robinson deadpanned. "He did what he's paid for. He did his job very well today, as did Kendall [Waston] and Timmy [Parker] and the two fullbacks. The one save was phenomenal. Excellent save, but he did his job, which was good."
While Robinson was keen to underplay Ousted's contribution, there is no doubting that his highlight-reel performance – one of his best as a Whitecap – went a long way to securing the three points for Vancouver.
"There were times today where I needed to step up and make that save that kept us into it," Ousted said postgame. "I'm happy with my performance today."
