Vancouver Whitecaps 2, Chivas USA 2 | MLS Match Recap

Edgar Mejia and Gershon Koffie

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- A stoppage time goal from Tom Heinemann salvaged a 2-2 draw for the Vancouver Whitecaps against Chivas USA, after the visitors looked on course for a win following a first-half brace from Erick Torres.


Heinemann scored the goal with what was almost the last kick of the game, lashing home from inside the area after Erik Hurtado headed across goal. Kekuta Manneh found Hurtado with a cross from the left, before the rookie nodded into the path of Heinemann who powered past Dan Kennedy.


Torres didn't take long to get things going, scoring with an incredible overhead kick from the edge of the area after Andy O'Brien headed a ball straight up around the top of the box. The striker let the ball come down before finishing spectacularly into the top left corner of David Ousted's goal.



The Mexican doubled Chivas' lead in the 14th minute, heading home a cross from Edgar Meja. The goalscorer found the left side of the target once again, this time into the bottom corner after Meja walked past a couple of Whitecaps defenders with ease.


Gershon Koffie caught Kennedy wandering in the 64th minute, firing home a right-footed effort from distance after the goalkeeper's left-footed clearance went straight to him. Kennedy rushed back into his goal after his clearance and made it back in time, but his momentum meant he couldn't readjust in time to stop the Ghanaian's shot into the bottom right corner.


The Whitecaps went into the break two goals down despite holding the ball 55 percent of the time in the first half, but they didn't go scoreless due to a lack of chances.


Matt Watson found Kenny Miller with a diagonal ball over the top in the seventh minute, which sent the Designated Player through alone on Kennedy. The angle was tight on the play, however, and Miller's shot went off the outside of the post and out of play.


Manneh hit a stinging shot in the 35th minute after cutting in from the left, but Kennedy was able to deal with the effort by pushing it over the bar. Moments later, Miller missed just wide of the top left corner after Russell Teibert teed him up for the top of the area. Shortly after Miller's chance, Camilo cut in from the left with a curling shot of his own that went narrowly past the top right corner of goal.



In a moment of some controversy, Kennedy appeared to handle outside his area in the 58th minute, but referee Dave Gantar ended up blowing the play down for Camilo for hopping over the goalkeeper in what was deemed a dangerous play.


Hurtado missed a glorious opportunity from six yards out after Tom Heinemann found him with a cross from the left, but the rookie blasted well over the bar from close range, before setting up the equalizer moments later.


Chivas, now 5-14-7, are back in action on Wednesday as they play the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field. As for the Whitecaps, they're on the road next Saturday as they travel to face FC Dallas after moving to 10-9-7.


MLSsoccer.com Men of the Match

Rank
Player
What We Saw
1
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/erick-torres" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Erick Torres</span></strong></a>
Didn&#39;t do much after the brace, but... what a brace! Chivas fans should enjoy him while they can, because he has the look of a forward who could help hapless, goalless Chivas de Guadalajara.
2
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/erik-hurtado" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Erik Hurtdao</span></strong></a>
Blew an absolute sitter, but made good moments later with the game-tying assist. Once he came on, everything was one-way traffic for the hosts.
3
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/edgar-mejia" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Edgar Mejia</span></strong></a>
Set up several great chances, including the perfect cross on Torres&#39; second goal. Does great work in posseession as well, and always gives his team a chance to create at least a little danger.