VANCOUVER, B.C. -- It was a night of mixed emotions and drama at BC Place on Wednesday for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
A brace of goals for substitute Blas Perez, his first in MLS with the Whitecaps, gave Vancouver the points in a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire. But amidst the joyous scenes of Perez's last minute bicycle kick winner, everyone's thoughts were also with the man he replaced, Masato Kudo.
The Japanese striker left the field on a cart and transported to the hospital after a horrific collision with Chicago goalkeeper Matt Lampson in the 11th minute. Kudo was left bloodied after biting through his lip and tongue but went to the hospital alert and aware.
"Mixed emotions today," 'Caps coach Carl Robinson told reporters after the game. "Performance I thought we were ok, average. Delighted for Blas. Top professional, two super goals. Obviously a big blow losing Masato.
"It's not good. I don't think it's looking very good. Obviously it's a head injury, I think it's a jaw problem. I'm going to go see him now, straight after."
The Whitecaps were keen not to let all their good work from the win against Portland be undone by dropping points to the team with the worst record in all of Major League Soccer right now. That's been a story played out in Vancouver several times in the past.
It took the 'Caps until the 89th minute to secure the three points, and Robinson acknowledged that it wasn't his team's best performance, but he was upset at how people had written off what he feels is a very good Chicago team.
"It got called a trap game to me by someone yesterday and I didn't like that," Robinson revealed. "It actually sets me off, winds me up, when people say that because we're expected to win but they're putting added pressure on you.
"Sometimes I don't care how you play. We all want to play attractive football like we did on Saturday and play wide open, expansive, attacking, free flowing, whatever you want to use. And we did. Today was another three points that we didn't play as well as we could but we'll take the win."
Perez was the two-goal hero for Vancouver after coming on for Kudo and his performance on the night was the reason Robinson brought a former archrival to the club.
"Listen, he's a good player," Robinson said of Perez. "Every time he's played against us, he's caused us problems and that's the reason I wanted to bring him to the club. I'd done my research on him, because it's about character as well.
"He's an exceptional, experienced professional and he's still going now as he's getting into the later stages of the career. I said to him on the field, 'Your father would be very proud of you today.'"
And Robinson had one final message for his players after the game.
"I let the guys know it's a special day for Blas today," Robinson added. "But make sure you all send a message to Masato and his wife, because he's a massive part of this football club as well and he'll feel that we're right behind him."
