VANCOUVER, B.C.—The Vancouver Whitecaps have previously talked about the importance of winning their home games in their chase for a playoff place this season, but they've had a tough time at BC Place of late, winning just one of their last four MLS matches there.
Saturday night marked the last of a three-game homestand for the 'Caps. The target was approaching nine points, but they'll now have to settle for just five following Saturday night's barnburner of a 2-2 draw with an Orlando City SC side missing seven first team regulars.
Vancouver were unbeaten in those three games, but with an ever-tightening Western Conference and a tough three-game road spell looming the 'Caps will be disappointed at not making the most of their home-field advantage.
"You can critique a lot of things," said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson. "Ideally, we wanted nine points; we didn't get nine. Then after Saturday/Wednesday we wanted seven. We'll have to take five because sometimes it's just one of those days and it seemed like one of those days for us today.
"Our passes went astray, we missed tackles, we defended poorly at time. We made mistakes in key areas of the field at key moments, conceded goals. It was just one of those days. Missed chances."
Vancouver were confident heading into the match against an undermanned Orlando side, who were winless and scoreless in their last three games, but the 'Caps soon knew they were going to battle when they fell behind after Julio Baptista's 14th-minute opener.
The Whitecaps fought back to lead 2-1, before giving up an equalizer to Cyle Larin and they were fortunate to come away with even a point in the end after Baptista blasted a penalty kick over the bar on the hour mark.
"We've got to be happy to take a point, because we didn't play very well," Robinson said. "We didn't impose ourselves the way we have this season at times. When you don't play well, and I don't think we played particularly well, it's important you get something out of the game. We will take a point."
One bright spot for Vancouver was the MLS debut of Alphonso Davies. Fresh from signing a Homegrown Player contract on Friday, the 15-year-old came on for the last 13 minutes of the match and looked sharp and dangerous throughout in what Robinson felt was a somewhat lethargic performance from some others in his team.
"[Davies] was great," Robinson said. "He brought a little bit of energy. As a coach, you have decisions to make. Three games in a week is hard and I think you saw that today from some personnel. They put a great amount of work in, but the athleticism, the dynamic side of it sometimes isn't there when you play consistently for 90 minutes, three times a week.
"It can be done. Some players can do it. You look at Jordan Harvey, great energy. Other players struggled a little bit, so Alphonso coming in provided a great spark. He was brought on to try and affect the attacking end of the pitch and he did that, but let's not get carried away."
