VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Vancouver Whitecaps’ lone Canadian starter continues to pull the strings for his side’s attack.
Russell Teibert continued his fine run of form on Wednesday night as the ‘Caps defeated Chivas USA 3-1, playing a part in two first-half stoppage-time goals which turned the game for the home side.
First, the Niagara Falls native cut a ball back toward Camilo Sanvezzo – that ball ultimately fell to Jordan Harvey who fired home to tie the game.
Then, moments later, Teibert dispossessed Gabriel Farfan on the wing before sending Camilo through one-on-one with Mario de Luna, whom the Brazilian turned with ease before sniping a ball into the bottom left corner of Dan Kennedy’s goal.
The 20-year-old attacker now has six assists in his last four matches.
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“He has recently been playing fantastically well,” head coach Martin Rennie told reporters at BC Place following Wednesday’s win. “In the first 20 minutes of the first half, he was maybe a little bit below the level that he’s shown for us in recent games, but he turned that around, and at halftime we challenged him for more and he gave us more.”
Everything the Whitecaps did moving forward seemed to move down the right channel occupied by Teibert, and the winger continually cut back on his left foot to fire several deadly crosses into the area.
Still, the wide player showed a bit more versatility to his game, playing short when necessary or hitting through balls rather than going for the cross every time.
“They did have a right-footed left back, which maybe made it a little bit more tricky,” Rennie said. “But he solved those problems with good movement from other players getting into the space behind, or overlaps. Russell can play a couple of positions for us, but right now in that wide area he’s creating a lot.”
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As a team, thie win was the 'Caps third of the season after conceding the first goal.
“I think it shows our character,” Teibert said. “The first 20 minutes didn’t really go our way, but towards the end of the first half we buried two goals and went into the half very confident.”
Martin MacMahon covers the Vancouver Whitecaps for MLSsoccer.com.
