Cristian Techera's spectacular free-kick earned host Vancouver Whitecaps FC a hard-fought point and a 1-1 draw vs visiting FC Dallas on Saturday night.
Maxi Urruti had opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, and it looked like that would be enough to earn the visitors a much needed three points after a first half with few chances for either side. The goal marked Urruti's eighth of the season, more than a third of FC Dallas' 22 total in 2017.
But that all changed when Techera stepped up to a 27-yard free kick and curled a left-footed effort over a five-man wall, beyond the diving arms of Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez.
Goals
Three Things
- SOLID RESULT AFTER TRYING WEEK for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. There were injuries to deal with (Kendall Waston and Christian Bolanos), suspensions to deal with (Sheanon Williams), and there were babies to deal with (Brek Shea was absent from training Friday for the birth of his son Zepplin and only returned just before game time). The end result is a valuable point against the defending conference champs and a continued run of solid play with only two losses in their last seven matches.
- THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR DALLAS Maxi Urruti continued his scorching form and Mauro Diaz got more valuable minutes in his return from injury. For a while there it looked like Dallas, winners of only two in their last seven, might escape with all three points. Even after Techera's equalizer, Diaz and Michael Barrios had chances to grab a late winner. As the side gets healthier, things will only get easier in North Texas.
- WELCOME TO MLS MR. IBINI Recent acquisition Berni Ibini-Isei made his debut off the bench for Vancouver to give Whitecaps fans a glimpse of what may be to come this season. The tall Nigerian-born Australian only played a few minutes, but if he can live up to the expectation the 24 year-old will make an excellent addition to the Whitecaps front line in support of Fredy Montero and in front of the emerging Alphonso Davies, who was again a difference maker upon coming on a substitute and is surely in line for more regular minutes as the season wears on.
Up Next
- VAN: Friday, June 23 -at Houston Dynamo, (9 pm ET | UniMas, facebook.com/univisiondeportes, MLS LIVE)
- DAL: Saturday, June 24 - at Minnesota United FC (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE)
