Tigres 1, Whitecaps 1 (5-3): Vancouver taken down in shootout in Leagues Cup knockout spherical

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The Vancouver Whitecaps tried to be giant-killers, however got here up one agonizing kick brief.

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Liga MX powerhouse Tigres UNAL received 5-3 in Friday night time’s Leagues Cup conflict in a shootout, hitting all 5 kicks, after the sport completed tied 1-1 after regulation.

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“We didn’t go toe-to-toe right now — we deserved to win. I feel we had been a lot better than them,” Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini mentioned post-game.

“Sadly, we didn’t have sufficient high quality within the last third in a variety of potential probabilities to attain the second aim. However we confirmed that we had an excellent workforce, we performed a lot better than them. We need to win. It’s a steal (for Tigres).”

The Caps have by no means overwhelmed a Liga MX workforce in three tries now, falling twice to Tigres and as soon as to Leon — additionally in a shootout within the Leagues Cup two weeks in the past. The hole between the Caps and Liga MX opposition has been the best of traces.

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Pedro Vite, who scored two MLS targets inside 30 seconds this 12 months, opened the scoring with a ninth-minute golazo, dishonest down an errant clearance and volleying a dipping shot from 20 yards into the inside aspect netting. The Caps had been delighting the 13,713 in attendance at B.C. Place with unbelievable flowing transition assaults, just like the one kick-started by Ryan Raposo and completed off by Vite.

André-Pierre Gignac, who scored a powerful aim for Tigres of their 2017 go to to B.C. Place, had one other world-class rating, hitting a horizontal bicycle kick to knot issues up within the 53rd minute. He separated himself from defender Javain Brown with some veteran savvy that left the Jamaican worldwide chewing on the rubber pellets on the B.C. Place turf whereas he soared for the aim.

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“We have to (hat-tip) Gignac for the aim,” mentioned Sartini. “The one factor that I say in opposition to the referee: I don’t perceive why it doesn’t go to video overview. If one in all our participant pushes, for certain, it’s a minimum of a foul they usually go to video overview. As a result of it’s Pierre Andre-Gingac and Tigres, they’ve extra followers than us and everyone seems to be completely satisfied in the event that they win. Perhaps the league is extra completely satisfied in the event that they win, however it’s what it’s.”

Tigres additionally bought a hand from one other outdated hand —  37-year-old Tigres keeper Nahuel Guzmán. He confirmed his personal wily methods within the shootout with numerous delaying ways, together with channelling his internal mime in a hilarious try to throw off Sergio Cordova.

He might need bought within the head of Vancouver’s Ranko Veselinovic, who was taking pictures fourth, by taking his candy time dismissing some very inconsequential ribbon, incomes a yellow card for his antics. However the shot from the Caps centreback was too weak, too near the centre of aim, and Guzmán brushed it again from the road.

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Tigres scored on their subsequent PK, and the sport was over.

“I’ve to be sincere, I liked it. I informed him that on the finish,” Sartini mentioned, laughing.

“We all know each (keeper) tries to do every thing in a approach to power the factor to go in his route. I feel that if you happen to let him do it as soon as, if you happen to let him do it twice, they usually give him a yellow solely on the third one or fourth one, that’s the explanation why he can do it. So once more, I feel that possibly couldn’t get a yellow earlier than, however I actually loved it. In order that’s OK.”

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The Mexican workforce dominated the possession (60 per cent) however had been outshot by a Whitecaps workforce (8-7) that thrived on compelled turnovers within the mid block, and turning them again round shortly on Tigres. None had been higher or extra influential than Vite, whose three tackles tied for a workforce excessive and received 50 per cent of his team-best 18 duels.

Raposo was additionally a power on the wings for Vancouver, and it was his sliding goal-line clearance within the sport’s early minutes that preserved the Caps’ 1-0 lead.

“Pedro, he’s a participant that if he goes to Liga MX, he’s gonna earn like 5 million a 12 months,” mentioned Sartini. “He’s an excellent participant … right now was the very best participant. “Let me rephrase” he added in an apart. “In all probability Raposo was the very best participant on the sector right now.

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NEXT GAME

Sunday, Aug. 20

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

7:30 p.m., B.C. Place, TV: TSN, Radio: AM730

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