Lucas Cavallini scores his third of the season as Vancouver beats Dallas 2-1

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps are quickly cementing their status as a second-half team.

Drawn 1-1 after extra time against FC Dallas, center back Ranko Veselinovic, who had taken the lead in attack, was brought down from a penalty in the 92nd minute.

Striker Lucas Cavallini stepped up and, despite his own admitted checkered record with penalty kicks, buried the opportunity to seal a 2-1 win and score his third goal of the season.

“I knew that once we got the penalty, I was going to take it. I was going to take it and redeem myself,” he said after the game.

The result means Vancouver (3-6-2) has won three of its last four games, beating Toronto FC, Valor FC and drawing 3-3 with the San Jose Earthquakes. The loss ends Dallas’ nine-game unbeaten streak.

The Whitecaps came into the game having scored in the closing minutes of a 3-3 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes capping a different comeback in the second half.

Vancouver won their match against Toronto FC in similar fashion, with Tosaint Ricketts scoring in the 90th minute.

“We managed to find that attitude to continue to the end,” Cavallini said of Wednesday’s result. “We didn’t have that at the beginning of the season.”

Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini said he believed his team deserved victory against their American opponents.

“It’s our fourth game in 10 days and in the second half we destroyed them. It is a great credit to our medical and fitness department,” he said. “It shows the resilience of the team and how good we are mentally and physically.”

Brian White had tied the game in the 71st minute, getting up to receive a cross from Cristian Gutierrez and sending the ball over Maurer.

“We’re confident at home and we’ve got great local support,” White said.

Paul Arriola opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the season in the first half.

The Whitecaps were caught on the fast break in the third minute of added time when FC Dallas (6-2-4) leading scorer Jesus Ferreira slipped a pass to Arriola. The midfielder took a touch before firing through the legs of a rushing Cody Cropper.

The Whitecaps chased in the second half with winger Ryan Raposo giving way to forward White as Vancouver looked to disrupt the Dallas backline.

White’s goal sparked a flurry of chances for Vancouver, with the best going to Cristian Dajome, who found himself free on the edge of the six-yard box but fired off the post.

Despite FC Dallas coming in on a nine-game unbeaten streak and the Whitecaps on a similar three-game streak, both teams struggled to generate much offensive threat in the first 15 minutes.

Cavallini was the biggest threat for the ‘Caps in the first half, taking advantage of a defensive error in the opening minutes only to have his shot saved.

The Whitecaps entered the game having scored in the closing minutes of a 3-3 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes courtesy of center back Erik Godoy.

For Dallas, it was continued success along the West Coast following wins against Los Angeles and Seattle.

Vancouver’s four-game home stay comes to an end as the club heads to North Carolina to take on Charlotte FC.

Dallas is next in action against Minnesota United FC in Texas.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on May 18, 2022.

SHARE: