SoccerPoor defending costly for Whitecaps

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Seattle's Nate Jaqua, left, and Vancouver's Gershon Koffie fight for the ball during the first half of Saturday's game. (Canadian Press photo)

It was the end of an era for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, as they played their final game at Empire Field before they move to their new home at the renovated BC Place next week.  

The game, a 3-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders, was a microcosm of Vancouver's debut season in Major League Soccer.

The Whitecaps started the game brightly, and deservedly took the lead in the first half, after Camilo rounded off a well-worked move.  

Chances to increase the lead followed, but the Whitecaps either found themselves wanting in front of goal, or were stymied by the reflexes of the Sounders' goalkeeper Kasey Keller. 
Seattle dominated the last 15 minutes of the first half, which was a sign of things to come after the break.

As the Sounders pressed for an equalizer before the break, they were rewarded for their efforts. A Jay DeMerit handball gave Seattle a penalty kick, which was confidently dispatched by Brad Evans. 

Some would say that there was a touch of misfortune about the call, as DeMerit was attempting to block a shot from Alvaro Fernandez. But a defender of DeMerit's experience should know that he can't raise his arms to protect his face in front of goal. 

There were chances at both ends, but defensive mistakes once again cost the Whitecaps. 

A poor clearance from DeMerit landed at the feet of Seattle's Fredy Montero on the edge of the Whitecaps' box. Some clever footwork from Montero gave the Colombian just enough space to pull the trigger, and he sent a left-footed strike into the top corner of Joe Cannon's goal. 

Minutes later, Montero was given time on the edge of the Whitecaps' box to pick up the ball, turn and strike on goal. DeMerit attempted to block the shot, but the deflection simply carried the ball over Cannon before it dipped under the bar and into the back of the net. 

Again, there was a touch of misfortune about the goal, as the deflection left Cannon powerless to prevent the goal. But a player of Montero's calibre can never be given time on the edge of the box to turn and face goal. It was slack defending from the Whitecaps, and they paid the ultimate price.

New coach coming in 

Incoming boss Martin Rennie must know that if the Whitecaps are to improve next season, they must be better defensively. Too many times this season the Whitecaps have started games brightly, only to let their good work slip away through sloppy defending. 

In hasn't helped that the Whitecaps have suffered from injuries and suspensions. But that is something that all MLS teams must deal with, and cannot be used to justify Vancouver's poor results. 

The question that Rennie needs to ask himself is this: Can we train the players we currently have to be better, or do we need to move players out to bring better players in?

All coaches have a philosophy about how they want to play the game, and Rennie will be no different. If the players currently on the Whitecaps' roster do not fit Rennie's mold, and he doesn't feel he can make them fit, he will have no choice but to move them on.

The Whitecaps have some of the ingredients needed for success - goal-scorers in Hassli and Camilo, a very promising youngster in Koffie, a reliable, experienced defender in Rochat - but they are a long way from being a playoff contender in MLS.

They need to make big improvements defensively if they are to be successful next season, and they need more from their highest earners - players like Mustapha Jarju, Davide Chiumiento and Jay DeMerit. 

MLS is a league where getting value for money is crucial, and players on big salaries need to earn their wages week in, week out. If they don't, they will soon find themselves looking for a new home - and it won't be at BC Place.

Follow Jason de Vos on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/jasondevos

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