VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps grinded out a 2-1 win over Austin FC on Wednesday night at B.C. Place, courtesy of Sergio Cordova's first goal of the season.
Cordova was sent through on goal by midfielder Ryan Gauld in the 72nd minute, receiving the ball and taking several touches before firing it past a stranded Brad Stuver in Austin's net.
The striker had just been substituted into the game moments earlier.
"I felt no stress or pressure, I felt the responsibility to help the team," the striker said through a translator after the match. "I hope it's the start of a good run for us and myself on a personal note."
The 25-year-old was an off-season acquisition after a spell on loan at Real Salt Lake.
Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini had previously spoken about Cordova's form and his belief that the striker was snatching at chances.
"I'm very happy for Sergio," Sartini said. "What he did today, he was free mentally. Instead of trying something, he was very composed and collected."
By setting up Cordova, Gauld is now tied for the all-time lead in assists in all competitions for the MLS-era Whitecaps.
Vancouver (7-7-7) opened the scoring in the first 30 seconds of the match, with midfielder Pedro Vite firing it past Stuver.
Vite is the second player in MLS history to score twice within the first 30 seconds of a match in the same season.
Rodney Redes tied the match for Austin (8-5-9) in the 47th minute, capitalizing on a spilled ball from goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.
Vancouver played defensively for large parts of the game, with their defenders happy to recycle possession between them.
"We talked with the team that we had to bounce back in terms of results and to be better in some moments," said Sartini. "We played very well tonight against a very good team."
The Whitecaps are in the midst of a home stand, with a game against LA Galaxy on the weekend before a cup break and then a seven-game road trip.
Vancouver is ninth in the Western Conference, just behind Houston Dynamo.
"We needed to win because we go a month (away from home) and if we win, we're in a playoff position," said Sartini. "So when we start again, we're not in the psychological thing of 'we need to win, we need to catch up.' We're there."
Sartini is suspended for the next match having been given a yellow card late in stoppage time.
For his part, Sartini said he thought the game was over and celebrating a victory when in fact there was still more time to play.
Canadian Levonte Johnson started for the Whitecaps Wednesday, playing as a defender instead of his favoured position as a forward.
The pace of the game, he said, has been an adjustment.
"I'm kind of getting used to it again," he said.
"It was my first MLS win with the club so that's always good times. It was a hard-fought win."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2023.
Nick Wells, The Canadian Press
