Chivas USA played Vancouver Whitecaps FC to a 2-2 draw Sunday night at BC Place in the season-series finale. The Rojiblancos went up two scores in the first half on Erick Torres’ second two-goal performance of the season. The home side answered back with two second-half goals by Gershon Koffie and Tommy Heinemann to give the sides a point apiece in the Western Conference showdown.
The Rojiblancos claimed their earliest lead of the season as Torres drilled his team-leading fifth goal of the season three minutes into the match on a sensational bicycle kick inside the box. Midfielder Carlos Alvarez played a ball into the box that was initially deflected in the air. As the ball was coming down Torres, with his back to the net, sent his volley past Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted’s right to give the Goats a 1-0 advantage.
Playing a goal up, the Red-and-White continued to send their attackers forward and doubled their lead in the 14th minute. Midfielder Edgar Mejia took control of the ball on the right sideline and fainted the initial defender and tucked the ball back in to get into the right wing. Mejia then sent a cross to Torres who headed the entry inside the back post to beat Ousted again to his right for his second brace in as many games, which now gives the striker a team-high six goals in seven matches.
The Goats nearly put a third goal on the board early in the second half, as Bryan de la Fuente got into range just outside the box on the left wing. The midfielder got off a strike that was on frame that Ousted was able to get a hand on with a dive to his left to turn away the threat in the 49th minute.
Vancouver pulled a goal back in the 64th minute on Koffie’s long-range shot that got by Red-and-White ‘keeper Dan Kennedy’s left to put the game at 2-1 heading into the final third of the contest.
With the Caps’ sending numbers forward in search of the equalizer, the Goats had a dangerous look at reclaiming the two-goal lead in the 85th minute. With Chivas possessing the ball in the attacking third and waiting for an opening, Mejia threaded a pass to substitute Tristan Bowen that led the forward into the box. Bowen’s left-footed strike sailed over the crossbar though. Vancouver found the equalizer in stoppage time when Heinemann got on the end of Erik Hurtado’s cross from the right side of the box to tie the match for good at 2-2.
