Articles, Soccer

Whitecaps VS Chivas USA in Haiku

Whitecaps WednesdayVancouver Whitecaps
A game report in haiku
By R. Arbuthnot

A big match at home
The Whitecaps are in a fight
The playoffs at stake

In the third minute
Chivas mounts its bicycle
Torres pedals fast

Fans were left in disbelief after a first-half brace by the visiting goats from LA. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Fans were left in disbelief after a first-half brace by the visiting goats from LA. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

Fall behind early
A lack of concentration
An uphill battle

Dagger to the heart
Follows in minute fourteen
Torres strikes fiercely

Kekuta Manneh
Victimized before the cross
Rennie left upset

Defensive coverage
Invisible like water
Urgency missing

Whitecaps FC midfielder YP Lee dashes forward during first-half action of a 2-2 tie versus Chivas USA. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Whitecaps FC midfielder YP Lee dashes forward during first-half action of a 2-2 tie versus Chivas USA. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

First half is over
And Caps have little to show
Slow starts haunt this team

Reo-Coker out
Midfield drive was limited
Adjustments needed

Second half whistle
A comeback looked unlikely
Little to hope for

Better jump to start
Still no quality chances
Disorganized play

Hurtado comes on
In the 55th minute
Teibert’s night is done

Mistakes lead to goals
And Koffie takes advantage
A glimmer of hope

Chivas goaltender
Dan “wanderer” Kennedy
Clears to Gershon’s feet

Strike from 40 yards
Kennedy overplays shot
Caps 1, Chivas 2

Some spectacular tifo from the Curva Collective, honouring Ghanaian-Canadian midfielder Gershon Koffie. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Some spectacular tifo from the Curva Collective, honouring Ghanaian-Canadian midfielder Gershon Koffie. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

65th minute
Another sub for Rennie
Kobayashi on

Matt Watson heads off
After rushing Kennedy
To clear to Koffie

Southsiders capo Chris Withers leads the faithful in a chant of "Just Can't Get Enough" during the second half of a 2-2 draw with Chivas USA. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Southsiders capo Chris Withers leads the faithful in a chant of “Just Can’t Get Enough” during the second half of a 2-2 draw with Chivas USA. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

Camilo dances
Fires from middle of pitch
Shot sails beyond post
Caps change tactics
Bring on Tommy Heinemann
O’Brien comes off

Rennie shifts five up
While midfielders push forward
Ten minutes to score

An opportunity
Hurtado floats the ball high
Only eight yards out

BC Place exhales
A quality chance squandered
Minutes ticking down

Resilient Caps
Searching for a tying goal
Keep pressing forward

Manneh sends a cross
Through the box to Hurtado
A put-back to goal

Will Whitecaps FC deny this young Southsider the chance to hit up a playoff game? Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Will Whitecaps FC deny this young Southsider the chance to hit up a playoff game? Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

The sub Heinemann
Watched the ball bear down
A flick of the foot

The electric crowd
A stadium fills with sound
Audial waves drown

The tie earns a point
A minor consolation
When three was vital

Sitting in sixth place
On the outside looking in
Results are required

Three games on the road
A test of the team’s resolve
Playoffs on the line.