Tweet
Striker blamed after Whitcaps MLS loss
Out-of-favour Jamaica international football player, Darren Mattocks, scored his first goal of the new Major League Soccer (MLS) season, but missed a crucial chance in the second half for Vancouver Whitecaps away at Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Mattocks scored an excellent goal in the first half to put Vancouver ahead. He then came in for heavy criticism for a missed opportunity in the second half, when on a breakaway, the Jamaican opted to shoot after cutting in on goal rather than pass to Nigel Reo-Coker, who was unmarked in the box and appeared to have a better angle on goal. There was also the option of sending Erik Hurtado through, as the winger was also in a good position.
"It was a massive moment in the game," Vancouver head coach Martin Rennie told Vancouver radio station TEAM 1410 when asked about Mattock's miss. "In the first half, we stood up to the pressure they put us under, didn't give up many chances and then scored an excellent goal; a good assist from Erik (Hurtado) and an excellent finish from Darren (Mattocks).
"At that point, we were in a really good position, Second half, there were more waves of attack coming at us, and we managed to create a great chance on the break. That was a great chance for us to put ourselves in a very strong position. At 2-0, it would have been much more difficult for Houston, so that's disappointing."
Stand-in captain Reo-Coker was more direct with his criticism for his young teammate, stating point blank that Mattocks should have passed rather than shoot at goal.
small margins
"I said to Darren after the game, 'With the level we're at now, those are the small margins that we let pass us by," Reo-Coker, who has played at West Ham and Aston Villa in England said on the radio broadcast. "We take our second chance, the game's 2-0. It would have been very difficult for them to come back being 2-0 down at home with the (32-game home unbeaten streak) they had.
"That's the difference between playing a higher level of football and a lower level of football - you take your chances. You might only get one chance away from home and you must learn to take that one chance that you may get."
When contacted about the criticism from his coach and captain, at his flat in Vancouver on Sunday, Mattocks told The Gleaner: "A striker's instinct is to cut inside and put away the goal, But that didn't happen. To have guys like Reo to talk to about my game is good. He spoke to me as a professional. It was constructive criticism that should make be better."
Mattocks also said, "It's always good to get one's first goal. So I am looking forward to my second season in the MLS with the objective of scoring goals for my club."
That was Vancouver's first loss in the MLS Western Conference. They have six points from three games played.
Striker blamed after Whitecaps MLS loss
Out-of-favour Jamaica international football player, Darren Mattocks, scored his first goal of the new Major League Soccer (MLS) season, but missed a crucial chance in the second half for Vancouver Whitecaps away at Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Mattocks scored an excellent goal in the first half to put Vancouver ahead. He then came in for heavy criticism for a missed opportunity in the second half, when on a breakaway, the Jamaican opted to shoot after cutting in on goal rather than pass to Nigel Reo-Coker, who was unmarked in the box and appeared to have a better angle on goal. There was also the option of sending Erik Hurtado through, as the winger was also in a good position.
"It was a massive moment in the game," Vancouver head coach Martin Rennie told Vancouver radio station TEAM 1410 when asked about Mattock's miss. "In the first half, we stood up to the pressure they put us under, didn't give up many chances and then scored an excellent goal; a good assist from Erik (Hurtado) and an excellent finish from Darren (Mattocks).
"At that point, we were in a really good position, Second half, there were more waves of attack coming at us, and we managed to create a great chance on the break. That was a great chance for us to put ourselves in a very strong position. At 2-0, it would have been much more difficult for Houston, so that's disappointing."
Stand-in captain Reo-Coker was more direct with his criticism for his young teammate, stating point blank that Mattocks should have passed rather than shoot at goal.
small margins
"I said to Darren after the game, 'With the level we're at now, those are the small margins that we let pass us by," Reo-Coker, who has played at West Ham and Aston Villa in England said on the radio broadcast. "We take our second chance, the game's 2-0. It would have been very difficult for them to come back being 2-0 down at home with the (32-game home unbeaten streak) they had.
"That's the difference between playing a higher level of football and a lower level of football - you take your chances. You might only get one chance away from home and you must learn to take that one chance that you may get."
When contacted about the criticism from his coach and captain, at his flat in Vancouver on Sunday, Mattocks told The Gleaner: "A striker's instinct is to cut inside and put away the goal, But that didn't happen. To have guys like Reo to talk to about my game is good. He spoke to me as a professional. It was constructive criticism that should make be better."
Mattocks also said, "It's always good to get one's first goal. So I am looking forward to my second season in the MLS with the objective of scoring goals for my club."
That was Vancouver's first loss in the MLS Western Conference. They have six points from three games played.
Striker blamed after Whitecaps MLS loss
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
Comment