Vancouver’s strong start to the new Major League Soccer season hit a hurdle on Wednesday as the Whitecaps were held to a 2-2 home draw by Columbus.
Darren Mattocks scored the equalizer in the second half and Octavio Rivero added his MLS-leading fifth goal of the season for Vancouver (4-1-1), which saw its franchise-record four-game win streak come to an end.
WATCH: Jay Janower reports on the Whitecaps’ hot start
Kei Kamara replied with both goals for the visitors as Columbus (1-2-1) picked up its first road point of the season.
Tied 1-1 at the half, the Crew grabbed the lead in the 50th minute when Justin Meram intercepted a poor clearing attempt by Whitcaps goalkeeper David Ousted. The Columbus midfielder fed a ball from the left into Kamara, who poked home his second of the night and third of the season.
Vancouver responded by bringing on speedy midfielder/forward Kekuta Manneh, and he made his presence felt immediately.
The 20-year-old Gambian first set up a decent chance for Vancouver captain Pedro Morales moments after stepping on the pitch before moving in on goal in the 64th minute and feeding a pass back to Mattocks, who buried his first of the campaign in his first start.
Mattocks nearly won it for Vancouver moments later, but his shot smashed against the near post. Columbus goalkeeper Steve Clark thwarted another attempt from Mattocks as the Whitecaps poured on the pressure looking for an elusive winner.
Ousted then made a good stop on Columbus midfielder Ethan Finlay in the 85th minute to keep things level as Vancouver picked up its league-leading 13th point of the season.
Playing without suspended midfielder Federico Higuain, the Crew opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Kamara jumped on a loose ball in the Vancouver penalty area and beat Ousted with a low shot.
The Whitecaps, who looked a bit out of sorts early, responded when Mattocks found Rivero with a quick throw into the Columbus penalty area. The 24-year-old Uruguayan shook off a defender before firing shortside on Clark for his fifth goal in six games since joining Vancouver in the off-season.
The Whitecaps were playing their second of three games in eight days after Saturday’s impressive 2-0 home victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy. There was speculation head coach Carl Robinson might alter his lineup on Wednesday because of the busy schedule, but he elected to make just two changes, with Mattocks and defender Diego Rodriguez — who wound up having to be subbed off after just 15 minutes because of a suspected leg injury — drawing into the starting 11.
Both the Whitecaps and Crew are back in action on Saturday, with Vancouver visiting the San Jose Earthquakes and Columbus travelling to New England to take on the Revolution.
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