VANCOUVER, B.C. – Octavio Rivero’s 10th MLS goal of the season set the Vancouver Whitecaps on their way to a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids at BC Place on Wednesday night and first place in the Supporters’ Shield standings.
After a blistering start to his MLS career that saw him net five times in his first six matches, the Uruguayan had seen the well dry up. His strike on Wednesday was his first league goal from open play since a first-half strike in the 3-0 home win over the Philadelphia Union on May 9.
Sixteen league games had come and gone without Rivero scoring from the run of play, although the striker had netted three penalties in MLS and a tap-in goal in the Amway Canadian Championship final against Montreal last month.
Rivero’s joy, and relief, at getting back on the scoresheet was clear for all to see. The striker picked up a booking for his celebrations after the goal, but preferred to focus on the importance of the goal for the team postgame.
“Obviously I feel happy for scoring,” Rivero told reporters through a translator after the Rapids game. “But I feel more happy that I was able to help the team to win and that’s really [what matters]. If the team wins then I’m happy, and if I score I’m happy, but at the end of day it’s really just getting the points.”
That team mentality is just one of the reasons Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson has kept faith with Rivero during his barren spell, regularly highlighting the striker’s high workrate and strong play off the ball as instrumental reasons for Vancouver’s success this season.
Robinson was delighted to see the Uruguayan back on the scoresheet, and was also pleased that Rivero got a reward for the excellent link-up play he has shown with his compatriot Cristian Techera in recent weeks.
“[It’s] a little bit of magic the understanding that Cristian has with Octavio,” Robinson said. “It was great to see Octavio scoring. A great header from him from a super ball. He has an instinct to score goals.
“He’s excellent in the air. When you see him in training, he’s fantastic. I thought he had a good chance in the first half off a corner but he didn’t quite get there. It happens sometimes. I was pleased for him to get a goal. He got a cracker last week against Montreal [in the Canadian Championship]. An absolute stunner! Two yards, but they all count.”
That goal against the Impact was likely the easiest strike Rivero will ever get in his footballing career, tapping in Techera’s deflected effort into an open net while basically standing on the goal line.
- Get more Vancouver news at WhitecapsFC.com
After a number of close calls in front of goal, the hope amongst the Whitecaps was that such a freak goal was going to be the catalyst to again kickstart Rivero’s season. It seems to have worked and the striker has now found the scoresheet twice in his last two starts.
Getting Rivero back in form couldn’t have come at a better time for Vancouver, as they close in on the end of season honors, and the Uruguayan has his eyes very much focused on the titles up for grabs.
“Every game from here on is almost like a cup final,” Rivero said. “It’s the way we’ve got to treat it. We want to finish the season strong and become champions at the end of the season. What we need to do is just keep going – playing hard and playing well and the results will follow”
