Vancouver Whitecaps settle for 2-2 draw with FC Dallas after own goal in stoppage time

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ranko Veselinovic scored an own goal in the 94th minute to give FC Dallas a 2-2 draw Sunday night.

Veselinovic and teammate Andy Rose collided as they went up in the air to clear Paxton Pomykal’s diagonal cross and, Veselinovic, affected by the contact, inadvertently knocked it past Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

“We had a very difficult second half,” said Whitecaps head coach Marc Dos Santos. “We were a lot under pressure, it was hard for us. And then in injury time, again, it’s very hard to explain.

“It was a very unlucky ball, unlucky goal that we dealt with. It’s just frustrating that the opponent doesn’t have to work for the goal that gives them the 2-2.”

After the tying goal, Crepeau made a pair of saves to help the Whitecaps (2-6-3) prevent a late winner by FC Dallas (2-4-5).

“We’re a team that’s able right now to deal with the 90 minutes, but is not able right now to deal with the injury time,” added Dos Santos. “We’re going to have to find solutions to that.”

Jesus Ferreira whipped in a well-placed cross and Ricardo Pepi headed it home from close range to open the scoring for Dallas in the 22nd minute. It was Pepi’s fifth goal of the season.

Crepeau felt he should have saved Pepi’s header.

“I’ll be honest, I can’t think of that first goal,” said the native of Candiac, Que. “A little slip, I’m on my knees and the ball hits my hand. If I get on my feet there, it’s a 2-1 win tonight. Small details make the difference.

“That little moment, we could be 2-1 right now and have a better mood.”

In the 30th minute, Dallas defender Bressan misplayed Cristian Dajome’s cross and Lucas Cavallini twisted goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer with a pair of cutbacks to tie it at 1 for the Whitecaps.

Andy Rose finished Deiber Caicedo’s cross to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead in first-half stoppage time.

Rose felt the eight minutes of stoppage time added to the end of the game – during which Dallas netted the equalizer – were not totally justified. 

“Of course eight (minutes) felt like a lot,” he said. “That’s a big number for stoppage time. You don’t see that a whole lot. I was probably expecting five, maybe six.

“But you have to deal with it and you have to be professional in those moments. In these little moments, we need more guys to try to step up and make plays.”

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The Associated Press