Second-half bounce gave Minnesota a 3-1 win over the Whitecaps. Globalnews.ca

just when it seemed like clear sailing Vancouver WhitecapsHe blew the wind with his sails.

The Whitecaps conceded three second-half goals in about 17 minutes as the visiting Minnesota United battling back from a 1-0 loss to a 3-1 win in Major League Soccer on Friday.

Whitecap striker Lucas Cavallini, as a second-half substitute, gave Vancouver the lead in the 63rd minute.

“I think we played well until we scored,” said Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini.

“After we scored, we didn’t put pressure. We were falling too much in our box and dropping them. We got punished.”

Minnesota defender Kemar Lawrence tied the match in the 71st minute when he took a looping pass from midfielder DJ Taylor and fired a shot at Whitecaps goalkeeper Cody Cropper.

It was the first goal the Whitecaps allowed in 342 minutes of MLS play.

Striker Luis Amarilla gave Minnesota the lead in the 84th minute with a hard shot from the top of the box.

2:05
‘He needs an opportunity:’ Coaches say Team Canada should focus on Calgary soccer player

Midfielder Franco Fragapen struck out the crowd of 14,207 at BC Place Stadium with Minnesota’s third goal in the 88th minute.

Fragapen fired a shot at Cropper after the two whitecaps collided in front of the net.

Vancouver has made a habit of making a comeback of late. Since 8 May, the team has scored five goals in home games on or after the 89th minute.

Four won while the fifth saved a tie.

However, there was no last-minute heroism against Minnesota.

“Tonight, we weren’t a 90-minute team,” Cropper said. “I think the bigger thing is that we have to keep playing our game for 90 minutes because when we do that it’s very effective what we do.

“Tonight, we were a team of 60 Minutes. This is an opportunity for us to learn, both individually and for us as a collective team.”

The Whitecaps (7-9-3) broke their three-game unbeaten string (2-0-1). Minnesota United (8-8-3) won the third game in a row.

“It was a big win for us,” said Minnesota coach Adrian Heath. “We know how well they are playing. They are a tough team to break.

“Beneath a goal, we were thinking the worst, but our men showed great character and didn’t give up. I thought we deserved to win. Maybe not 3-1, but we deserved to win.”

5:31
Former Montreal Impact player takes on new role

The win moved Minnesota to fifth place in the Western Conference with 27 points.

Vancouver finished ninth in the West on 24 points, three points behind Nashville, who are in seventh and final playoff place.

Cavallini put Vancouver ahead when he led a pass from Pedro Vitae in front of Minnesota goalkeeper Dené St. Clair.

It was the striker’s team’s sixth goal of the season.

The goal came minutes after midfielder Ryan Gould detonated a shot from St. Clair’s fingers and post.

Whitecaps midfielder Andrew Cubase left the game at halftime with a sore throat after Leonard Owuso worked for him.

“When you don’t have Cubans on the field, you miss out on his defensive ability,” Cropper said. “His coming off the field changes the game.”

notes: The Whitecaps announced ahead of the match that forward Debar Cassado had successful surgery for a meniscus tear in his right knee on Thursday and was placed on a season-ending injury list. Cassado was injured in the first half of Vancouver’s 0–0 home draw against the New England Revolution on 26 June. … The last time the Whitecaps recorded a first half goal was on 18 June when Cavallini scored in the second minute of 2. 0 win over FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. … After a four-game homestand, the Whitecaps will hit the road for games in Cincinnati on July 13 and Portland on July 17, and return home to host Chicago on July 23.