VANCOUVER, B.C. – A Camilo brace paced the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire at BC Place on Sunday evening and stretch their unbeaten streak to six matches.
The forward scored the decisive opening goal on 66 minutes, taking down a precision punt from goalkeeper Brad Knighton on the right hand side, before turning defender Shaun Francis inside out and firing past Fire goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi.
Camilo was back at it five minutes later, as Tornaghi stopped him one on one. But the diminutive striker kept focused on the play, gathering the rebound and cutting back to fire home his second of the contest.
The brace increased Camilo's total to 10 goals in his last nine matches, and his 12 total goals place him atop the league’s Golden Boot race. His first on the night was also the Whitecaps' 100th goal since joining MLS in 2011.
Rookie Kekutah Manneh added some insurance in the 84th minute, brushing aside a defender before getting the better of Janil Anibaba one on one and blasting underneath Tornaghi from the left side of the area.
Patrick Nyarko added a consolation goal for the visitors in the 94th minute, heading home a cross from the left side of the box.
It could have been a different story though had the Whitecaps not withstood early pressure, as the Fire started the first half strongly with 53.8 percent possession and the best of the early opportunities.
Mike Magee generated the first chance of the game five minutes in, dinking a ball into the area, which Chris Rolfe collected. But 'Caps goalkeeper Brad Knighton stopped the striker’s left footed effort before Rolfe touched his rebound wide.
Chicago's Jeff Larentowicz also made good contact with a header from a Magee corner five minutes later, forcing Knighton to get down well to gather. It was an awkward ball for the goalkeeper, but he held it against his leg right on the line to keep the match scoreless.
Vancouver left it late for their best chances of the opening half with the most noteworthy opportunity coming off the left foot of captain Kenny Miller, who attempted an audacious volley from just outside the area on 41 minutes, only to see the ball sail wide of Tornaghi’s goal.
Magee was the Fire's best attacking player on the day and he came close twice in a matter of two minutes in the second half just before Camilo's brace. He also appealed for a penalty kick in the 76th minute after Vancouver defender Brad Rusin threw his body at a close-range shot.
The Whitecaps, now 9-5-5 (32 points) and in third place in the West, are back in action on Saturday, as they travel to Los Angeles to face the Galaxy at StubHub Center. The Fire also play Saturday, as they host D.C. United at Toyota Park after dropping to 6-9-3 (21 points).
