10-man Vancouver gets vital away goal at Red Bulls in Champions League
The Vancouver Whitecaps battled to a 1-1 draw at the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday evening to set up what should be an enthralling second leg in British Columbia next Thursday.
Amid heavy pressure from Jesse Marsch's clan, Kekuta Manneh's flicked header gave the visitor an unexpected 39th-minute lead in New Jersey. Luck then appeared to be on the Whitecaps' side when new Red Bulls skipper Sacha Kljestan fluffed a penalty straight into the grateful grasp of David Ousted moments into the second stanza.
Bradley Wright-Phillips side-footed into the top corner to level proceedings after just over an hour, and then the Whitecaps had to eke out a precious draw with 10 men when Cristian Techera appeared to clumsily leave a high foot near Sal Zizzo's twig and berries.
RED CARD Vancouver Whitecaps, Cristian TECHERA No. 13 | @NewYorkRedBulls @WhitecapsFC #SCCL#SoyAficionado pic.twitter.com/gtrSoAva2T
— THE CHAMPIONS (@TheChampions) February 23, 2017
After the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal at BC Place, Vancouver hosts the Philadelphia Union and the Red Bulls travel to Atlanta United in their respective MLS season openers on Sunday.