CARSON, Calif. – Saturday night at the Home Depot Center was a night of firsts for the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps. Not only did Captain and former American International Jay DeMerit knock in his first MLS goal, but the team as a whole got their first away win in the MLS after shutting out Chivas USA 1-0.
“Tonight was a night of firsts. We came in with a plan and on the road sometimes that’s what it takes,” said DeMerit.
The veteran defender scored the game winning goal via header off a corner kick. DeMerit fought his way into the six yard box knocking down Goat defenders in the process.
“I was just concentrating on the ball. In set pieces everyone is marking each other,” said the goal scorer. “There’s wrestling and all sorts of things like that. I just concentrated on the ball and put it in the back of the net.”
Everyone in the locker room was thrilled DeMerit tallied his first Vancouver goal, however, that statistic was overshadowed by a slightly more ominous hex; that before Saturday night, the Whitecaps had yet to win an away game.
“It’s a huge monkey off our backs,” said a relieved DeMerit. “A lots been said about that in our preseason up to this first away game and to get it out of the way right away is such a good thing for us. We don’t have that pressure anymore. Now we can just go away from home and try to keep clean sheets and wins.”
Here is DeMerit's diving header goal..
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