CHARLOTTE – What a time it was for striker Daniel Ríos to score his first regular season goal for the Club. It looked like the Whitecaps were going to be able to hold on to their draw until Ríos scored the dramatic late winner in the 85th minute. But this goal held even more weight than the moment.
“I want to dedicate this goal to my grandfather who just passed away this week. I’m very happy that I could dedicate this to him, and this is also for all my family who are going through a tough time.
“I celebrated it with all the fans and emotions in the moment when we were looking for the goal. It was amazing to score my first goal in the regular season and I’m more happy for the team because we needed this win and all three points”
Ríos and the team understood the magnitude of the match. Winning no matter what was the goal the team set their eyes on all week in preparation for Vancouver.
“These matches are important. We know we need to win, we know that we are in a position where we need to continue climbing the table. Winning however we can, doesn’t matter scores it or the scenario, just earn all three points, especially at home.
“It was really important for the confidence. For the good of the team. And to keep the same mentality and go on Wednesday and know we have to win coming off a win is always a good feeling.”
In the dwindling moments of the game, the CLTFC fans only got louder and louder as the match was coming to a close. The team has said before that the fans give them that extra push to keep going until the very end and it was no different tonight.
“The support we feel from the fans is incredible. Every match they are there supporting us and we hear and feel them. We really have an incredible fan base, we go out to every match thinking to give our all for them, and we always dedicate every win to them.”
