Rivero Looks Like the Missing Piece

The Whitecaps should consider themselves lucky that Octavio Rivero is finding his form this quickly with his new club. Otherwise nobody else would score.

In an all-too-familiar storyline, the Whitecaps created countless chances in Chicago, and missed them when it seemed impossible not to put the ball into the net. Even centrepiece Pedro Morales looked pedestrian when the ball fell to him, whiffing on two prime scoring opportunities on the night. We've seen this movie and know how it ends: another disappointing draw on the road.

But Rivero is flipping the script.

When all seemed lost, he scored an 86th minute tally to seal 3 points on the road. And not just your average, scrappy MLS goal where the ball is crossed into the box, bounces off three defenders, and falls to a forwards feet on the goal line. No, Rivero hit Beitashour's pass first time, and finished neatly into the bottom-left corner. A true striker's goal.

In fact, aside from a major gaffe in the home opener, where he failed to score a tap-in, Rivero has looked as close to clinical as any player the Caps have had. Yes, including Camilo. Rivero is not blazing fast, setting him apart from every other Whitecaps forward since Hassli. But what he lacks in pace, he makes up for in technical ability.

In build up play he has a great feel for whether to make that piercing run or to stop short and help retain possession. He is certainly not the type to run at defenders with the ball, only to eventually be closed down before he can make his mind up to shoot or pass.

Vancouver is used to watching that type of player, Manneh, Hurtado, and Mattocks are prime examples. And, quite frankly, we are sick of it. Rivero is smart. He has a feel for attacking beyond dribbling the ball around defenders. He understands how an offense passes into way into the box. When he and Morales start to build some chemistry, you can be sure they will make sweet music together in the final third.

And maybe that is his most valuable asset. He finally provides Pedro Morales with a creative partner, not just a moving target for through balls. And even when Morales is having a stinker like he did in Chicago, it's no big deal. Octavio Rivero's there to bail him out, too.