He was still feeling a little sour from a case of food poisoning, but Alphonso Davies offered up some sweet relief for the Vancouver Whitecaps last week.

The teenager with the long stride and smooth moves came off the bench in the 67th minute and helped set up an insurance goal with his team playing a man down, as the Whitecaps defeated Real Salt Lake 2-0 to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Whitecaps will probably need more saccharine from Davies and other players in the lineup when they face Minnesota United FC on the road Saturday in a Major League Soccer match.

B次元官网网址淲hen I come into the game I try to do what the coach tells me, try to make an impact on the field,B次元官网网址� the 17-year-old midfielder said after a training session this week.

Born in a refugee camp in Ghana, Davies moved to Canada at age five. He joined the Whitecaps residency in 2015 and earned a spot on VancouverB次元官网网址檚 MLS roster in July 2016 as a 15 year old. He scored his first MLS goal in the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� season-opening win over Montreal.

At five-foot-11 and 160 pounds, Davies has grown physically from when he first joined the team. HeB次元官网网址檚 also become more confident on the field and better understands his role.

B次元官网网址淔riday was a perfect example of what he brings to the group and brings to the table in relation to what we are as a team,B次元官网网址� said head coach Carl Robinson. B次元官网网址淓nergy off the bench, creating the second goal.

B次元官网网址淚 think heB次元官网网址檚 matured, heB次元官网网址檚 grown physically. You can see his body shape has changed. HeB次元官网网址檚 still a young boy. HeB次元官网网址檚 still got to do his homework. He still does things he shouldnB次元官网网址檛 do as well, which I make him aware of.B次元官网网址�

Davies, who grew up in Edmonton, has started seven of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 nine games this season. Besides his goal, heB次元官网网址檚 also collected three assists.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes I think I can be better in the final third, putting in quality crosses,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淕oing forward I think IB次元官网网址檓 happy with my performance but I think I can be a little bit better.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps are very protective of Davies. HeB次元官网网址檚 rarely made available for interviews, something Robinson makes no apologies for.

B次元官网网址淲hen you are a young player everyone wants to build you up, but they build you up to knock you down,B次元官网网址� said the former Welsh international. B次元官网网址淚 protect him for his own good, for the clubB次元官网网址檚 good.

B次元官网网址淭here is a time for interviews and a time for media, but he needs to do his talking on the pitch with his football. I think heB次元官网网址檚 doing that this year.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps (4-4-1) head into the weekend sitting third in the MLS Western Conference with 13 points. Minnesota (3-5-0) have nine points and are seventh in the conference, just one point out of a playoff position.

Scoring goals and discipline have both been issues for Vancouver. The Whitecaps have managed 10 goals this season, one less than Minnesota, but have been held scoreless in three games.

In nine games this year the Whitecaps have had four players ejected, including two in a 6-0 loss to Kansas City two weeks ago.

Cristian Techera was sent off in the win over Salt Lake when shown his second yellow card of the game when he pulled off his jersey after scoring on a penalty kick.

Robinson called TecheraB次元官网网址檚 action B次元官网网址渘aivety, stupidityB次元官网网址� and said heB次元官网网址檚 stressed discipline with his team.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e addressed it with them because I donB次元官网网址檛 want to play with 10 men or nine men,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here are not many times you can win games when you go down a man.B次元官网网址�

Minnesota recovered from an early deficit to beat Houston 2-1 last week to end a four-game losing streak.

B次元官网网址淗opefully it gives us something to build on,B次元官网网址� head coach Adrian Heath said after the match. B次元官网网址淪ometimes you get your rewards at different times.

B次元官网网址淚t showed great character, teamwork and belief from the guys to dig themselves out of the hole.B次元官网网址�

Someone the Whitecaps will pay special attention to Saturday is forward Darwin Quintero. The 30-year-old Colombian, who joined Minnesota in March from Club America of Liga MX, is the teamB次元官网网址檚 first designated player. In three games he has scored twice and added an assist.

B次元官网网址淗e causes problems whether he plays as a wide player or a second forward,B次元官网网址� said Robinson. B次元官网网址淗e just brings energy and quality to the field.

B次元官网网址淲e have to make sure we are aware of him, what he does on the attacking side and also we can try to take advantage of what he doesnB次元官网网址檛 do on the defensive side. ItB次元官网网址檚 a game of cat and mouse.B次元官网网址�

Jim Morris, The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .