Young-Pyo Lee's free kick gives Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 win over Columbus Crew
By Marc Weber, The Province April 28, 2012
Young-Pyo Lee of the Vancouver Whitecaps fights off Chandler Hoffman #12 of the Philadelphia Union as he keeps control of the ball during the first half of a Major League Soccer game on March 31, 2012 at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.Photograph by: Rich Schultz , Getty Images
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Vancouver Whitecaps penned The Art of the Steal on Saturday night.
Their 1-0 win didn't have the glitz of a Donald Trump work but he'd at least have admired the bottom line: take the three points and run.
Vancouver felt fortunate to reach the locker room at half time still in a scoreless tie against the Columbus Crew.
And some Caps fans might still be trying to figure out how their boys are coming home with another win, their fourth of the season.
Last year, win No. 4 came on Aug. 27.
It was just one of those nights.
Columbus could only score when offside or when a foul was called. They hit the crossbar, too, forced Joe Cannon into a diving save, and threatened on most of their nine corners.
But the only goal came from the foot of Whitecaps' fullback Young-Pyo Lee, and, wouldn't you know it, he wasn't even trying to score.
Lee's free kick from 20-plus yards in the 74th minute curled beautifully, and fortuitously, past goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum and into the far top corner.
It was a back-post cross intended for Atiba Harris's head.