Tim Parker made some heady plays for the Whitecaps. (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)
VANCOUVER — It was a goal that was three seasons and 54 Major League Soccer games in the making.
After 4,690 minutes , defender Tim Parker accomplished something that he had never done before — scoring a goal. The former St. John’s University standout accomplished that feat in the 67th minute of the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 2-0 home victory over Sporting Kansas City Saturday.
A native of Hicksville, N.Y., Parker headed in a free kick from Christian Bolanos for the second goal of the match to break his duck at B.C. Place.
Parker, 24, had scored in the Canadian Championship and CONCACAF Champions League, but never in a league match.
“It was a relief,” Parker told www.VancouverWhitecaps.com. “I’ve come close a numerous amount of times and I think it’s just finally fallen my way. We practiced during the week exposing certain areas of the field.
“I always made a joke that I scored in finals, because that was my record until now. It’s just good to get on the scoresheet in general.”
Parker helped the Whitecaps secure the shutout.
“He’s been strong. He’s been very professional,” Vancouver head coach Carl Robinson said. “We talk about it all the time with our young players. You have to be that. You have to have a discipline off the field. He’s got that, but his performances on it have been very mature.”
Now, Parker has another goal, quest and challenge: he has yet to record an assist.
