Whitecaps hang on for 1-0 win over CD Olimpia in CONCACAF Champions League

VANCOUVER – As Club Deportivo Olimpia piled on the pressure with the clock winding down, Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson opted to add two natural centre backs to the mix, inserting Christian Dean in the 78th minute and Tim Parker in the 85th minute, as his team fought to hold on to a 1-0 lead.

"They seemed to be putting bigger players on, and mine were smaller," said Robinson. "I was worried on set plays, because they're a big team. Part of the reason I made certain substitutions at certain times, I wanted to get certain players some minutes. Credit to the boys for the way they defended."

There were a number of nervy moments late, but with Dean at left back and Parker playing as a holding midfielder alongside the starting centre back tandem of Kendall Waston and Diego Rodriguez, Kianz Froese's 42nd minute goal stood as the winner for the Whitecaps in a vital 1-0 victory over their Honduran opponents in a Group F CONCACAF Champions League game Wednesday night at B.C. Place.

"It was a very tough game. They're a fantastic team, they've got some top top players in their team and we knew it would be a test for us," said Robinson. "Our play in the first half, we deserved a goal and we got our goal, and our game management was excellent."

Anything less than three points – especially at home – would have been a disappointment and severely hindered Vancouver’s ability to top the group and advance to the quarterfinals of the competition. Wednesday's win vaults them past the Seattle Sounders on goal differential, both teams with four points.

The Whitecaps’ creative ambition was evident early, even with their usual starting front line not in action. In the ninth minute, Nicolas Mezquida sent an ambitious cross into the area that Robert Earnshaw attempted to bicycle-kick toward goal, but the Welsh striker couldn't get his timing quite right.

Olimpia defender Ever Alvarado came close to putting the visitors in front two minutes later with a looping header off a well-taken free kick that smashed the top of the crossbar and stayed out.

Vancouver had a flurry of chances just passed the 25 minute mark, the best one coming from a cheeky back heel pass by Mezquida that freed up Froese to take a shot at goal from tight quarters.

Mezquida continued to pull the strings in midfield, playing a terrific through-ball to Darren Mattocks as the end of the first half neared. Clean in on goal, Mattocks tripped on the ball and lost control as he tried to make a move past charging Olimpia goalkeeper Noel Valladares. Fortunately for the Whitecaps, Froese was there to poke it in and give them a 1-0 lead just before halftime.

"I tried to get myself centrally, and I thought maybe Darren would shoot. If it would get blocked I would be in there. It got stuck in his feet and I kicked it and it went in," said Froese, the 19-year-old Winnipeg, Man., native. "To be able to help the team win the game, it's the best feeling for me."

"I did challenge him to be more proactive, rather than reactive and he took that on board," said Robinson of the game's lone goal scorer. "It was a good shift for him today."

For much of the second half, Vancouver comfortably held possession. Suddenly though, with just over 10 minutes remaining, nerves appeared to creep into the Whitecaps’ play for the first time all night, specifically in their defensive third. A poor clearance by right back Jordan Smith fell directly at the feet of Roger Rojas, but Rojas’ shot attempt from near the penalty spot was blasted well over the crossbar. Olimpa kept pressing, earning two corner kicks in quick succession, but again Vancouver escaped unscathed.

Earnshaw and substitute Marco Bustos had back-to-back opportunities to add an insurance marker in stoppage time. Earnshaw took advantage of a turnover in the box and wired a shot at Valladares, who parried the ball away. Bustos was right on the rebound, but hammered it wide.

After having the benefit of playing their first two CL games at home, Vancouver will take the show on the road to close out the group stage. First comes a short trip to Seattle on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The next destination won't be as forgiving. The Whitecaps head to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, for the final group stage game against Olimpia on Thursday, Oct. 22, just three days before the MLS regular season finale, where they can expect a hostile reception from the locals.

"Are we ready to go far in this competition? I don't know," said Robinson. "Some more experienced MLS teams – deeper squads – haven't gone as far. I don't know, we'll see. We'll enjoy it, it's a great occasion for the club today. [Our] first victory in the Champions League. Hopefully, there's many more to come."

A win down in Seattle next week, a challenge the Whitecaps have proven capable of meeting in the past, would guarantee their spot atop the group and their progression into the next round.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr