Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson was full of praise for Pedro Morales in the wake of the weekend's important MLS win.
The Canadian club came from behind to defeat Real Sal Lake 2-1 at BC Place on Saturday with captain Morales netting both goals for his side to move into the top five of the Western Conference.
Midfielder Morales' output in the opening 45 minutes was not as Robinson would have expected but he opted to keep him on the pitch and it proved a masterstroke as the Chilean scored from then penalty spot in the 62nd minute before producing the match-winner just over ten minutes from time following Nat Borchers' 57th-minute opener.
Robinson said of Morales: "He makes a difference to us.
"I thought in the first half he was probably below the levels that he should be. I think we saw a passing range that we're used to seeing with him in the second half.
"Sometimes you have defining moments in a season and maybe this will be our defining moment."
Of his match-winning performance, humble skipper Morales added: "We needed the win today, it was important with Portland's loss to Toronto.
"My teammates were very good today, good attitude. We had so many chances for a goal, but it is important today for a win, for three points. Very, very important."
Vancouver now sit fifth in the West on 40 points, one ahead of Portland Timbers in sixth, but eight behind fourth-placed FC Dallas as the 2014 MLS play-off loom near.
