Vancouver's French forward Eric Hassli, who has 10 goals for the Whitecaps this season, has apologized for heading straight for the locker room last Saturday after being substituted in the 84th minute of a 2-1 loss to Portland.

"It's all [on] me. I regret doing that now, but I have to look forward, not backward," he said. "I just don't want to give the wrong impression for the other players. I have a lot of respect for them and I don't want them to look at me in that light."

Speaking through an interpreter, the 30-year-old also apologized to the fans, 500 of whom made the long trip down the I-5 to see a rivalry game.

Early this season Hassli was making headlines for three red cards. But lately it's been all about his great goals -- until Saturday. "We had a group discussion and it's put to bed," said Caps interim coach Tommy Soehn.