Whitecaps And Thunder Set For Playoffs
Published on September 24, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (15-7-8 in the regular season) begin their 2008 USL First Division playoff campaign when they take on Minnesota Thunder (10-11-9 in the regular season) in the playoff quarterfinals this weekend.
Having earned the second seed in the postseason, the Whitecaps opted to host Minnesota at Swangard Stadium in the first leg of the two-match quarterfinal series on Friday evening before traveling to the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota, for Sunday's decisive second leg.
An impressive 30-match regular season campaign in head coach Teitur Thordarson's first year in charge secured the Whitecaps a second-place finish, with The Blue & White just missing out on top spot by a single point. Vancouver's record, which included victories in half of their league matches, proved a far cry from 2007 when the Whitecaps finished seventh in the table before they were knocked out of the playoffs at the first hurdle following a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers.
The Whitecaps enter this year's playoffs in fine form, having lost just one of their last 10 games to close out the regular season campaign. Their lone defeat in that spell came against the Islanders in Puerto Rico on September 5. In fact, the Whitecaps will be full of confidence after winning their last two games against two of their main rivals. Thordarson's side were full value in victories over Montreal Impact at Swangard on September 13 and last Saturday's success over the Sounders in Seattle.
Though the Thunder may be the lowest seed in the playoffs, Vancouver's matches with Minnesota have been tightly contested affairs this season, with each side claiming away victories before the third match ended in stalemate earlier this month. On April 26, a second-half penalty from Ricardo Sanchez gave the Thunder their first win in Vancouver since 1997. The Whitecaps went on to avenge that early season defeat on May 31 when Jason Jordan's first-half strike gave Vancouver a 1-0 victory at the National Sports Center. The latest meeting was at Swangard on September 7, and despite playing more than half of the match with 10 men after Andres Arango was sent off for two yellow cards, the Whitecaps were unable to break down Donny Gramenz's side. Vancouver also finished that game with 10 men after centre back Omar Jarun was also shown two yellow cards. Those results took the Whitecaps all-time record versus the Thunder to 18 wins, nine defeats, and six draws. The Whitecaps also have a favourable home record of 13 wins, two defeats, and three draws versus the Thunder, while Minnesota have registered seven wins, five defeats, and three draws at home to Vancouver all-time.
Friday's first leg will be the Whitecaps 86th playoff match all-time, with the club's record of 41 wins, 31 defeats, and 13 draws stretching back to the 1976 North American Soccer League season. This will also be the third time that the Whitecaps have faced Minnesota in USL-1 postseason action. In the 2000 Western Conference semifinals, the Thunder overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to take Vancouver to overtime and win 4-3 on aggregate. In the 2004 Western Conference semifinals, Vancouver defeated Minnesota 2-0 at Swangard before claiming a 1-0 victory in Minnesota to win that series 3-0 on aggregate.
WHITECAPS
Finishing as the higher seed afforded the Whitecaps the choice of when they would play their home game against the Thunder. Though Vancouver have opted to play at Swangard in the first leg, Minnesota will be tasked with having to make two trips to play both games. The Blue & White, meanwhile, can prepare at home and play the match on Friday before heading on the road for Sunday's second match.
A key part of Thordarson's squad is the amount of USL-1 playoff and championship experience that the Icelandic tactician can draw from during this postseason, as the Whitecaps have nine players that helped claim the league championship with the club in 2006. "Experience is always good to have, especially when playing in the postseason," he told whitecapsfc.com. "These players have been important to the team during the season, and they will be extremely important for us in the playoffs."
Thordarson has reason to be confident about this weekend's games after the recent performances of his side. Yet, for the Whitecaps head coach, the USL-1 playoffs will be his first experience of trying to win a championship in this manner. "I have coached teams in a lot of tournaments, which can be very similar to this type of situation," he revealed. "During the winter time, I traveled to Spain with Scandinavian teams and played in competitions that had knock-out stages. However, I have never been aware of the use of playoffs to determine a league champion in Europe, so for me, this here is a new thing. I've seen playoffs used for winning promotion to a higher division, but not for winning a league. Regardless, the important thing for me is winning the next game, so I'm not looking any further than that."
The Whitecaps will still be without centre back Omar Jarun for Friday's first leg, as he serves the final game of a three-match suspension. The former Atlanta Silverbacks defender was banned one match for a red card he received in the September 7 match against Minnesota, while his two-match ban comes as a result of his first yellow card in the same game against the Thunder, as that booking was his eighth of the regular season. The Palestinian international, however, will be eligible to play in Sunday's second leg. Though he has returned to training this week, fellow defender Geordie Lyall remains doubtful, as he looks to overcome a groin problem.
THUNDER
Minnesota enter the playoffs buoyed by having ended a three-year drought of no postseason action as a USL-1 club. In fact, their Western Conference semifinal defeat to the Whitecaps in 2004 was their last taste of playoff action before this year.
The Thunder's playoff hopes this season looked seemingly remote during the summer, but after Gramenz took over coaching duties from Amos Magee on July 22, Minnesota were able to turn their season around. The most pivotal stretch was their last six regular season matches, as the Thunder went on an unbeaten run of three wins and three draws to finish seventh in the table. The decisive result was last Saturday's 3-1 home win over Montreal, as goals by Ricardo Sanchez, Brian Cvilikas, and Jeremiah Bass secured the last playoff berth.
Having now reached the postseason, Gramenz intends to cause a surprise and lead Minnesota to their first league championship title since 1999. "By no means are we content with just making the playoffs, as the team is highly motivated," he told the Thunder's official website. "It has been an uphill climb for the majority of the season, but the men persevered by posting a 6-3-4 record in the last 13 games. I believe this is indicative of not only their talent and ability, but their character and motivation as a team."
Thordarson himself is under no illusions of the challenge that Minnesota pose to his side. "I think it will be a tricky couple of games against them, as we created chances against Minnesota, but we were unable to score many goals against them this season," he said. "We will need to be effective and aware of their good counter-attacking abilities. I'm confident that we are ready to go into this contest and play two good games. Hopefully, we will advance."
The Thunder will be without two forwards for the upcoming playoff series with Vancouver. Nathan Knox is out after tearing both the anterior and medial cruciate ligaments in his knee, while Liberian striker Leo Gibson is also sidelined with a knee problem.
PLAYOFF FORMAT
This weekend's USL-1 playoff quarterfinals will be contested in a two-leg (or two-match) aggregate score series. If the aggregate score is tied at the conclusion of the second leg, then two 15-minute extra time periods will be played to determine the series winner. If both sides remain tied at the end of extra time, then the series will be decided using a penalty shootout. *Unlike European club competitions or the CONCACAF Champions League, the 'Away Goals' rule is NOT in effect as a tiebreaker in the USL-1 playoffs*.
MEN'S TEAM POSTER
Whitecaps fans that attend Friday's playoff match will also receive a 2008 men's team poster. Whitecaps volunteers will be handing out posters before and during the game at Swangard, and fans will have the opportunity to have their poster autographed by their favorite Whitecaps players following the game.
BC YOUTH SOCCER TRIBUTE
The Whitecaps will also be paying tribute to all players, coaches, parents, and officials that are involved in youth soccer across the province of British Columbia. As part of the tribute, youth club presidents will be introduced to the Swangard crowd at a pre-game ceremony prior to kickoff, while all players that attend Friday's playoff game are asked to show up in their team uniforms as part of the event, with prizes on offer to the most teams in uniform.
Friday's playoff quarterfinal, first leg, between the Whitecaps and Minnesota Thunder kicks off at 7:00 p.m. Whitecaps individual match tickets start at just $18 and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and by phone at 604.280.4400 or 1.800.663.9311. CLICK HERE for more information on our individual match tickets.
You can also watch Friday's playoff game between the Whitecaps and Minnesota live on USLlive.com or listen to the match live on TEAM 1040 radio or via the internet on team1040.ca.
Sunday's second leg between the Whitecaps and Minnesota kicks off at 3:05 p.m. PDT from the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota, and can also be seen live on USLlive.com.
USL First Division Stories from September 24, 2008
- Impact tie Atlante FC in CONCACAF Champions League play - Montreal Impact
- Whitecaps And Thunder Set For Playoffs - Vancouver Whitecaps
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
