Rookie Bush shuts out Vancouver in 0-0 draw
August 1, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Cleveland City Stars News Release
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland City Stars played the defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps to a scoreless draw Saturday night at Middlefield Cheese stadium. It was the second draw of the season between the two clubs.
Rookie goalkeeper Evan Bush made the start for the City Stars and turned in a stellar performance with four saves in keeping the clean sheet and helping Cleveland (2-12-7) earn the point. Bush hails from nearby Concord, OH and attended Lake Catholic High School and the University of Akron.
The Whitecaps (7-7-4) put Bush under pressure early as Vancouver controlled much of the first half.
In the 13th minute Dever Orgill made a run up the middle of the pitch. As Orgill stepped across the box he got off left footed shot that tested Bush low but the rookie keeper was able to dive into a two-handed punch save.
In the 22nd minute Vancouver won a corner kick which midfielder Tyrell Burgess played directly to the head of midfielder Kenold Versailles. Versailles' header was on goal before being deflected. The ball bounced directly back to him, and his second header was even more dangerous as it arced toward the goal but Cleveland midfielder Pato Aguilera was waiting at the back post to clear the ball out of bounds.
In the 28th minute Leo Gibson was creative on the right side of the box as he stuttered into a shot but the low liner bounced right into the awaiting arms of Vancouver keeper Jay Nolly.
In the 34th minute Orgill sent a cross into the box that brought Bush off his line but Anthony Stovall has able to get a head on the ball before the keeper was forced to make a play. Burgess gathered the clear out and fired a bullet of a shot but Bush was back on his line and smothered the ball for the save.
The second half started slowly, but picked up speed when the City Stars won a corner kick in the 54th minute. Aguilera's kick was perfectly placed for defender Ibrahim Kante, who took a beautiful shot that went just high of the goal.
The City Stars struggled for much of the middle portion of the second half against the tight Vancouver defense that firmly held the back line, as the City Stars where lured into several off-sides traps.
Cleveland found a spark in the 75th minute from the subbed in Arsene Oka. Just 30 seconds after the speedy midfielder subbed into the match Oka received a ball on the run from Ricardo Pierre-Louis. Oka chipped the ball towards the far post with his inside foot but Nolly was able to put the shot under wraps.
Four minutes later the City Stars were on the attack again in the 79th. Leo Gibson made a great run up the right sideline before sending a cross into the center of the pitch towards Ryan Stewart who was able to flick the ball to the left sideline with a header. Oka was there again and fired a shot through the defense but the defense rolled into the arms of Nolly.
Vancouver had a good opportunity in the 86th minute as Takashi Hirano sent a cross into the box. An unmarked Marcus Haber had a free header on goal but the attempt sailed into the air and wide of the goal.
In the 89th minute Pierre-Louis won a loose ball on the left sideline and dribbled into a free shot but the hard drive was expertly covered by Nolly.
A few moments later the City Stars had the best chance of the match. Pierre-Louis came free again and sent a good looking cross into the box as Nolly came off his line but the charging Israel Sesay was a split-second late and was unable to knock the ball into the open goal.
The chance proved to be the last of the match for either side as the City Stars secured the shutout and the point against the Whitecaps.
The City Stars are back on the road next week against the Carolina RailHawks on August 8th and the Charleston Battery on August 11th. The next home match is Tuesday August 18th against the Montreal Impact in Cleveland Soccer Legends Night. Tickets for the match are only $5 and the day will include a half time exhibition match and a free post game autograph session with the legends.
USL First Division Stories from August 1, 2009
- Impact and Miami FC play to1-1 draw - Montreal Impact
- Timbers extend USL record unbeaten streak to 18 matches - Portland Timbers
- Thunder Come Back to Tie Portland 1-1 - Minnesota Thunder
- Whitecaps FC settle for draw - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Austin wraps up two-game road trip with disappointing 3-0 loss at Carolina - Austin Aztex
- Carolina clips Austin, 3-0 - North Carolina FC
- Rookie Bush shuts out Vancouver in 0-0 draw - Cleveland City Stars
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