Austin Ties Up Vancouver
August 29, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
BURNABY, BC - In their first home match in the month of August, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9W-3L-13D) were held to a 2-2 draw by USL Conference club Austin Aztex (13W-3L-7D) in the USSF D-2 Pro League on Sunday afternoon.
In what was an entertaining contest between two of the league's top clubs, Whitecaps FC twice took the lead with goals by Cornelius Stewart and Ridge Mobulu. Though they created enough chances to claim an important home win, the Aztex showed enough resilience to earn an away point, as defender Yohance Marshall and substitute Eddie Johnson struck in the late stages of each half respectively to claim an unlikely stalemate at Swangard Stadium.
Despite the disappointment of Sunday's draw, Whitecaps FC reached the 40-point mark for the season with the result, as they pulled six points clear of second-place Carolina RailHawks at the top of the NASL Conference standings, while maintaining their spot as the second seed for the USSF D-2 playoffs in October. Vancouver are now undefeated in their last seven league matches (2W-0L-5D), with the Blue and White having lost only once in their last 18 games this season.
With Greg Janicki suspended and Nelson Akwari still sidelined through injury, Whitecaps FC head coach Teitur Thordarson played Luca Bellisomo and Zurab Tsiskaridze in the home side's centre back positions. Stewart returned to the starting XI to partner Mobulu in the Whitecaps attack, with the Swiss-born striker making his home debut for the Blue and White. Goalkeeper Jay Nolly, meanwhile, made his 100th all-time appearance for the 'Caps on Sunday.
On a breezy late summer's afternoon, a sold-out Swangard crowd of 5,288 saw an impressive first-half performance from Whitecaps FC, who deserved better for their efforts before the break.
After Nolly and left fullback Takashi Hirano had their defensive abilities tested by Austin strikers Jamie Watson and Randi Patterson in the early stages, the 'Caps got the home fans excited with a fine bit of play on 13 minutes. From the right flank, Philippe Davies slipped a fine through ball to Mobulu, who was unlucky not to get enough of a touch to beat the onrushing Miguel Gallardo in the Aztex goal.
The chance was a sign of things to come, and on 16 minutes, Vancouver broke the deadlock with a well-taken goal by Stewart. The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international got on the end of captain Martin Nash's fortuitous clearing tackle near the halfway line before racing past the Aztex backline and striking a low left-footed shot past a diving Gallardo for a 1-0 Whitecaps lead. It was the 20-year-old's second goal of the season.
The goal brought a spell of Vancouver pressure, as the 'Caps looked to take a firm grip of the contest. On 22 minutes, the hosts were nearly gifted a second goal after Gallardo fumbled Mobulu's curling cross from the left at the far post. The ball fell kindly for Stewart right on front of goal, but Gallardo recovered brilliantly to stop the Whitecaps goalscorer. A minute later, Stewart breached the Austin defence again with another penetrating run, but the striker's low shot rolled just wide of the far post.
Vancouver's pressure was relentless, and seemed to unsettle their Texas-based opponents, who were guilty of giving possession away on a number of occasions. On 34 minutes, the Aztex backline misplayed Hirano's forward clearance, with the speedy Mobulu taking advantage of Austin's defensive hesitancy. The Democratic Republic of the Congo native reached the Aztex box before rolling a shot agonizingly wide of goal. Three minutes later, another player to make his home debut in Vancouver native Terry Dunfield forced a routine save from Gallardo with a low drive following a Nash corner.
The dominance of the Whitecaps during the opening half was evident in performance, but not reflected in the scoreline. On 44 minutes, the Aztex took advantage of that slim margin by equalizing against the run of play. The Whitecaps failed to clear an Austin corner, which allowed Lance Watson's cross from the right to pick out Patterson at the far post. The striker's header back across goal found Marshall, who nodded home to make it 1-1 at halftime.
It was a disappointing end to a promising first half of action for Whitecaps fans, as the new faces that started Sunday's match made a positive impression. For the start of the second half, another Whitecaps newcomer made his club debut in front of the home fans, as the returning Willis Forko replaced Hirano at left fullback.
On 52 minutes, the Liberian international made a fine first impression when he started the attack for Vancouver's second goal. The defender's forward pass to Stewart allowed the Caribbean youngster to slip a well-timed through ball to Mobulu in the Aztex box. The striker side-stepped the onrushing Gallardo before reaching the Austin byline and neatly knocking the ball past the defending Leonard Griffin into an empty net from a tight angle. It was Mobulu's first-ever goal for the Whitecaps, as he made it 2-1 to Vancouver.
Mobulu's skill and poise to convert from such a position was a sight to behold, and Whitecaps FC restoring their advantage, they proceeded to keep Gallardo and the Aztex defenders busy shortly thereafter. On 58 minutes, striker Cody Arnoux became the fourth Whitecaps newcomer to make his home debut when he replaced Davies.
As both sides made changes in the latter stages of the match, Vancouver's lead was not an assured advantage. For their part, Austin weathered a lot of Vancouver pressure and seemed happy to hit their hosts on the break or with set pieces when they presented themselves.
Such was the case on 80 minutes, as the Aztex stunned the Whitecaps again with a second equalizer - this time from substitute Johnson, who had only entered the match a minute earlier for midfielder Michael Callahan. Leonard Griffin's dangerous free kick from the right found the former Manchester United trainee, with his header flying past Nolly and into the far corner of the Vancouver goal for 2-2.
Austin's second goal took the wind out of the Whitecaps sails, with the visitors finishing Sunday's match as the stronger side. On 84 minutes, substitute Sullivan Silva forced an important save from Nolly with a fierce close-range strike, while in the two minutes of time added on, Johnson had a glorious chance to snatch all three points for Austin, but the Englishman struck Maxwell Griffin's cutback pass over the Whitecaps crossbar.
The final whistle confirmed another drawn result for the 'Caps, but based on the number of chances they created, the home side were left disappointed that they did not complete a regular season sweep of the Aztex.
Whitecaps FC will now look ahead to next Sunday afternoon, as they host another USL Conference club in Puerto Rico Islanders at Swangard. Austin, meanwhile, will host NSC Minnesota Stars in the Texas state capital next Saturday night.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 29, 2010
- Timbers Shutout Crystal Palace Baltimore 3-0 - Portland Timbers
- Portland Gets Revenge Against Palace Baltimore - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- Austin Ties Up Vancouver - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Aztex Inch Closer to First Place with Draw - Austin Aztex
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