'Caps Beat Rhinos
July 31, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
ROCHESTER, NY - Vancouver Whitecaps FC earned their second away win of the USL First Division season after an important 3-1 victory over Rochester Rhinos on Friday evening.
Two goals by Marlon James - the first coming from the penalty spot - helped the 'Caps to their first regular season win in Rochester since August 7, 1996. Though the Rhinos replied through a fine finish from captain Tiger Fitzpatrick, Tyrell Burgess sealed the win with a superbly taken first goal for the club since joining the Blue and White in the off-season. Friday's result takes the Whitecaps record back to .500 (7W-7L-3D) and puts Vancouver back into the playoff positions in the USL-1 standings.
Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made two changes to the side that started last Saturday's 4-2 home win over Puerto Rico Islanders. Mason Trafford replaced the departed Jeff Parke in the centre of the Vancouver backline, while James replaced Charles Gbeke to partner Marcus Haber in the Whitecaps attack.
Rhinos head coach Darren Tilley, meanwhile, gave former Whitecaps veteran Steve Kindel his Rochester debut against his former club, as he appeared at left fullback. In goal, Tim Melia took the place of Scott Vallow for the Upstate New York club.
On a cloudy summer's evening in The Flower City, the first half proved to be untidy, yet competitive, with numerous chances traded at both ends by either side.
After Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly made a routine save from Rhinos defender Kenney Bertz's header on eight minutes, Burgess struck two shots wide of the target on 10 and 13 minutes for the visitors.
Playing his first match of the season, Kindel tried to have an impact in Friday's match, as he set up Ryan Heins for a header with his cross from the left on 19 minutes. Heins' effort, however, flew wide of Nolly's far post. A minute later, the Rhinos nearly caught the 'Caps on the break, but Geordie Lyall did well to clear away Heins' low cross into the Vancouver box from the right.
Rochester then had another good chance to break the deadlock on 26 minutes, but more good defending - this time by Marco Reda - saw the Whitecaps centre back clear the danger from his own box after Nolly had initially spilled Andrew Gregor's dangerous cross from the left.
The visitors then replied with chances of their own, as Haber recorded Vancouver's first shot of the match of target on 33 minutes before James was unlucky to see a header from a fine Burgess cross fly just wide of Melia's near post five minutes later.
Then with five minutes left in the half, the Whitecaps were awarded a penalty after match referee Jan Halaska had adjudged Rhinos defender Brent Sancho to have handled Gordon Chin's cross in the Rochester box. The home side were left astonished by the decision, but that did not bother James, as the 'Caps striker stepped up to the spot to strike home his seventh goal of the season under the diving Melia on 41 minutes.
It was an important opening goal for the Whitecaps, who have struggled with their form away from home in the league this term. Full of confidence, James then tried his luck from distance on 44 minutes with a volleyed effort that was well off target, despite having an unmarked Burgess available to his left after the Blue and White had broke forward on the counter-attack.
It meant the 'Caps took a somewhat fortunate one-goal lead into the halftime break.
USL First Division Stories from July 31, 2009
- 'Caps Beat Rhinos - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Timbers Face Minnesota on the Road Saturday - Portland Timbers
- Impact Faces Miami FC in Florida Saturday - Montreal Impact
- RailHawks to face Austin on Saturday - North Carolina FC
- City Stars Host Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday - Cleveland City Stars
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