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USL-1 North Carolina FC

Carolina, Vancouver play to 0-0 draw

August 16, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


BURNABY, B.C. - Carolina and Vancouver, the two USL First Division teams that have been shut out the least and have played to the fewest ties this season, were unable to solve each other Saturday night and played to a scoreless draw at Swanguard Stadium.

"I think it was a good game, a good point for us," said Carolina coach Martin Rennie. "We were looking to win it, but in the end it's a good result."

The draw, Carolina's first since June 19, leaves the RailHawks (13-5-4, 43 points) in third place in the USL-1. The RailHawks trail Portland (48 points) and Charleston (44), though they have a game in hand over Portland and two over Charleston.

The RailHawks withstood massive pressure from the Whitecaps all night. Vancouver (7-9-5, 26 points) took 22 shots (to Carolina's 9) and had 10 corner kicks (to Carolina's one), but the Carolina defense held firm. Caleb Patterson made seven saves - his second straight seven-save effort and third of the year - to extend the RailHawks' scoreless streak to 490 minutes, nine shy of the club record they set earlier this season. It's Patterson's eighth shutout of the year and the RailHawks' league-leading 14th.

Carolina had not been shut out since June 14 - a stretch of 13 matches where they scored 25 goals - but their opportunities going forward were limited on Saturday, and when the RailHawks got into the final third, their touch was off.

From the run of play, their best chance came in the 48th minute. John Cunliffe and Matt Watson, two players who've been out of the lineup for several weeks, worked a nice give-and-go that put the ball on Cunliffe's foot from eight yards out. But Cunliffe mishit the ball, and Vancouver goalkeeper Jay Nolly (three saves) easily collected it.

"I think when you're defending so much, those chances are a bit more difficult," Rennie said. "In the first half, it looked like we could have taken a quicker shot, but overall, I'm pretty happy with the result."

Carolina's only other real chance of the night was in the 22nd minute. On a free kick from the right flank, Cunliffe served a ball to the edge of the six-yard box. As it bounced around, Amir Lowery toe-poked it toward the goal, but Nolly was there to make the save.

Vancouver, winless over its previous three and in need of three points to bolster its playoff position, made its intentions (three points) clear from the get-go. In the sixth minute, Gordon Chin smacked a swerving shot from 25 yards that forced Patterson to sprawl out and make his first save of what would prove to be a busy night.

The RailHawks caught a break in the 26th minute when Vancouver defender Wes Knight served a ball into the box for Marlon James. James headed the ball at Patterson from six yards out, and the Carolina goalkeeper made the save. But the rebound went right back to James, whose follow-up shot was saved again. James corralled the rebound again as Patterson tried to gain possession of the ball and knocked it in the goal. But before James could celebrate referee Dave Gantar blew his whistle for a free kick.

"Caleb had saved it, and he had it under control," Rennie said. "That was clear free kick."

Over the final half hour, the RailHawks absorbed unending pressure from the Whitecaps.

In the 60th, Charles Gbeke capitalized on a giveaway at the top of the penalty area and cracked a half-volley on frame, but Patterson turned it away.

In the 62nd minute, Takashi Hirano led a Vancouver counterattack and played Nizar Khalfan down the left side. He sent a ball into the area where Gbeke headed it on frame. Gbeke's looping header hit the crossbar and fell to James. James gently touched it toward the goal, but, somehow, Carolina's Brad Rusin cleared it off the line.

Vancouver got one last chance in stoppage time. Midfielder Lyle Martin smashed a shot from 12 yards away that Patterson saved. The ball popped up in the air and Patterson came out to punch it away. Only the 6-foot-4-inch Gbeke's head beat Patterson's fist to the ball, but Gbeke's try went wide of the goal.

"They did have their chances, and they sent in a lot of dangerous balls, but we stood up well to that," Rennie said.

The RailHawks and Whitecaps will meet each other again on Tuesday, only they will do it at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, where Carolina won the teams' first meeting of the season 2-1 on July 17.

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics



USL First Division Stories from August 16, 2009


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