Edwini-Bonsu Lifts Whitecaps in Playoff Opener

September 25, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release


Vancouver Whitecaps FC defeated Carolina RailHawks 1-0 in the first leg of their USL First Division first round playoff series at Swangard Stadium on Thursday evening.

Randy Edwini-Bonsu's first-ever goal for the Whitecaps men's team gave the defending USL-1 champions a slim one-goal advantage for the decisive second leg at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday afternoon. Kick off from Cary, North Carolina, is set for 2 p.m. PDT.

In a match that seemed destined to end in a goalless stalemate, the Blue and White were thankful for one of their emerging talents for claiming the aggregate lead in this two-match playoff series.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made three changes to the side that started Vancouver's final regular season match against Cleveland City Stars last Friday night. Two of those changes came at centre back, with Shaun Pejic and Luca Bellisomo replacing Michael Ndubuisi Onwatuegwu and Mason Trafford. The other change was in central midfield, as captain Martin Nash returned from a hamstring injury to play alongside Gordon Chin. Nash - who missed the final five games of the regular season with the injury - started in place of Kenold Versailles.

RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie, meanwhile, made four changes to the side that defeated Montreal Impact 2-0 at home in their final regular season match. The visitors changed their attack pairing, with John Cunliffe and on-loan Matthew Delicate replacing Andriy Budnyy and Gregory Richardson up front. In midfield, Luke Kreamalmeyer and Kupono Low replaced Joseph Kabwe and Matthew Watson for the North Carolina-based outfit.

On a clear and pleasant evening under the lights at Swangard, a crowd of 5,135 saw an intense and evenly played first half of soccer, with little to separate both sides through the opening 45 minutes.

There was enough action to keep the players on their toes at both ends. On seven minutes, goalkeeper Jay Nolly needed to rush out of his box to make a clearance from the closing Delicate before Charles Gbeke had Vancouver's first chance of the match with a turn and shot that flew over the Carolina crossbar from the edge of the RailHawks box a minute later.

With the match evolving into a tight and intriguing postseason battle, Nolly made a routine save from Daniel Paladini on 17 minutes before the 'Caps created a very good chance for Lyle Martin five minutes later. However, the right fullback headed Ansu Toure's corner right over the Carolina crossbar.

It was also a half in which both Nolly and his RailHawks counterpart Caleb Patterson-Sewell were able to deal with everything that came their way in their respective boxes. On the half-hour mark, the Carolina shot-stopper did well to collect Marcus Haber's through ball for Gbeke before saving a header from the Whitecaps top scorer four minutes later.

Though the match was cagey at times, the Whitecaps tried to make a breakthrough just before the break. On 42 minutes, Toure stabbed a shot wide of the near post after Haber found him in the RailHawks box with his lay-off pass. A minute later, Nash was well off target with a strike after getting on the end of a long Wes Knight throw into the Carolina box.

The last opportunity of the first half fell to Carolina midfielder Low, but his free kick from the right flew straight into the arms of Nolly, as both sides went to their respective dressing rooms deadlocked at 0-0.

With the series still to have swung in either club's favour, the second half brought more of the same action shortly after the restart. Low struck a shot high and wide for the visitors on 48 minutes before Gbeke was unable to direct Nash's driven free kick from the left on target with his head two minutes later.

Then after Nolly needed to save Cunliffe's close-range shot on 54 minutes, Thordarson looked to infuse some energy to the contest by introducing Edwini-Bonsu for Gbeke in the Whitecaps attack and Versailles for Chin in central midfield three minutes later.

Versailles' first contribution to the contest was to earn a booking on 64 minutes, as he made a strong tackle on Carolina defender John Gilkerson. Three minutes later, the 'Caps made two more substitutions, with Justin Moose replacing Toure on the left-hand side of midfield, while Marlon James came on for Haber.

As the match reached the midway point of the second half, Versailles was unable to make a clean connection with his downward header after getting on the end of Nash's corner into the RailHawks box on 68 minutes.

Carolina seemed content to come out from the away leg with a draw before heading home. However, on 77 minutes, the Whitecaps stunned the RailHawks by scoring the only goal of the match. Nolly's long ball forward found the head of James, whose flick fell into the path of youngster Edwini-Bonsu. The Residency product eluded the attentions of Carolina defender Jeremy Tolleson before sidestepping the onrushing Patterson-Sewell and slotting home his first-ever men's team goal with his right foot.

The goal brought life to the crowd at Swangard, and with another important match to come on the weekend, the 'Caps tried to extend their advantage from a Nash corner on 81 minutes. However, Pejic was unable to direct his header on target at the far post.

Disappointed to be a goal behind, the RailHawks tried to rectify matters on 86 minutes. However, Gilkerson's header from a Carolina corner forced a routine save from Nolly.

A further three minutes of time added on were played before match referee Fabrizio Romano brought an end to proceedings, with the Whitecaps earning their first win of the season over the RailHawks and their 45th playoff victory all-time. Defeat for Carolina means the RailHawks have yet to win a playoff match or score a postseason goal as a USL-1 club.

Before Thursday's playoff game, the 2009 Whitecaps men's team player awards were presented. Goalkeeper Nolly claimed the Most Valuable Player award, while striker Gbeke earned the Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot as the club's top goalscorer. Defender Takashi Hirano was named the men's team's Outstanding Defender, while striker Haber claimed both the Newcomer of the Year and Fan Favourite awards. Vicente Arze and Martin were this year's joint recipients of the Whitecaps Blue & White Award, as the pair showed an active willingness to give back to the community by volunteering and participating in various club and community initiatives.

The two other USL-1 first round playoff series also began on Thursday night. In Upstate New York, sixth-seeded Rochester Rhinos surprised third-seeded Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1 in their first leg match. Puerto Rico finished the game with ten men after Cristian Arrieta was sent off early in the first half at Marina Auto Stadium. Meanwhile, in Montreal, goals by former Whitecaps midfielder David Testo and Rocco Placentino gave the fifth-seeded Impact a 2-0 first-leg win over fourth-seeded Charleston Battery. Charleston also finished the match with ten men after centre back Matt Bobo was sent off just before halftime at Montreal's Stade Saputo. The second legs of both those series will also by played on Sunday afternoon, with Puerto Rico hosting Rochester in the Caribbean and Charleston hosting Montreal in South Carolina.



USL First Division Stories from September 25, 2009


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