Late goal downs Whitecaps
September 5, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
Vancouver Whitecaps suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat away to Puerto Rico Islanders on Friday evening.
In the third and final battle between the USL First Division's top-two clubs, the Islanders went three points clear at the top of the standings after substitute Noah Delgado's late goal secured Puerto Rico's first-ever league win over Vancouver in club history. It was also the second home match in three days where the Islanders pulled off late heroics to claim victory, having stunned Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in similar fashion on Wednesday night to reach the CONCACAF Champions League group stage.
While Puerto Rico extended their unbeaten run in USL-1 to nine games, defeat for the Whitecaps ended their unbeaten league run at six games, while it also brought a run of four straight draws between the two clubs to a conclusion. The visitors will have been particularly disappointed to lose on Friday, having had a glorious chance to score late in the game in Bayamon.
Having been pleased with his side's effort in the first game in Puerto Rico, Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson opted for an unchanged side for Friday's second match with the Islanders, as Vancouver looked to go to the summit of USL-1 with a win.
Though the wet weather left the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium pitch in a far from ideal state, both sides were able to stroke the ball around without any real difficulty.
Playing in their home colours of orange and white, it was The Tropa Naranja or Orange Troop that showed little effects of playing a fifth competitive match in the space of 10 days, as Puerto Rico enjoyed plenty of possession during the opening 45 minutes. The Whitecaps, meanwhile, seemed happy to sit back and keep their shape up, with a view to hitting the Islanders on the counter-attack.
Right from the opening kick-off, Islanders striker Kendall Jagdeosingh tested Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly with a turn and shot before Puerto Rico's Petter Villegas was unable to hit the target with a free kick strike on 11 minutes. The Islanders then created a further chance for midfielder Jonny Steele six minutes later, but Nolly was on hand again to make an assured save from the former Northern Ireland youth international.
Vancouver responded with chances of their own midway through the first half, with Islanders goalkeeper Bill Gaudette saving a shot from Nicholas Addlery on 24 minutes before midfielder Steve Kindel blasted a volley over the Puerto Rico crossbar a minute later. Centre back Omar Jarun then forced Gaudette into another stop when he flicked Martin Nash's throw-in from the right at the Puerto Rico number one on 27 minutes.
The best chance of the half, however, fell to the Caribbean club on 33 minutes. Islanders centre back Nigel Henry forced Nolly to redirect a goal-bound header off his crossbar after the Trinidad & Tobago defender had connected with Steele's fine cross into the Whitecaps box.
Though the home side came close to scoring, it did not affect the scoreline at halftime, as both sides went to their respective dressing rooms deadlocked at 0-0.
The second half saw Vancouver look far brighter as an attacking force, despite Villegas having two chances shortly after the restart.
On 48 minutes, Jarun headed Alfredo Valente's curling free kick from the left wide of goal before the Palestinian international was unable to direct a shot on target two minutes later.
On the hour mark, Whitecaps striker Eduardo Sebrango forced a Vancouver corner with a dangerous turn and shot in the Islanders box before the Cuban hit-man headed Valente's ensuing corner wide of the near post.
Thordarson then made two changes at the midway point of the half, with Vicente Arze replacing Valente on the left-hand side of midfield, while Jason Jordan came on for Addlery to partner Sebrango up front.
The changes came when Puerto Rico had a couple of dangerous opportunities, with Villegas bringing a fine save from Nolly with a close-range shot on 73 minutes.
Yet, it was at the other end where the Whitecaps came ever so close to taking the lead on 79 minutes, but after a fine Whitecaps passing sequence in the Islanders box, Gaudette pulled off a brilliant save to deny Jordan, who was found unmarked right in front of the Puerto Rico goal.
It left this top-of-the-table clash well poised towards the dying stages, but the Islanders would pull off the heroics again to snatch a crucial victory in the 89th minute. Cristian Arrieta was allowed to stroll down the right-hand side before finding Delgado with his cross into the Whitecaps box. The substitute got in between his markers before heading the ball past Nolly for the match-winner - much to delight of the 5,255 that were in attendance at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium.
Several minutes of stoppage time were then played, with the Whitecaps pressing forward in a bid to find an equalizer. The Islanders, however, held on to claim three valuable points and more importantly, the regular season series with Vancouver.
The Whitecaps will now make a quick turnaround and fly home on Saturday before focusing on the visit of Minnesota Thunder to Swangard Stadium on Sunday evening. Puerto Rico, meanwhile, will take a well-deserved break before traveling to Upstate New York next Friday for an away match with Rochester Rhinos.
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USL First Division Stories from September 5, 2008
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- Late goal downs Whitecaps - Vancouver Whitecaps
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- Timbers Face Rochester, Montreal In Two Game Road Trip - Portland Timbers
- Sounders receive Sanna Nyassi on loan from Seattle Sounders FC - Seattle Sounders
- Carolina RailHawks host Charleston Battery on Saturday, September 6 - North Carolina FC
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