Martin Nash Scores to Lead the Whitecaps Over Portland
July 17, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
The Whitecaps Men solidified their hold on first place in the Western Conference and in the league overall, with a big 1-0 win over the challenging Portland Timbers Friday night at Swangard. The Caps convincingly shut down the league's most potent offence, which is led by goal-a-game top scorer Alan Gordon.
Martin Nash did the damage for the home side, with his goal early in the second half standing up as the winner. The Whitecaps and goalkeeper Alex Marques extended their shutout streak to four games, for a total of 381 minutes. It was Marques' seventh clean sheet of the season.
The Whitecaps improve to 11-5-2 for 35 points, five points ahead of the Minnesota Thunder in the Western Conference standings, and four up on a three-team logjam of Eastern Conference teams, to top the A-League overall. Portland falls to 9-6-0 and are 8 points off the pace, although the Timbers have three games in hand. Portland play tomorrow in Seattle.
The Whitecaps next game is at home to the Milwaukee Wave United on Friday July 23. The Whitecaps Women meanwhile host the Fort Collins Force this Sunday in a 7:00pm start at Swangard, as they gear up for the W-League playoffs.
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Vancouver had the better chances in the first half, but couldn't beat Timbers goalkeeper Josh Saunders who made a great diving fingertip save on a shot by Winston Griffiths at 17' and later pushed over a goal-bound header from Jeff Clarke at 25'.
Vancouver had two great chances just before the goal, as a Jeff Clarke header went just wide at 54', while John Sulentic was stopped cold by the goalkeeper when in alone at 55'.
Nash's goal was the ninth in his Vancouver career but was his first game winner. It came in his 75th career game for Vancouver.
Marques' most difficult save was at 73' off a shot from substitute Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar.
Dave Morris made his 50th career start for Vancouver, in his 107th career game.
Scoring Summary
56' Vanc Martin Nash (Jeff Clarke) Nash took the feed from Clarke 20 yards out, faked a shot with his left foot, switched direction, and then fired in a right-footer for his first goal of the season.
USL First Division Stories from July 17, 2004
- Battery Beats Black Cats - Charleston Battery
- Timbers Road Game Change Reminder - Portland Timbers
- Impact swept by Syracuse - Montreal Impact
- Martin Nash Scores to Lead the Whitecaps Over Portland - Vancouver Whitecaps
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