Vancouver, Tampa Play to Draw
August 19, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
TAMPA, FL - In the final game of a five-match road spell, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9W-3L-12D) maintained their unbeaten away streak in the USSF D-2 Pro League following a 1-1 draw with USL Conference side FC Tampa Bay (6W-8L-9D) on Thursday evening.
Blake Wagner gave the Whitecaps an early lead with a stunning strike at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, before Aaron King earned a point for the Rowdies with a first-half equalizer. In a match that saw plenty of exciting action at both ends, Vancouver could consider themselves fortunate to claim a draw after Tampa Bay hit the 'Caps woodwork on no less than four occasions during the contest.
Thursday's draw extended Vancouver's unbeaten run of away matches to 10 (4W-0L-6D), with the 'Caps also taking their undefeated streak in USSF D-2 to six games. The Whitecaps are now eight points clear of second-place Carolina RailHawks in the NASL Conference standings, though Carolina now have three matches in hand on Vancouver.
With several new faces joining the Blue and White in recent weeks, three of those new players earned their first starts for Teitur Thordarson's side on Thursday. Having signed for the club the day before, Cody Arnoux made his Whitecaps debut versus the Rowdies, with the American striker partnering Swiss import Ridge Mobulu in the visitors' new-look attack. In midfield, Vancouver native Terry Dunfield got his first start alongside Whitecaps captain Martin Nash.
The Rowdies, meanwhile, started the former Whitecaps pair of Ricardo Sanchez and Jonny Steele in central midfield, with the duo showing they were well motivated to face Vancouver with their performances on Thursday.
On a typically hot and humid night in Tampa, it was the Whitecaps that made a fine start to the midweek contest, with the visitors taking an early lead, and in spectacular fashion.
From the first corner of the match on seven minutes, Philippe Davies' set-piece was not properly cleared by the Rowdies, with the ball falling kindly to Wagner on the left-hand side. The native of Tampa surely delighted friends and family, as he teed up an unstoppable right-footed strike that beat Rowdies goalkeeper Josh Lambo for his fourth goal of the season.
It was a sensational start by the Blue and White, and although Steele tried his best to reply when he struck the Whitecaps crossbar three minutes later, Vancouver looked comfortable defensively through the midway stages of the first half.
On 28 minutes, however, that assured defensive rearguard was breached by the Rowdies. Steele came back to haunt his old club by playing in a fine ball to King in the Vancouver box. The Tampa Bay striker got the better of the Whitecaps defence before converting the opportunity for his ninth goal of the season. Though pleased to draw the Rowdies level, King's night was abruptly cut short, as he was immediately forced off with an injury. Substitute Pascal Millien came on in King's place.
The match then proceeded into a series of chances at both ends, with the Whitecaps coming close to restoring their advantage on 32 minutes. Yet, from a Vancouver set-piece, Luca Bellisomo missed the target with a close-range header.
The opening half ended with the Rowdies in the ascendancy. Sanchez himself tried his best to find a second Tampa Bay goal, but Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly proved equal to both of the Mexican's free kick chances on 35 and 37 minutes.
The last chance before the break fell to Tampa Bay's Cuban striker Maykel Galindo on 42 minutes, but after getting around the onrushing Nolly in the Whitecaps box, the on-loan striker from Major League Soccer club Chivas USA struck the side-netting with his effort.
It meant both clubs went to halftime tied at 1-1.
After seeing Arnoux and Mobulu struggle to produce much before the break, Thordarson changed his attack pairing by introducing Costa Rican import Jonathan McDonald and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines international Cornelius Stewart to the match at the start of the second half.
Once play resumed at the converted baseball park, fans were treated to more great action from both teams, who to their credit, showed the endeavour to find a winning goal.
The Rowdies had the first big chance after the restart. On 54 minutes, substitute Millien became the second Tampa Bay player to hit the 'Caps woodwork when his shot struck off the far post. From the same Rowdies attack, defender Robert Valentino just missed the target with a close-range header. Then on 58 minutes, Valentino was left even more frustrated after his free header from Sanchez's corner brushed the outside of Nolly's near post.
Though they endured a decent amount of pressure from their Florida hosts, the Whitecaps response was positive, as they created chances of their own just after the hour mark. Greg Janicki was unlucky not to hit the target with his header from Nash's free kick on 61 minutes before Stewart had a glorious chance to break in on the Tampa Bay goal a minute later. Yet, instead of taking a strike at goal, the substitute tried to find goalscorer Wagner in front of goal with a pass. The play allowed the Rowdies to recover and clear the danger.
As the match drifted into the dying stages, there was little sense that the draw was a foregone conclusion. On 82 minutes, Sanchez had a fantastic opportunity to put the Rowdies in front after latching onto a rebound following Nolly's save from Galindo's goal-bound strike. Though it seemed easier to find the back of the net, Sanchez inexplicably hit the post with his close-range shot before the danger was eventually cleared.
Having survived a series of scary moments, the Whitecaps nearly took all three points with a well-worked move on 85 minutes. Left fullback Takashi Hirano made a fine run down the left flank before playing an exquisite low cross to Stewart in front of goal. The Vancouver substitute, however, saw his strike saved by a diving Lambo.
Though more than four minutes of time added on were played, neither club could muster up a winner, as the final whistle confirmed Vancouver's 12th league stalemate of the season.
90 FULL MINUTES
The Whitecaps will now return home and prepare for the first of two matches at Swangard Stadium. On Sunday afternoon, August 29, they host USL Conference high-flyers Austin Aztex. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, move on to another midweek home match, as they host Carolina next Wednesday night.
Scoring Summary 7' - VAN - Blake Wagner 28' - TAM - Aaron King (Jonathan Steele)
Match Stats: Shots: Vancouver 6 - Tampa Bay 17 Saves: Vancouver 3 - Tampa Bay 2 Fouls: Vancouver 14 - Tampa Bay 11 Corners: Vancouver 2 - Tampa Bay 6
Cautions 15' - VAN - Blake Wagner 30' - VAN - Terry Dunfield 88' - VAN - Martin Nash 88' - TAM - Ricardo Sanchez 90' +3 - VAN - Greg Janicki 90' +3 - TAM - Jonathan Steele
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1.Jay Nolly; 22.Takashi Hirano, 3.Luca Bellisomo, 14.Greg Janicki, 8.Wes Knight; 23.Blake Wagner, 6.Terry Dunfield, 7.Martin Nash, 15.Philippe Davies (4.Chris Williams 69'); 25.Cody Arnoux (19.Jonathan McDonald 45'), 11.Ridge Mobulu (39.Cornelius Stewart 45', 17.Randy Edwini-Bonsu 89')
Subs not used: 27.Dan Pelc, 13.Alex Elliott, 77.Zurab Tsiskaridze
FC Tampa Bay 19.Josh Lambo; 2.Robert Valentino, 3.Graham Tatters, 4.Julian Valentin, 32.Takuya Yamada; 13.Yendry Diaz, 24.Jonathan Steele, 25.Ricardo Sanchez, 23.Long Tan (21.Aaron Wheeler 72'); 10.Maykel Galindo, 18.Aaron King (14.Pascal Millien 29')
Subs not used: 16.Phillip Lamarre, 9.Drew Yates, 15.Joe Donoho, 17.Mozzi Gyorio, 27.Stanley Nyazamba
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 19, 2010
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