Vancouver Whitecaps FC Take Down Real Salt Lake 2-1
February 20, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
Vancouver Whitecaps FC ended their two-week pre-season trip to Arizona on a positive note with a 2-1 friendly win over Major League Soccer (MLS) champions Real Salt Lake on Saturday afternoon.
Two first-half goals by Marlon James helped the USSF D-2 Pro League club to a notable victory over the MLS Cup holders at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Arizona. Though Argentine striker FabÃan EspÃndola replied late on for the Utah-based outfit, the 'Caps held on for the win on the final day of their Arizona training camp.
Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made three changes to the side that started Monday's 4-1 defeat to MLS club Chicago Fire in Tempe, Arizona. Former Real Salt Lake (RSL) keeper Jay Nolly replaced Dan Pelc in goal, while Luca Bellisomo replaced Greg Janicki at centre back, and Nizar Khalfan came in for Justin Moose on the right-hand side of midfield. New 'Caps signing Nelson Akwari was also given the chance to play against his former club in central defence.
RSL head coach Jason Kreis played two different line-ups against the Blue and White on Saturday, but he would not have been pleased with the performance of his first-half group, as a sharper-looking 'Caps side dominated the opening 45 minutes.
It only took two minutes for Vancouver to take the lead. A fine through ball from Takashi Hirano freed James, who then eluded the attentions of Salt Lake's first-half goalkeeper Tim Melia near the edge of the RSL box. The big striker took a touch before striking a shot off the right post and into the net for a 1-0 Whitecaps lead.
The goal prompted a response from Salt Lake on seven minutes, but forward Abe Thompson's shot from the edge of the 'Caps box hit the inside of Nolly's post and away to safety. At the other end, some sustained Whitecaps pressure resulted in several corners for the Canadian club. On 14 minutes, Hirano forced a good save from former Rochester Rhinos shot-stopper Melia.
The match winner came on 23 minutes. Canadian international Will Johnson was caught in possession in midfield, with Vancouver able to break down the left flank. Zourab Tsiskaridze then played a quick give-and-go with James before the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international struck home his second goal of the game for 2-0.
The Whitecaps were in the ascendancy at this stage and pushing for a third goal. On 31 minutes, Tsiskaridze just missed the target with a shot before Mexican midfielder Ricardo Sánchez headed a 'Caps corner over the RSL crossbar a minute later.
Nolly would need to make a save before the break, with the Whitecaps number one needing to tip a 45-yard strike from Johnson over his own crossbar on 39 minutes. As a result, the 'Caps took a well-deserved two-goal lead into halftime.
The start of the second half saw Salt Lake make no less than 10 changes to their lineup, with Jean Alexandre being the only holdover from the first-half group, as he moved from striker to his more familiar position of midfield. Soon after the restart, James nearly completed his hat-trick, but he just missed the target with a leaping header.
The fresh legs from Salt Lake tried to get back into the friendly, but EspÃndola had a shot saved by Nolly on 50 minutes before Tino Nuñez could not make the most of his opportunity a minute later. The two RSL strikers then had further chances on 56 and 61 minutes, but both opportunities missed the target.
Nuñez then squandered another good chance on 65 minutes after heading EspÃndola's curling cross wide of goal from close range, while at the other end, a Whitecaps counter-attack saw Khalfan force a good save from RSL's second-half keeper Kyle Reynish two minutes later.
Thordarson made several substitutions just after the midway point of the second half, including youngster Simon Thomas replacing Nolly in the Whitecaps goal on 76 minutes. Three minutes later, the MLS champions pulled a goal back. A forward ball from Javier Morales allowed EspÃndola to beat Thomas to the ball at the top of the Vancouver box. The RSL striker got enough of a touch to direct it home and make it 2-1.
Salt Lake's late goal, however, proved to be a consolation, as the Whitecaps held on for the victory to complete this latest phase of their preparations for the 2010 season.
Thordarson was understandably delighted to claim Saturday's result versus the current MLS Cup holders. "It was a great performance by us today, especially in the first half," he told whitecapsfc.com from Arizona. "We made a lot of changes in the second half and weren't able to keep our tempo up, as we did in the first half, but we were also unfortunate not to have scored two or three more goals in the game. During our time down here, we have managed to get the team together tactically, which was important for us. To then finish the trip off by getting a result against the MLS champions is just fantastic."
The Whitecaps will return home to Vancouver on Sunday and take next week off before returning to pre-season training on Monday, March 1.
On Saturday, March 6, MLS club Seattle Sounders FC make their first-ever trip to British Columbia to take on the Whitecaps at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. PT. Tickets for the Swangard friendly are $15, plus applicable service charges, and are available online at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 604.280.4400.
North American Soccer League Stories from February 20, 2010
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC Take Down Real Salt Lake 2-1 - Vancouver Whitecaps
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
