Vancouver Whitecaps Tie Portland Timbers 0-0
July 4, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
PORTLAND, OR - In the final game of five consecutive matches on the road, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6W-2L-7D) completed an undefeated run of away games in the USSF D-2 Pro League following a 0-0 draw at Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers (5W-5L-5D) on Saturday evening.
Much like Wednesday's memorable win over the Impact in Montreal, Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly was instrumental in earning the 'Caps a point at Portland's PGE Park, as he made a series of fine saves to keep their 2011 Major League Soccer expansion cousins off the scoresheet. Nolly's efforts ensured him a ninth clean sheet in the league, and 11th shutout in all competitions in 2010.
The draw in Oregon also sees the NASL Conference-leading Whitecaps complete this latest series of away matches with a creditable record of 2W-0L-3D. The weekend stalemate also takes the Blue and White to the midway point of their USSF D-2 regular season schedule.
After playing a 4-1-4-1 formation in Montreal, Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson reverted back to his more favoured 4-4-2 formation versus the Timbers. Cornelius Stewart returned to the starting XI after serving a one-match suspension, as he partnered Nizar Khalfan in Vancouver's attack. Blake Wagner, meanwhile, earned his first competitive start for Vancouver, as he replaced Jonny Steele and played wide on the left-hand side of midfield.
Though it was a sunny evening in the City of Roses, both sets of players played the first half under evening shade. The travelling Whitecaps support would have been pleased with the proceedings in the first half, as Portland struggled to penetrate the ever-reliable Vancouver backline on the hard and bouncy PGE Park turf.
The visitors offered some early signs of their attacking intent, though no end product came of those chances. On 12 minutes, Wagner got his lines wrong with a wayward cross from the left before Philippe Davies just missed Stewart with a similar attacking cross from the right six minutes later.
The Timbers are traditionally known for being a formidable force to deal with at home. Yet, their first real sign of causing the Whitecaps problems did not arrive until the midway point of the half. Mandjou Keita's cross from the right found Doug DeMartin in front of the Vancouver goal, but his header failed to trouble Nolly.
In fact, Saturday's match lacked the usual spark that has been seen from these two rivals over the years. Some life was put back into the contest on the half-hour mark, as DeMartin took advantage of a Whitecaps giveaway before finding a charging George Josten with a through ball. The Portland midfielder's shot, however, flew over Nolly's crossbar. Three minutes later, the Whitecaps number one made a routine stop to a driven strike by Timbers defender Steve Purdy.
Vancouver's reply again came in the form of half chances. On 37 minutes, a fine Zurab Tsiskaridze run and cross failed to find Davies at the far post, while two minutes later, Timbers goalkeeper Steve Cronin needed to stop Stewart on a tight angle after Whitecaps captain Martin Nash's shot dropped kindly for him in the Timbers six-yard box.
The 9,017 that attended this weekend derby contest had to wait until the 45th minute for the best chance of the half. It fell to the home side and Josten from a Rodrigo Lopez corner, but his powerful point-blank header produced a superb save from Nolly to keep the match 0-0 at the break.
Having been relatively tame with their attacking endeavour in the first 45 minutes, the Timbers looked to take a firm grip on the match by starting the second half in positive fashion. Tony McManus whistled a shot over Nolly's goal on 48 minutes before Timbers defender Mamadou Danso struck the Whitecaps crossbar with a header from another Lopez corner two minutes later.
Nolly's fine form in goal has been a fine sight to behold for Whitecaps fans this week, and the Vancouver keeper impressed again on 57 minutes, as he acrobatically tipped Keita's goal-bound header over the net for another Timbers corner.
Vancouver's reply to Portland's pressure was to win a series of free kicks, but Nash's set-pieces did not have the desired effect. It was not until Thordarson made a series of late substitutions that the Whitecaps showed the potential of claiming another invaluable away win.
After Ryan Pore just missed the target with a low strike on 81 minutes for the Timbers, three Whitecaps substitutes nearly made the breakthrough two minutes later. Some good work by Ansu Toure and Randy Edwini-Bonsu saw Justin Moose almost get on the end an Edwini-Bonsu through ball in the Timbers box. On 89 minutes, Vancouver's fourth substitute Steele made the most of a 'Caps counter-attack to slip a through ball into the path of Toure. However, the Liberian's low finish rolled past Cronin's far post and out for a goal kick.
The last chance fell to the Timbers in the two minutes of time added on, but as he was all evening, Nolly saved another goal-bound header - this time from Portland substitute Bright Dike. In the aftermath of that chance, Whitecaps defender Wes Knight needed to be stretchered off the pitch with a bad cut to his head after challenging for the ball.
90 FULL MINUTES
The final whistle confirmed a share of the spoils between Vancouver and Portland, with both sides still to meet two more times in the regular season at Swangard Stadium. The draw also maintains Portland's advantage in this year's quest for the fan-based Cascadia Cup, with the Timbers having won the first meeting of 2010 back in April.
The Whitecaps now return home for a series of four straight matches at home, starting with Athletic Club of St. Louis' second visit of the season to Swangard on Thursday night. Portland, meanwhile, are back in action next Saturday evening when they host Miami FC at PGE Park.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from July 4, 2010
- Palace Baltimore Beat Minnesota 1-0 on the Road - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- Stars Rue Missed Chances in 1-0 Loss to Baltimore - Minnesota United FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps Tie Portland Timbers 0-0 - Vancouver Whitecaps
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