Whitecaps Battle League Leaders This Week
August 5, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC complete a challenging seven-day schedule when they visit Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers on Thursday night before returning home for another important league match versus Charleston Battery at Swangard Stadium on Friday evening.
Thursday's match in Portland, Oregon, is a Cascadia Cup decider, with the 'Caps needing a win or a score draw to retain the trophy they won back last year. Kickoff from PGE Park is set for 7 p.m. PDT.
The Blue and White will then head back up Interstate 5 overnight and host the in-form Battery at Swangard on Friday at 8 p.m. PDT, with the Whitecaps aiming to extend their six-game unbeaten home record versus the South Carolina club.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC AT PORTLAND TIMBERS - PREVIEW
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7W-7L-4D) look to extend their unbeaten run when they visit Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers (9W-1L-9D) on Thursday evening.
Teitur Thordarson's side took their unbeaten streak in USL-1 to three matches after a win and a draw in two back-to-back league contests over the weekend. On Friday night, the Blue and White claimed an important 3-1 victory over Rochester Rhinos in Upstate New York before earning an additional road point in Bedford, Ohio, the following evening, as the 'Caps drew again with the struggling Cleveland City Stars. They now look to complete their three-match road stint by heading down Interstate 5 to The City of Roses for their final regular season showdown with the high-flying Timbers.
Both the Whitecaps and Portland split their first two meetings earlier this season. On April 25, captain Martin Nash scored his first goal of the year in a 1-0 victory over the Timbers at Swangard Stadium. The Oregon-based outfit then avenged that defeat with a 2-0 victory at PGE Park on May 30. An early Ryan Pore penalty and a late first-half strike by George Josten saw Vancouver's four-match winning streak versus the Timbers come to an end.
Thursday's match will be the 38th all-time meeting between the Whitecaps and Timbers. Vancouver lead the overall series of results with 21 wins, nine defeats, and seven draws since the 2001 campaign. This includes an all-time record of five wins, eight defeats, and six draws for the 'Caps at PGE Park.
Complete Match Preview - whitecapsfc.com/men/schedule/2009_08_06_at_Portland_Timbers.aspx
CHARLESTON BATTERY AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC - PREVIEW
Vancouver Whitecaps FC play their fourth match in seven days when they host Charleston Battery (10W-3L-8D) at Swangard Stadium on Friday evening.
The past week has been a very busy one for Teitur Thordarson's side, with the Blue and White set to complete a three-match road stint at Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers on Thursday evening. The visit of the Battery is also Vancouver's second back-to-back league contest this season. Last weekend, the 'Caps defeated Rochester Rhinos 3-1 in Upstate New York on Friday night before claiming a goalless draw with the struggling Cleveland City Stars in Bedford, Ohio, on Saturday evening.
The Whitecaps will aim to conclude this challenging portion of the season in positive fashion, as they host a Battery side that have been at or near the top of the USL-1 standings for most of the current campaign. Nearly four months have passed since Vancouver and Charleston last met in the league, with both clubs helping to raise the curtain on the 2009 USL-1 campaign with a goalless draw at Swangard on April 11.
That season-opening draw maintained the 'Caps undefeated home record against the Battery. Since 2001, Vancouver have recorded three wins and three draws at home versus their South Carolina opponents. Overall, the 'Caps lead the all-time series of results against Charleston, having claimed four wins, three defeats, and four draws. Friday's match will be the 12th all-time meeting between both clubs.
Complete Match Preview - whitecapsfc.com/men/schedule/2009_08_07_v_Charleston_Battery.aspx
USL First Division Stories from August 5, 2009
- Low's Last Gasp Gives RailHawks 1-0 Win, First Place - North Carolina FC
- Timbers host Vancouver, Charleston at PGE Park - Portland Timbers
- RedHawks to hold free clinic Sunday, August 9 - North Carolina FC
- Whitecaps Battle League Leaders This Week - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Miami FC Going Bald for Fans - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Battery heads to Pacific Northwest for two - Charleston Battery
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