Whitecaps Beat Miami
August 23, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
BURNABY, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC ended a six-match winless streak with an important 2-0 home victory over Miami FC Blues on Sunday afternoon.
Two late goals by Charles Gbeke secured three valuable points for the Blue and White at Swangard Stadium, as the 'Caps moved six points clear of their South Florida rivals for the final playoff spot in the USL First Division standings. The win also sees the Whitecaps take the regular season series versus the Blues.
Though they remain in seventh place, Sunday's win improves the Whitecaps record to 8W-9L-7D. Miami FC, meanwhile, remain out the USL-1 playoff picture in eighth place with a record of 7W-12L-4D, though they have a match in hand on Vancouver at present.
Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made one change from the side that started Thursday's 1-1 draw versus Charleston Battery in South Carolina. Experienced Japanese defender Takashi Hirano replaced Mason Trafford at left fullback.
Miami's Brazilian head coach Zinho, meanwhile, made nine changes to the side that started last night's 3-1 defeat versus USL-1 leaders Portland Timbers in Oregon. Only midfielder Jarryd Goldberg and former Whitecaps striker Alen Marcina were retained from the starting XI that appeared at Portland's PGE Park on Saturday evening.
On a beautiful sunny afternoon on the Lower Mainland, an eighth-straight sold-out Swangard crowd of 5,288 saw the Whitecaps create all of the chances in a first half that lacked a bit of spark for large spells.
The home side created a half-chance on five minutes, with Marcus Haber hitting captain Martin Nash's cross from the right off strike partner Gbeke and out for a Miami goal kick. Four minutes later, 'Caps centre back Chris Pozniak headed Nash's free kick wide of the far post.
Whitecaps fans then had to wait until the 19th minute for another Vancouver goalcoring chance. Lyle Martin's forward ball found Gbeke, who then played in Haber for a clear chance at goal. The youngster's point-blank shot was well saved by Blues goalkeeper Pat Hannigan before Ansu Toure's shot on the rebound struck the arm of Miami defender Zachary Kirby, with match referee Michael Edmunds awarding a 'Caps free kick just outside the visitors' box. Toure took the ensuing set-piece, but his effort struck the six-man Miami wall before the ball was cleared away.
Seven minutes later, Gbeke glanced Nash's corner from the right wide of the far post before Miami midfielder Edwin Miranda brought the only save of the half out of Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly with a strike a minute later.
Though a goal seemed far from coming, the Whitecaps looked the only side capable of finding the net first, with the home side creating more chances before the break. Toure half-hit Gbeke's lay-off wide of the target on the half-hour mark before Pozniak forced a good diving save from Hannigan with a low drive seven minutes later.
Gbeke then had the last chance of the half on 42 minutes, with the Canadian international well off target with his volleyed effort following a Wes Knight cross from the right.
It meant both sides went into halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
USL First Division Stories from August 23, 2009
- Miami FC Drops Second Leg of West Coast Trip - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Whitecaps Beat Miami - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Impact Blank Austin, 2-0 - Montreal Impact
- RailHawks, Rhinos end in scoreless stalemate - North Carolina FC
- Miami Suffers Heart Breaking Loss - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Keita's Two Goals Leads Timbers To Win, 23-Game Unbeaten Streak - Portland Timbers
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