MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Whitecaps Defeat Miami And Extend Their Lead In NASL Conference

Published on July 15, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release


Playing their second game of a four-match home stand, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7W-2L-8D) extended their lead at the top of the NASL Conference after a 3-1 victory over Miami FC (2W-6L-8D) in the USSF D-2 Pro League on Wednesday evening.

A hat-trick by winger Blake Wagner helped Vancouver maintain this season's undefeated run at Swangard Stadium and extended their unbeaten streak in the league to nine matches. Though NASL Conference rivals Miami got a second-half goal from striker Brian Shriver, the Blues continue to struggle on the road in USSF D-2, as the South Florida outfit have yet to record a league win away from home in 2010.

It was a pleasing end to highly entertaining midweek contest for Whitecaps fans, with Wagner's hat-trick not only being his first three goals for the Blue and White, but also Vancouver's first recorded hat-trick of the season. Wednesday's win takes Teitur Thordarson's side eight points clear at the summit of the NASL Conference standings.

Vancouver's starting XI included a fit-again Zurab Tsiskaridze, who returned from an ankle injury to face his former club at left fullback, while Cornelius Stewart partnered Nizar Khalfan in the Whitecaps attack.

On a gorgeous summer's evening in Burnaby, BC, a Swangard crowd of 5,024 saw a first half that slowly, but surely, developed into an intriguing contest by halftime. In fact, the first quarter of an hour proved relatively low key, in terms of events on the pitch, despite the positive intent of both sides to get forward and attack from the opening kickoff.

What the match needed was an opening goal, and that came from the home side on 18 minutes. In what turned out to be an elaborate give-and-go, Wagner slipped a fine through ball to Khalfan in the Blues box after the young East African had made an excellent diagonal forward run. The Tanzanian international got a step on Miami captain Zach Kirby before hooking the ball back in front of goal, where a streaking Wagner finished first-time with his right foot for a 1-0 Vancouver lead. It was the winger's first-ever goal for the Whitecaps.

Wagner's goal predictably livened proceedings, with the 'Caps going close to scoring a second goal from captain Martin Nash's corner on 25 minutes. However, centre back Greg Janicki's header sailed over the Miami crossbar.

Though disappointed to be a goal down, Miami made a notable contribution to the opening half by creating some fine chances of their own. On 29 minutes, John Paul Rodrigues was unfortunate not to properly connect with Edward Santeliz's dangerous cross in front of the Whitecaps goal, while two minutes later, Santeliz himself forced Vancouver goalkeeper Jay Nolly into making a timely intervention of a Christian Gomez cross from the left.

Further efforts at both ends by Miami's Santeliz and Vancouver's Stewart rounded out the opening 45 minutes of action, as the Whitecaps took a one-goal lead into the halftime break.

The entertainment value of this midweek clash increased after the restart, with Wagner bringing Whitecaps fans to their feet again with his second goal for the club on 56 minutes. Once again, the former FC Dallas man found the back of the Miami net with a first-time finish, as he struck home Stewart's cutback pass in the Blues box with his left foot for 2-0.

The second Vancouver goal seemingly had the home side in command, but Miami remained positive in their approach and dangerous in the attacking third throughout the match. The Blues' response to Wagner's second goal was immediate, as Shriver scored his third goal of the season after completing a fine give-and-go with Brazilian teenager Euzebio Neto to make it 2-1 on 57 minutes.

Miami's goal kept the game in the balance, but Wagner did his best to try and put the match beyond the visitors. On 59 minutes, Blues goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell made a fine save from the winger's point-blank strike after Wes Knight's cross found the midfielder unmarked in front of the Miami goal. Wagner then went close again on 73 minutes after rolling a shot wide of the far post following a dangerous Knight throw-in before the winger forced another save from Patterson-Sewell two minutes later.

To their credit, the Blues worked hard to find an equalizer before the end. Their best opportunity came on 77 minutes when Gomez knocked substitute Paulo Araujo Jr.'s forward ball into the path of goalscorer Shriver. But after getting past Vancouver centre back Nelson Akwari, Shiver struck his shot wide of goal.

The remaining chances to what was a pulsating second half fell to the Whitecaps, with Khalfan hitting the side-netting after a dangerous run and shot on 83 minutes, while substitute Randy Edwini-Bonsu was unable to find the target with Khalfan's pass after both Vancouver strikers broke in two-on-one on the Miami goal.

Wednesday's match, however, belonged to Wagner, as he capped a memorable evening with his third goal in the four minutes of time added on. Whitecaps debutant Alex Elliott - who had come for Philippe Davies in midfield - played a forward ball to Edwini-Bonsu, who then picked out the streaking Wagner with a low first-time cross. With only Patterson-Sewell to beat, the Tampa, Florida, native completed his hat-trick with aplomb to secure a 3-1 Whitecaps victory.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 15, 2010


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