MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Whitecaps Draw Toronto FC 0-0

Published on June 2, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release


TORONTO, ON - In the final game of a three-match road trip, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (0W-0L-4D) claimed a 0-0 away draw with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC (2W-0L-2D) in the final match of the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship on Wednesday evening.

With Toronto FC already crowned this year's Voyageurs Cup winners after last week's 1-1 draw between the Whitecaps and Montreal Impact in Quebec, the tournament's concluding contest was a less than stellar affair in very wet conditions at Toronto's BMO Field. In fact, the Whitecaps did well to earn the midweek result after the visitors were forced to play two-thirds of the match with 10 men following striker Marcus Haber's red card in the first half.

The result sees the Whitecaps finish the three-club competition in second place following draws in all four of their tournament matches for four points. Vancouver finished four points behind defending champions TFC, who claimed eight points from their four championship games, while the Impact finished bottom of the standings for a second-straight year after registering a 0W-2L-2D record for two points.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made two midfield changes for Wednesday's match. Ricardo Sanchez replaced captain Martin Nash, while Nizar Khalfan made his first start of the season in place of Justin Moose. In attack, Haber and Cornelius Stewart returned to Vancouver's starting XI after playing as substitutes in last Saturday's USSF D-2 Pro League defeat at Rochester Rhinos.

With heavy rain showers pouring down in Southern Ontario, a sparse BMO Field crowd saw the visitors create the better first-half opportunities versus a youthful Reds side that included two TFC Academy players in defender Doneil Henry and striker Allando Matheson.

In fact, the Whitecaps had a great opportunity to break the deadlock after just three minutes. TFC defender Nane Joseph lost his footing on the slippery surface in his own half and turned the ball over to Philippe Davies, who was then allowed to break in unattended on the home side's goal. Despite having the entire net to aim for, the young Whitecaps midfielder opted to play a pass to Stewart in the middle of the Toronto box. Davies' decision to pass, however, allowed TFC to clear the danger away. In the aftermath of that early opportunity, Joseph needed to be substituted after suffering a suspected separated shoulder, with fellow Reds defender Maxim Usanov coming on in his place.

With nothing at stake for either side on Wednesday, there was an open feel to the contest, as both clubs then exchanged free-kick opportunities on 10 and 13 minutes respectively. Sanchez missed the target with his set-piece for the 'Caps before Reds striker Fuad Ibrahim drilled his indirect strike low and wide of Jay Nolly's goal.

If there was intent from a side to claim an advantage, it came from Thordarson's side in the opening half. On 19 minutes, Haber took a forward pass from left fullback Zurab Tsiskaridze before eluding the attentions of TFC defender Ty Harden in the Reds box and striking a tight-angle shot high and wide of the target.

It proved to be the last telling contribution from the on-loan Whitecaps forward, as Haber was given his marching orders just after the half-hour mark. After failing to control Wes Knight's forward pass at the halfway line, Haber made a late challenge to try and win back possession from youngster Henry. The striker's tackle caught the leg of the teenage TFC defender, with match referee Geoff Gamble quick to show the Vancouver, BC, native a straight red card. Gamble's decision to reduce the Whitecaps to ten men left Thordarson and his players far from amused, as they seemed to be settling in well to the contest at that stage.

Though a bit shaken to lose Haber, the Whitecaps rebounded and created the best chance of the half in the 45th minute. Davies made an incisive run into the box from the left flank before hitting a fierce right-foot shot that brought the best save of the evening from TFC's third-string goalkeeper Milos Kocic.

It meant both sides went to the break at 0-0.

With a full 45 minutes to play a man short, the Whitecaps conceded plenty of possession to their MLS hosts after the restart. However, the Reds' possession did not materialize in many goalscoring chances, as Nolly and the Vancouver backline looked solid throughout the worsening weather conditions. After young TFC substitute Nicholas Lindsay hit the Vancouver side-netting on 53 minutes, Whitecaps Residency product Davies almost got on the end of a well-hit Tsiskaridze cross in the TFC box a minute later.

As the midway point of the second half neared, both the Whitecaps and TFC introduced their respective captains to the game in a bid to spark what was a disappointing match. Following the introductions of Vancouver's Nash and Toronto's Dwayne De Rosario, the Whitecaps came as close as they would to finding the match winner. On 67 minutes, midfielder Jonny Steele's header from Davies' well-hit corner struck the top of the TFC crossbar.

With only three substitutions at his disposal, Thordarson brought on Moose and Randy Edwini-Bonsu in the dying stages to try and swing the match Vancouver's way. However, it was TFC that had the final chances of note, though Nolly was not troubled by an Ibrahim header on 87 minutes and an off-target strike from substitute De Rosario a minute later.

Following three minutes of time added on, referee Gamble brought proceedings to an end, as TFC went on to celebrate a second-straight Canadian Championship title with their home supporters. TFC's reward for retaining the Voyageurs Cup is a very challenging two-match, aggregate-goal Preliminary Round series versus former Reds midfielder Amado Guevara and Honduran outfit Club Deportivo Motagua in late July and early August.

With their Canadian Championship campaign at an end for a third-straight year, the Whitecaps will now focus on the remainder of their USSF D-2 season, starting with Sunday afternoon's home clash with FC Tampa Bay at Swangard Stadium. TFC, meanwhile, play their final MLS regular season match before the FIFA World Cup break, as they host Kansas City Wizards at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon.

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