Whitecaps earn 3-0 away victory
Published on February 28, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VICTORIA, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC returned to winning ways in preseason after a convincing 3-0 away victory over University of Victoria Vikes on Saturday afternoon.
All three of Vancouver's goals came inside the first 16 minutes at UVic's Centennial Stadium, with Lyle Martin scoring twice for Teitur Thordarson's side, while Takashi Hirano added a third goal for the Blue and White in the British Columbia provincial capital. The win was the 'Caps first friendly result over the Vikes since a 4-0 success back on April 7, 2006. More recently, the Whitecaps lost 1-0 to UVic on April 9, 2007, before earning a goalless draw with Bruce Wilson's squad on March 9, 2008.
Looking to bounce back from last Sunday's 4-0 defeat at Major League Soccer expansion club Seattle Sounders FC, Thordarson made a couple of interesting changes to his starting XI for Saturday's match against the 2008 Canada West men's soccer champions. Mason Trafford partnered Haitian international Kenold Versailles in central midfield, while speedy defender Martin played alongside Charles Gbeke in the Whitecaps attack.
On a cool day at the UVic campus, it was the USL First Division champions that claimed the lead just five minutes into the contest. Martin took full advantage of Vicente Arze's through ball by beating Vikes goalkeeper Dan Kilpatrick with his strike and ending the Whitecaps two-year scoring drought at Centennial Stadium.
Five minutes later, the Whitecaps doubled their lead through a well-executed set-piece from former Japanese international Hirano. His inswinging corner beat Kilpatrick and curled inside the far post to make it 2-0 to the visitors. The match was sealed on 16 minutes when Martin found the back of the net again, as he took advantage of a scramble in front of the UVic goal to make it 3-0.
The visitors remained dominant through the friendly, as they fired 28 shots at Kilpatrick during the 90 minutes. Midfielder William Gye had the Vikes' best opportunities in the match, but poor finishing and solid goalkeeping from Jay Nolly and second-half substitute Diego meant a second-straight clean sheet for Thordarson's side on Vancouver Island.
USL First Division Stories from February 28, 2009
- Whitecaps earn 3-0 away victory - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Impact Fall to Dynamo in Friendly - Montreal Impact
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