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MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Whitecaps earn important 3-2 win

September 3, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release


BURNABY, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC moved closer towards securing a USL First Division playoff spot with an important 3-2 home win over Austin Aztex on Wednesday evening.

Two goals by Charles Gbeke followed Kenold Versailles' first-ever goal for the Whitecaps men's team, as the Blue and White came out victorious in an entertaining five-goal contest at Swangard Stadium. Though they have struggled through their inaugural season in USL-1, the Aztex showed plenty of determination to earn something from their first visit to Vancouver in club history, as Jean Alexandre scored twice in a losing effort for the Texas-based outfit.

The midweek win took Vancouver's record to 9W-9L-8D, but keeps them in seventh place and the final playoff spot in the league standings. Defeat for Austin saw their record drop to 4W-14L-8D, with the USL-1 expansion club now eliminated from playoff contention this season.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made three changes to the side that started last Saturday's 1-1 home draw versus Rochester Rhinos. All three changes came in midfield, with Versailles replacing Martin Nash after the Whitecaps captain was sidelined with a hamstring problem. It is the first time in over five years that Nash has missed a Whitecaps game through injury, with the last occasion coming on August 18, 2004, when an ankle sprain kept the Canadian international out of a league match at Seattle Sounders. Versailles was joined in central midfield by Gordon Chin after he replaced Tanzanian international Nizar Khalfan. Tyrell Burgess replaced Ansu Toure on the left-hand side of midfield, while Wes Knight switched places with Lyle Martin to play on the right-hand side of midfield. Martin, meanwhile, dropped back to the right fullback position.

Aztex head coach Adrian Heath, meanwhile, made four changes to the side that started last Saturday's 1-0 win over Miami FC Blues in the Texas state capital. Defender Kieron Bernard, midfielder A.J. Godbolt, and strikers Alexandre and Gifton Noel-Williams came into the visitors' starting XI for Yordany Alvarez, Kyle Brown, Michael Callahan, and Eddie Johnson.

On a pleasant midweek evening, a Swangard crowd of 5,081 saw the Whitecaps dominate large parts of the first half, as they looked far improved from the weekend performance versus Rochester.

The home side had the first set of chances. Burgess found the arms of Aztex goalkeeper Nick Noble with a well-hit drive on four minutes before 'Caps centre back Chris Pozniak headed Chin's free kick from the right over the Austin crossbar five minutes later.

Vancouver's attack-minded approach paid off with an early goal, as two players that were discovered in last December's USL Men's Player Showcase in Charleston, South Carolina, combined to give the Whitecaps the lead on 11 minutes. A trademark Knight throw-in from the right found Versailles unmarked at the near post. The Haiti international rose to head the ball past Noble and into the far corner of the net for his first-ever goal with the men's team and in USL-1.

Striking early seemed to settle the 'Caps into their game, as they kept pressing forward in search of more goals. On 19 minutes, however, Gbeke was bit over ambitious with a low long-distance shot that rolled wide of the target.

Though they struggled to get themselves into the contest in the early stages, the Aztex forced a save from Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly just past the midway point of the half. Brazilian winger Sullivan Silva made a run down the right flank before laying a pass off to Alexandre. The on-loan Real Salt Lake forward then hit a deflected shot that forced the 'Caps number one into an important stop.

It proved to be a crucial intervention by Nolly, as Vancouver extended their lead on 23 minutes, with Gbeke striking his 11th goal of the year. The big striker played a give-and-go with Marcus Haber before his strike partner made a darting run into the Austin box. As Haber was teeing up to have a strike himself, Gbeke ran in and connected with a right-footed shot that beat a hapless Noble in the Aztex goal for 2-0.

Clearly unsatisfied with the performance of his team, Heath made an early substitution by replacing Bernard with midfielder Ryan McMahen on 28 minutes, as Austin looked to get back into what was a crucial match towards their faint playoff hopes.

On 34 minutes, the Aztex pulled a goal back through Haitian striker Alexandre. The powerful Caribbean forward took a pass from teammate Kevin Sakuda before hitting a fierce low strike that seemed to catch Nolly moving in the other direction. The Whitecaps number one dove to his left and got both hands on the ball, but the strength of Alexandre's shot was enough to find the back of the net and make it 2-1 to Vancouver.

With the match back in the balance, Austin's goal seemed to take a certain amount of confidence out the Whitecaps, with both sides battling in an even fashion through the dying stages of the opening half and the one minute of time added on.

As a result, the Whitecaps took a slender one-goal lead into the halftime break.

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