Whitecaps FC Head for North Carolina
July 30, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - In the second game of a five-match road spell, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (8W-3L-9D) visit NASL Conference rivals Carolina RailHawks (6W-4L-6D) in the USSF D-2 Pro League on Saturday evening.
Teitur Thordarson's side will be in buoyant mood after claiming another huge league win at Canadian arch-rivals Montreal Impact on Wednesday night. The midweek victory extended Vancouver's lead in the NASL Conference standings to nine points from second-place Carolina, though the RailHawks have four matches in hand on the Whitecaps. It makes Saturday's contest a crucial one for both clubs, with the Blue and White looking to solidify their spot at the conference summit.
Saturday's match between Whitecaps FC and Carolina RailHawks from WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, kicks off at 4 p.m. PT. Whitecaps fans can watch this week's contest live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
WHITECAPS FC
Buoyed by winning their second match inside a month in Montreal, Thordarson's squad will look to claim the regular season series of results against the RailHawks, having drawn this year's lone meeting 1-1 at Swangard Stadium back on June 9.
The Icelandic coach knows it will require another huge effort from his side to claim a result in North Carolina. "Saturday is a very big game, but we've been playing well for a long period of time, so we don't fear the challenge that faces us in Carolina," Thordarson told whitecapsfc.com. "We will need to do our job very well down there because the RailHawks are a good team and are capable of punishing us. If we are casual in our approach or not at the same level as we were in Montreal, then we will most likely not get a good result. However, the spirit is good in the squad and confidence is growing, so we're looking forward to what lies ahead this weekend."
With a third of the USSF D-2 regular season remaining, Thordarson believes the 'Caps are shaping into top form at the right time. "The team has been working extremely hard both defensively and offensively," he noted. "It's not easy to get a team to work as hard on the defensive side and close people down, as we have been doing, but our team has been doing that extremely well. It's demanding to play like we do, but the players are buying into it and seem to enjoy the way that we are playing. Though we are not scoring too many goals, our offensive tactics are also working quite well because we have caused problems to our opponents."
The Whitecaps will be without new signing Ridge Mobulu following his debut as a second-half substitute in Montreal on Wednesday. The Democratic Republic of the Congo native will not be available for Saturday's game due to visa issues. Meanwhile, centre back Mouloud Akloul (ankle) and striker Randy Edwini-Bonsu (calf) remain in Vancouver for treatment.
RAILHAWKS
In the midst of a four-match home stand, Martin Rennie's RailHawks know a win over the Whitecaps will be crucial to their aspirations of finishing top of the NASL Conference standings. Saturday's match also takes Carolina into a very busy month of August, with the North Carolina outfit playing seven league matches in that time. They will be searching for some form as well after losing two of their last three matches, with their latest result being Tuesday night's 1-0 loss at home to Rochester Rhinos.
Rennie will rely on Malta international Etienne Barbara and Sierra Leone native Sallieu Bundu to find the back of the net on Saturday. Barbara has struck five goals and amassed 11 points in his first season with the RailHawks, while Bundu has four goals to his name. The RailHawks head coach also returned to his native Scotland to boost his attacking options with the signing of striker Allan Russell. A veteran of the Scottish Premier League, the former Kilmarnock forward made his Carolina debut in the midweek defeat to Bob Lilley's Rhinos.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Wednesday's match is the 12th all-time meeting between the Whitecaps and RailHawks, dating back to Carolina's first season of existence in 2007. Vancouver currently holds the advantage with three wins, two defeats, and six draws. This includes a record of one win, one defeat, and three draws versus the RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park. In fact, the Whitecaps are unbeaten in their last five matches versus the North Carolina outfit (1W-0L-4D).
RETURN TO ST. LOUIS
Vancouver's lone regular season trip to Carolina will be followed by a second visit to Fenton, Missouri, to take on another NASL Conference rival in Athletic Club of St. Louis on Friday, August 6. Kickoff from the Anheuser-Busch Center is set for 5 p.m. PT and can also be seen live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from July 30, 2010
- Aztex Battle Rival Miami FC for Willie Nelson Guitar - Austin Aztex
- Impact Faces Baltimore Saturday - Montreal Impact
- Miami FC Takes on First-Place Austin in Pivotal Road Matchup - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Whitecaps FC Head for North Carolina - Vancouver Whitecaps
- RailHawks Host MLS-Bound Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday Night - North Carolina FC
- AC St. Louis to Host Game Benefiting Backstoppers - AC St. Louis
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