Whitecaps FC Head to St. Louis
June 23, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - In the third game of five consecutive away matches on the road, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5W-2L-5D) travel to Missouri to take on NASL Conference rivals Athletic Club of St. Louis (2W-7L-1D) in the USSF D-2 Pro League on Saturday evening.
Currently in the midst of a well-deserved 10-day break between league matches, Teitur Thordarson's side will look to build on a couple of impressive away results. The Blue and White maintained their lead at the top of NASL Conference after a fine come-from-behind win at top league club Austin Aztex on June 12 and a well-earned 1-1 draw at Puerto Rico Islanders on June 16. Vancouver now prepare to face an AC St. Louis side, that despite their lowly position in the league, have found some form in recent games.
Saturday's match between Whitecaps FC and AC St. Louis from the Anheuser-Busch Center in Fenton, Missouri, kicks off at 5 p.m. PT. Whitecaps fans can watch this weekend's contest live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
WHITECAPS FC
The month of June has so far been a good one for the Blue and White, with Thordarson's side on a run of four league matches (five in all competitions) without defeat. The most encouraging part of that spell has been the way Vancouver started this current run of road games. Before the matches in Austin and Puerto Rico, the Whitecaps away record in USSF D-2 was a less than stellar at 0W-2L-1D.
In fact, it can be argued that the 'Caps offseason training program for the 2010 campaign played a role in how Thordarson's squad looked the stronger side in the second half of both games in Texas and the Caribbean. Despite temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius in Austin and Puerto Rico, the Whitecaps finished those contests with plenty of energy - an encouraging sign for the rest of the USSF D-2 season.
With striker Marcus Haber now back with English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion FC following his two-month loan spell, the Whitecaps boosted their attacking options this week with the addition of Vancouver native Alex Elliott. The former Canadian U-20 international can play wide on either flank or up front as a striker. Elliott joins a Whitecaps squad that have just two notable injury concerns in goalkeeper Dan Pelc (gluteus maximus) and centre back Mouloud Akloul (ankle fracture).
AC ST. LOUIS
The initial excitement of professional outdoor soccer returning to St. Louis for the first time in 33 years turned to uncertainty following the news that British investors Sanjeev and Heemal Vaid had ended their financial support in the club. Those issues have already impacted head coach Claude Anelka's squad, with experienced midfielder Steve Ralston leaving his hometown club to return to Major League Soccer (MLS) side New England Revolution in early June.
Though the past month has not been the best of times for AC St. Louis faithful, Anelka's side will be in good spirits on Saturday, as they snapped a four-match losing streak with an impressive 1-0 victory over the Islanders in Puerto Rico on June 12. That was followed by two more away wins in this year's Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. St. Louis disposed of United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League club Des Moines Menace 1-0 in the first round before claiming another 1-0 away result versus fellow USSF D-2 club NSC Minnesota Stars on Tuesday night. Mike Ambersley's strike in the second-round clash meant St. Louis now advance to a third-round away clash with MLS giants Los Angeles Galaxy next Tuesday evening.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Saturday's match is the second all-time meeting between the Whitecaps and AC St. Louis, with Vancouver winning the inaugural clash back on April 24 when Frenchman Akloul struck the 'Caps winner in a 1-0 home result. Both clubs will face each other two more times in the regular season. On Thursday, July 8, St. Louis return to Swangard before the Whitecaps make a second trip to Missouri on Friday, August 6. Prior to this season, the Whitecaps last faced opposition from St. Louis in the old North American Soccer League (NASL). Between 1974 and 1977, Vancouver recorded four wins and two defeats versus St. Louis Stars in the NASL. The Whitecaps last visit to Missouri came on June 8, 1977, as Vancouver defeated the Stars 3-1.
RETURN TO MONTREAL
Vancouver's weekend trip to St. Louis will be followed by a first league visit to Quebec to take on Canadian arch-rivals Montreal Impact next Wednesday evening. Kickoff from Montreal's Stade Saputo is set for 4:30 p.m. PT and can also be seen live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from June 23, 2010
- Whitecaps FC Head to St. Louis - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Vancouver Native Signs with Whitecaps FC - Vancouver Whitecaps
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