Whitecaps FC Pay Visit to NSC Minnesota Stars
August 11, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Continuing their latest five-match road spell, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (8W-3L-11D) travel to take on USL Conference club NSC Minnesota Stars (7W-9L-6D) in the USSF D-2 Pro League on Saturday night.
On an unbeaten run of eight away matches (3W-0L-5D), Teitur Thordarson's side will look to take another step towards securing top spot in the NASL Conference by claiming another valuable away result when they meet Manny Lagos' side in Minnesota. The Stars are in the middle of a busy week of action, with an important midweek trip to Portland Timbers preceding the weekend home clash with the 'Caps.
Saturday's match between Whitecaps FC and NSC Minnesota Stars from the National Sports Center (NSC) Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota, kicks off at 5 p.m. PT. Whitecaps fans can watch Saturday's contest live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
WHITECAPS FC
Though last Friday's goalless draw at Athletic Club of St. Louis will likely not go down as one of Vancouver's more memorable matches, there is a lot for Whitecaps FC fans to look forward to for the remainder of the 2010 season. The Blue and White have been at the summit of the NASL Conference standings since May 22, and have one of the best defences in all USSF D-2. Those factors combined with the team's solid form away from Swangard Stadium, sets the stage for a strong finish to life as a North American second division club.
'Caps fans will also be keen to see several of the new faces that have arrived at the club during the current summer transfer window. Four new players in Vancouver native Terry Dunfield, former Whitecaps FC Residency product Kyle Porter, Cameroon international Alexandre Morfaw, and talented American youngster Omar Salgado are just the latest additions to join Thordarson's squad for the season run-in.
In fact, Thordarson has wasted little time in including the Canadian duo of Dunfield and Porter to his 20-player travelling squad for Vancouver's upcoming games in Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Also making the trip are Costa Rican international striker Jonathan McDonald and young attacker Ridge Mobulu. Striker Randy Edwini-Bonsu will also travel after overcoming a calf injury.
The 'Caps, however, will be without youngsters Ethan Gage and Russell Teibert for the road trip after the pair were called up by Canada's U-20 national team for their latest training camp and set of matches in Valencia, Spain, which begins on Thursday. French centre back Mouloud Akloul, meanwhile, continues his recovery from a long-term ankle injury.
STARS
August is an important month in the playoff aspirations of the Stars, with Lagos' squad facing some key games. Currently unbeaten in their last five league contests (1W-0L-4D), Minnesota come off a 10-day break to face USL Conference rivals Portland in the final match of a three-game road spell on Wednesday evening.
The midweek clash at PGE Park leaves Minnesota with little time to think about the visit of Whitecaps FC, while Vancouver have had over a week to prepare for Saturday's game. The Stars will also look to dent Vancouver's favourable record at NSC Stadium, as the 'Caps recorded two wins, one defeat, and one draw against former United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) club Minnesota Thunder in 2008 and 2009.
The Stars are without goalkeeper Louis Crayton and defender Vorgen Less after the pair sustained season-ending injuries. Less ruptured his Achilles tendon in preseason training on March 29, while Crayton tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the Stars' season opener in Vancouver on April 11. South African midfielder Two-Boys Gumede will also be sidelined for up to three weeks after straining his quad muscle in training last week.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Saturday's match is the third all-time meeting between Whitecaps FC and Stars, with Vancouver having defeated Minnesota 2-0 in their season opener at Swangard on April 11 before drawing 1-1 at home on July 25. However, this is not the first time that the 'Caps have played opposition from Minnesota. Between 1997 and 2009, the Whitecaps met former USL-1 club Minnesota Thunder 38 times and registered a successful all-time record of 21 wins, 10 defeats, and seven draws. This included a home record of 15W-2L-3D and an away total of 6W-8L-4D. The Whitecaps will play the Stars once more in the regular season, with Vancouver visiting Minnesota for a second time on Saturday, September 18.
LAST STOP: TAMPA BAY
Vancouver's five-match road spell will conclude in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, August 19, as they take on another USL Conference side in FC Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kickoff from George M. Steinbrenner Field is set for 4:30 p.m. PT and can also be seen live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 11, 2010
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- RailHawks Fall to Rhinos 2-0 - North Carolina FC
- Rhinos Win Impressively In Carolina, 2-0 - Rochester Rhinos
- Forward Peter Byers Released - Montreal Impact
- Whitecaps FC Pay Visit to NSC Minnesota Stars - Vancouver Whitecaps
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