Whitecaps Head to Minnesota for Weekend Tilt
Published on May 1, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1W-1L-2D) return to their travels this weekend when they visit Minnesota Thunder (0W-2L-2D) on Saturday evening.
Teitur Thordarson's side ended the opening month of the USL First Division season in positive fashion, as the defending league champions defeated Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers 1-0 at Swangard Stadium last Saturday. It was the Blue and White's first win of 2009 following a disappointing run of two draws and a defeat to start the new campaign.
The 'Caps will now look to build on last weekend's win by claiming their first maximum haul of points on the road against the winless Thunder. Donny Gramenz's side have also struggled out of the gates this season, with two draws and two defeats to show from a four-match road stint. Minnesota will hope the familiar confines of the National Sports Center (NSC) Stadium can quickly turn their fortunes around, with the Whitecaps visit being the first of four home matches for the Thunder in May.
Vancouver and Minnesota were well familiar with each other come the end of last season after both clubs had played five times. On April 26, a second-half penalty from Ricardo Sanchez gave the Thunder their first win in Vancouver since 1997 before Jason Jordan's winning strike avenged that defeat, as the 'Caps claimed a 1-0 victory in Minnesota on May 31. Their third regular season contest ended in a frustrating goalless draw at Swangard on September 7, with both clubs finishing the match with ten men after the Thunder's Andres Arango and Whitecaps centre back Omar Jarun were both sent off for two bookable offences. The two clubs then clashed in a thrilling two-match playoff quarterfinal series. The Whitecaps claimed a hard-fought 2-0 win at home in the first leg on September 26, and despite running out to a 5-1 aggregate lead in the second leg in Minnesota two days later, the Thunder came ever so close to pulling off an upset by winning the match 4-3, but only to lose the series 5-4 on aggregate.
The Whitecaps lead the all-time series of results versus the Thunder, having claimed an overall record of 19 wins, 10 defeats, and six draws. Their all-time record in Minnesota is less than favourable, however, as the 'Caps have recorded five wins, eight defeats, and three draws.
Complete match preview: whitecapsfc.com/men/schedule/2009_05_02_at_Minnesota_Thunder.aspx
USL First Division Stories from May 1, 2009
- City Stars Fall 3-0 to Rochester Rhinos in Home Opener - Cleveland City Stars
- Miami FC to host the Chrleston Battery on Saturday - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Whitecaps at Minnesota Thunder This Saturday - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Whitecaps Head to Minnesota for Weekend Tilt - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Whitecaps Re-Sign Mashinchi and Smith - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Impact Plays Last Game Before Home Opener - Montreal Impact
- Timbers Earn First Shutout Of The Seaon Against Carolina - Portland Timbers
- RailHawks Tie Timbers 0-0 - North Carolina FC
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