Whitecaps look to rock Cleveland City Stars
June 22, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC men (4W-5L-2D) look to end the month of June on a positive note when they visit Cleveland City Stars (2W-9L-2D) on Tuesday evening.
Teitur Thordarson's side aim to put a difficult week behind them following two disappointing events in Montreal, Quebec. Last Thursday night, the Whitecaps watched in disbelief, as Major League Soccer club Toronto FC claimed the Voyageurs Cup from Vancouver's grasp with an improbable 6-1 victory over Montreal Impact in the final match of the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The result meant TFC edged the Whitecaps out to Canada's lone spot in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League on goal difference. That was followed by disappointing 2-1 league defeat versus the Impact at Stade Saputo on Saturday afternoon. Despite Marlon James' fourth goal of the season, first-half strikes by Rocco Placentino and Roberto Brown condemned the Blue and White to a fourth defeat in their last five USL-1 contests.
With the 'Caps sitting in the bottom half of the league standings, Thordarson's side will want to head into an extended break with three points under their belts when they meet United Soccer Leagues First Division newest side Cleveland for the first time in club history. The 5,000-seat Middlefield Cheese Stadium in Cleveland's eastern suburb of Bedford, Ohio, will be the venue for Tuesday's contest between last season's league winners in both USL-1 and the USL-2. Led by current Carolina RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie, the City Stars claimed the 2008 USL-2 title in just their second season in existence before moving up to USL-1 in the off-season.
Though the Whitecaps have not played the City Stars before, they have played in the state of Ohio. Between 1999 and 2003, the 'Caps registered a record of five wins, no defeats, and no draws versus the now-defunct Cincinnati Riverhawks, having outscored them 11 goals to one in the process. This included three victories over the Riverhawks in Vancouver and another two wins in Cincinnati. The Whitecaps have not played a competitive match in Ohio since July 27, 2003, when they defeated the Riverhawks 2-1 through a pair of goals by Carlo Corazzin.
USL First Division Stories from June 22, 2009
- Miami FC continues road trip in Montreal - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Impact Hosts Miami Tuesday - Montreal Impact
- Whitecaps look to rock Cleveland City Stars - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Timbers to Broadcast U.S Open Cup Match - Portland Timbers
- Timbers players to visit Doernbecher Children's Hospital Tuesday - Portland Timbers
- Gbeke Called Up To Canada's National Team - Vancouver Whitecaps
- City Stars Take On Defending USL-1 Champion Vancouver Whitecaps Tuesday At 7 P.M. - Cleveland City Stars
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