Whitecaps settle for draw with RailHawks
August 16, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
BURNABY, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC were held to a frustrating goalless home draw by Carolina RailHawks on Saturday evening.
Despite outplaying one of the USL First Division's top clubs for the majority of the weekend contest at Swangard Stadium, the Whitecaps saw their winless run extend to four matches, as fine goalkeeping by Caleb Patterson-Sewell - coupled with resolute defending by the RailHawks backline - earned the visitors an invaluable away point.
The draw takes Vancouver's record to 7W-9L-5D, with the Blue and White remaining in seventh place in the USL-1 standings. Carolina, meanwhile, extend their unbeaten run to five matches in the league, with the visitors staying in third place.
Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made four changes to the side that started the 2-1 home defeat to Charleston Battery on Friday, August 7. One of the club's new signings made his Whitecaps debut on Saturday, as former Wales U-21 international Shaun Pejic earned the start at centre back alongside Canadian international Chris Pozniak. Marco Reda made way for the former Wrexham and York City defender. There were also two changes in midfield, with another new signing in Tanzanian international Nizar Khalfan replacing Vicente Arze on the right-hand side of midfield, while Gordon Chin slotted into central midfield in place of youngster Ethan Gage. In attack, Marcus Haber returned to the starting XI in place of Charles Gbeke.
RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie, meanwhile, made six changes to the side that started last Saturday's 2-0 home win over Cleveland City Stars. Patterson-Sewell replaced Eric Reed in goal, while John Gilkerson replaced the suspended Kupono Low in the visitors' backline. Brad Rusin and Matt Watson came into Carolina's midfield, while Andriy Budnyy and John Cunliffe started up front for the North Carolina-based outfit.
On a pleasant and sunny August evening, a seventh-straight sell-out Swangard crowd of 5,484 saw the Whitecaps dominate the first half, but left frustrated not to be in the lead at the break.
Patterson-Sewell was put to work by the home side as early as the fourth minute with an ambitious long-range effort from Marlon James before the RailHawks keeper needed to make a better save from Chin two minutes later.
James then had two chances to break the deadlock. On 12 minutes, the striker sliced a half-volleyed effort wide of the target after Gilkerson failed to clear Tyrell Burgess' cross from the left. Then a minute later, the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international headed Wes Knight's long throw-in from the right over the Carolina crossbar.
For a debut in USL-1, East African native Khalfan was making a positive impression on Whitecaps fans, with the midfielder nearly finding the back of the net on 19 minutes with a right-footed shot that flew across the face of the RailHawks goal. A minute later, Pejic inadvertently forced a save from Patterson-Sewell after Whitecaps captain Martin Nash's free kick hit the English-born defender in the knee in the Carolina box.
It was not until the midway point of the first half that 'Caps goalkeeper Jay Nolly needed to make a save, but Budnyy forced the Vancouver number one to stop him at close range after the home side failed to deal with Cunliffe's free kick into the box from the right.
The game's major talking point occurred on 26 minutes, as the Whitecaps thought they had taken the lead when James forced the ball over the Carolina goalline on the second attempt after the striker connected well with Khalfan's cross from the right. Much to the disbelief of James and the Swangard crowd, match referee Dave Gantar adjudged that there was an infringement by James on his third attempt on Patterson-Sewell and blew the play down for a RailHawks free kick.
At the other end, Pozniak was having a fine performance since his recent return to the 'Caps, and he needed to make an important block to Budnyy's goal-bound shot after Cunliffe had laid the ball off to his strike partner following a Luke Kreamalmeyer cross from the right on 34 minutes.
Seven minutes later, Takashi Hirano was unable to find the target with a left-footed free kick strike from the edge of the Carolina box, while at the other end on 44 minutes, the impressive Pejic made a fine block to deny Cunliffe's close-range strike from reaching the target.
Chances were traded by both sides in the one minute of time added on. Cunliffe struck a shot into the arms of Nolly before Khalfan headed Burgess' free kick from the left wide of the far post.
It meant both sides went to halftime level at 0-0.
USL First Division Stories from August 16, 2009
- Austin surrenders late lead again, salvages 2-2 tie against Minnesota - Austin Aztex
- Thunder is Off to Rochester to Battle Rhinos Wednesday - Minnesota Thunder
- RailHawks Welcome "Taste of the Triangle" Event Tuesday - North Carolina FC
- Whitecaps settle for draw with RailHawks - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Carolina, Vancouver play to 0-0 draw - North Carolina FC
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