Whitecaps storm past Thunder 3-0
Published on August 21, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
Overview:
The Whitecaps overpowered the visiting Minnesota Thunder 3-0 on the strength of two goals by Jason Jordan to go with Martin Nash's game-winner. It was a pair of first-half goals two minutes apart that undid the Thunder, as Vancouver remains unbeaten at home this season.
Goalkeeper Josh Wicks was solid, recording five saves on ten shots, to earn his third clean sheet of the season.
The Whitecaps record improves to 10-4-9 for 39 points, as Vancouver moves past the Richmond Kickers into third place in the league.
Vancouver's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now 5 points.
Minnesota meanwhile drops to 5-9-10.
Vancouver's next game is Saturday, August 27 at home versus the Puerto Rico Islanders in a 7:00pm start at Swangard Stadium. This will be Puerto Rico's first ever visit to Vancouver.
Scoring Summary:
34' Vanc Martin Nash (Ian Fuller)
Fuller at the top of the area played it to Nash in the box on the left, and his off-speed first-time shot from 12 yards bounced inside the far post. It was Nash's second goal of the season.
36' Vanc Jason Jordan (Alfredo Valente)
Trickery and determination in the box from Jordan, as he turned quickly away from one defender, then surged past another to take the ball deep on the right. He fired on goal from a sharp angle, with the ball somehow finding its way through a crowd in front to skitter over the line.
77' Vanc Jason Jordan (Kevin Harmse)
Harmse fed a nice ball to Jordan on the right, and he got a step on his marker and calmly chipped it over the onrushing keeper for his league-leading 15th goal of the season.
Game Notes:
Minnesota had the first good chance as Godfrey Tenoff went in alone at 5', but Josh Wicks came out to block his shot.
Vancouver scored with their first two good chances of the game. Martin Nash then almost made it 3-0 in first-half injury time, but sent a powerful downward header inches wide after a good cross by Jason Jordan.
Jordan was set up nicely in front at 53' by Alfredo Valente, but defender Chris Brunt just barely blocked the shot to stop a sure goal.
Then at 60' Jordan was face-to-face with the keeper, and tried to loop the bouncing ball over him, but Joe Warren used all of his 6'5" height to stretch and swat the ball out of the air.
Warren made several other good stops to keep the score from getting higher. At 69' he stopped a powerful drive from Alfredo Valente at the edge of the area. Two minutes later he barely stopped Kevin Harmse, who surged in on goal after a good burst of speed through midfield. At 81' he denied Joey Gjertsen in on goal, and at 83' stopped a hard shot by Geordie Lyall.
Josh Wicks had the final say, going to ground to stop a low blast from Tighe Dombrowski in injury time.
Nick Dasovic came on as a sub to play his 100th game for Vancouver.
Jason Jordan is running away with the league scoring lead, as his 15 goals and three assists for 33 points put him eight points up on Atlanta's Fabian Dawkins.
Steve Kindel dressed but did not play, ending his consecutive games streak at 58.
Vancouver wins the season series against Minnesota at 2-1-1. The Whitecaps have won their last ten home games against Minnesota.
Vancouver remains unbeaten at home, at 8-0-4, the best home record in the league.
Helping the Whitecaps cause, the other three games in the league on Saturday were all ties. The Richmond Kickers and the Charleston Battery tied 1-1, as did Seattle and Portland, while the Montreal Impact and Rochester Raging Rhinos finished 2-2.
USL First Division Stories from August 21, 2005
- Mariners fall to Atlanta 2-1 - Virginia Beach Mariners
- Lynx play to 1-1 draw - Toronto Lynx
- Whitecaps storm past Thunder 3-0 - Vancouver Whitecaps
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