Whitecaps tie Sounders 1-1
Published on June 26, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
Overview:
Despite being at the end of a four game road trip, the Whitecaps turned in a strong performance to battle the red-hot Sounders to a 1-1 tie, in the first match of a home-and-home series against Seattle. The Caps came out flying, and were more than full value for a 1-0 half-time lead on a goal by Steve Kindel. Seattle found an equalizer in the 63rd minute, and with Vancouver starting to run out of gas, had some good spells of pressure. Whitecaps goalkeeper Mike Franks came up big though, with two huge saves in the final ten minutes to preserve the point, and was named the Umbro Player of the Game.
The Caps have now earned two ties against the Sounders in Seattle, and the two games remaining against them will both be at Swangard, where Vancouver has the best home record in the league at 5-0-1. The Whitecaps snapped Seattle's four-game win streak, but the Sounder did keep their unbeaten streak alive, extending it to eight matches. That streak will be put to the test soon enough, as these two teams now square off at Swangard Stadium on Sunday, June 26, in a 7:00pm start.
Vancouver's record goes to 6-3-3 for 21 points, as they are now two points clear of Montreal and Rochester in second place, and now five points behind the league-leading Richmond Kickers, with two games in hand. Seattle are at 5-1-3 and 18 points, in fifth place.
Scoring Summary:
19' Vanc Steve Kindel Kindel on the break beat one defender, took into the box, and fired a powerful shot into the roof of the net for his first goal of the season.
64' Seat Ryan Edwards (Roger Levesque) A long throw from Ben Somaza into the box caused all sorts of problems and fell to defender Ryan Edwards whose first shot was blocked but he got his own rebound and fired it home with goalkeeper Mike Franks helpless.
Game Notes:
The Whitecaps almost took the lead in the opening seconds as striker Ian Fuller stole the ball off Seattle's Leighton O'Brien and sent Jason Jordan in alone on the keeper. However the league's leading scorer rolled his just shot wide.
Vancouver had the majority of the play in the first half, and created several dangerous opportunities, but few of them seriously troubled league-leading goalkeeper Preston Burpo. Kindel's goal was only the second this season to get past the Seattle keeper.
Seattle's best chance of a lively first half was a blast from Brazilian striker Welton at 30' which was saved by Mike Franks. Welton came close against soon after the break, but fired over the bar when in alone on Franks.
Franks came up big at 80', as Welton broke in again, rounded the keeper and fed Brett Wiesner. But the substitute took too long getting his shot away, allowing Franks to just get back in time and make a brilliant save to deny what had seemed a sure goal. Franks was the hero again soon after, as he stoned big striker Roger Levesque inside the box at 85'.
Defender Nick Dasovic got the start, in his first game back after being away at the FIFA World Youth Championships in the Netherlands where he is the Assistant Coach of Canada's U-20 team.
Steve Kindel got the start, to extend his consecutive game streak to 48.
Former Sounders midfield star Leighton O'Brien played for Seattle in this game on a short-term-loan from Real Salt Lake of MLS. O'Brien was the 2002 league MVP with the Sounders but hadn't played for Seattle since early in the 2003 season. He is the son of former NASL Whitecap midfielder Fran O'Brien, and will play in Sunday's rematch.
USL First Division Stories from June 26, 2005
- Match summary - Charleston @ Toronto - USL-1
- Lynx tie Charleston - Toronto Lynx
- Whitecaps tie Sounders 1-1 - Vancouver Whitecaps
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