Whitecaps tie Thunder
June 4, 2006 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
The Whitecaps had to settle for a 1-1 tie on the road in St Paul, Minnesota, after a great performance in a wildly entertaining and action-packed match. Vancouver twice hit the woodwork, had a penalty kick saved, and held a man advantage for the final ten minutes, but could not find a winning goal. The Caps took an early lead though, when USL First Division scoring leader Joey Gjertsen scored on a breakaway. However, after missing several chances, the Whitecaps were caught napping late in the first half to allow a Minnesota equalizer.
Thunder defender Dustin Banan was sent off in the 81st minute after taking down Sita-Taty Matondo on a breakaway, to give the Whitecaps their first penalty kick of the season. However, the spot kick from Dave Morris was stopped by Minnesota goalkeeper Joe Warren. At the other end, Whitecaps goalkeeper Tony Caig made some huge second-half saves to keep the score level.
Vancouver's record goes to 3W-1L-4T giving them 13 points and sole possession of second place. Minnesota meanwhile go to 1-4-2 for five points, and remain in tenth spot.
The Whitecaps next game is at home Friday, June 9 against Miami FC and Brazilian superstar Romario. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. at Swangard Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
8' Vanc Joey Gjertsen (Jay Alberts)
Former Thunder midfielder Jay Alberts found Joey Gjertsen at the edge of the penalty area. Gjertsen did well to stay onside, spin away from defender Dustin Branan and then slotted the ball past goalkeeper Joe Warren for his league-leading fifth goal of the season.
40' Minn Nathan Knox (Melvin Tarley)
Tarley on the left edge of the box sidestepped his marker then played it square to Knox who was open in the box and he fired it high inside the far post, leaving Tony Caig with no chance.
Game Notes:
The Whitecaps had several great chances to add to their lead in the first half. At 25' Jay Alberts volleyed a difficult bouncing ball over the bar after a nice passing sequence. David Testo on the left sent a great cross to Martin Nash at 32', but the midfielder first-timed it over the bar from good position. The best chance came at 38' after Nash went on a run beating two defenders; the ball was played to Testo who went in on a clear breakaway. He beat the keeper with his shot, but the ball hit the inside of the post with the rebound falling to Joey Gjertsen, whose shot was superbly saved by goalkeeper Joe Warren. Minnesota equalized two minutes later.
It was end-to-end action in the second half. Goalkeeper Tony Caig played his best game as a Whitecap, making several big stops, including a brilliant double save at 59' and then twice denying Melvin Tarley at 75' and 77'. In injury time, Caig came up big again as striker Aaron Paye got around the keeper, only for Caig to dive and palm the ball off the players feet.
Vancouver striker Sita-Taty Matondo came into the game in the second half, and his speed caused all sorts of problem for the Minnesota defence. Matondo hit the crossbar at 71' after a quick move and shot at the top of the box. Then at 78' he almost got his head to a tantalizing cross, but keeper Joe Warren came flying out of his goal to pluck the ball out of the air. At 81' Matondo was hauled down just inside the penalty area by the last defender back Dustin Branan. Branan was shown the red card by referee Colin Arblaster, and Dave Morris stepped to the penalty spot. However Joe Warren dove to his left to make the stop.
There could have been more penalty kicks in the game as Minnesota's Godfrey Tenoff looked to have been fouled in the box by defender Geordie Lyall at 12', while at 89' Joey Gjertsen was pulled down in the box by his shirt with no call. Vancouver was also denied two breakaways in the second half on controversial offside calls.
Midfielder Martin Nash has played 44 consecutive games, spanning three seasons. He leads the league in assists with three.
Defender Steve Klein has played every minute, 720, for Vancouver this season.
Striker Joey Gjertsen was stripped of a goal by league officials this week, who ruled Vancouver's second goal against Seattle on May 26 in the 32nd minute was indeed an own goal. Gjertsen still leads the league in scoring however with five goals and one assist, and is the current First Division Player of the Week.
Whitecaps: 1.Tony Caig - 3.Steve Klein, 4.Adrian Cann, 8.Steve Kindel, 12. Geordie Lyall - 2.Jeff Clarke, 7.Martin Nash (14.Tony Donatelli 64'), 9.Alfredo Valente (22.John Jones 84'), 6.Jay Alberts (19.Sita-Taty Matondo 64') - 17.Joey Gjertsen, 11.David Testo (20.Dave Morris 45')
Minnesota Thunder: 23.Joe Warren - 4.Alfredo Esteves, 5.Chad Dombrowski (2.Brett Branan 88'), 6.Kevin Friedland (24.Zafer Kilickan 45'), 13.Dustin Branan - 3.Freddy Juarez, 11.Godfrey Tenoff, 19.Kiki Lara (8.Nate Winkel 69'), 21.Matt Schmidt (26.Terry Alvino 77') - 10.Nathan Knox (9.Aaron Paye 77'), 18.Melvin Tarley
USL First Division Stories from June 4, 2006
- Lynx earn first point of the season - Toronto Lynx
- Whitecaps tie Thunder - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Timbers defeat Sounders with trio of goals - Portland Timbers
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