Whitecaps Tie with City Stars
June 23, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
BEDFORD, OH - Vancouver Whitecaps FC men left it late to earn a 2-2 away draw with Cleveland City Stars in USL First Division action on Tuesday evening.
Whitecaps captain Martin Nash struck in the final minute at Middlefield Cheese Stadium to earn a valuable away point from their inaugural league match with last season's USL Second Division champions. Though the 'Caps deservedly took the lead through Marcus Haber, the City Stars fought back to take a one-goal lead into halftime. Leo Gibson equalized for the home side before Pato Aguilera struck home a dubiously awarded penalty just seconds before the break.
Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made one change from the side that started last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Canadian rivals Montreal Impact. Gordon Chin replaced youngster Ethan Gage to partner Nash in central midfield. The other alteration came on the right-hand side of the visitors' 4-4-2 formation, as Wes Knight moved from fullback to midfield, with Lyle Martin changing places with the first-year Whitecaps player.
City Stars head coach Rod Underwood, meanwhile, made three changes to the side that started last Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Miami FC Blues. Ibrahim Kante replaced Paul Ballard in the Cleveland backline, while in midfield, Alioune Gueye came in for Eric Carpenter. In attack, recent acquisition Israel Sesay replaced Ricardo Pierre-Louis to partner Joshua Boateng up front for the Ohio-based outfit.
On a bright and sunny midweek evening in Bedford, Ohio, it was the Whitecaps that created the majority of the chances in the first half, but somehow found themselves trailing at the break.
The hard and fast FieldTurf surface forced both sides to play the ball in short passes along the ground in a bid to keep possession in the early stages, with the first chance falling to the visitors on 13 minutes. Vicente Arze made a surging run into the Cleveland box before finding Marlon James with a short pass. Despite being in a prime position to score, James could not get a shot off in front City Stars goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap, as the loose ball dribbled into the arms of the Cleveland captain.
On 15 minutes, Haber was well stopped by the onrushing Gilstrap after the striker took a fine through ball from Nash before shooting goalwards. A minute later, Chin was next to test the Cleveland number one after winning the ball off City Stars midfielder Alioune Gueye before breaking in on goal. Gilstrap, however, was able to make a fine stop with his right hand before the danger was cleared.
The visitors, however, kept pressing forward and were rewarded with the opening goal on 18 minutes. Nash slipped a fine through ball to Haber before the Canadian youth international put his finish through the legs of Gilstrap and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Whitecaps lead.
It was the least that the Blue and White deserved from their early efforts, and the visitors continued to attack shortly thereafter. Takashi Hirano struck a shot wide from close range after getting on the end of an Arze through ball on 22 minutes before Nash forced a save from Gilstrap and James headed a Nash cross high and wide minutes later.
Yet, just as the Whitecaps looked liked they were taking control of the contest, Cleveland stunned their opponents with an equalizer on 28 minutes and from only their second shot on goal. Gibson beat the Vancouver offside trap to a Kante ball forward before running in and finishing past a diving Nolly to make it 1-1.
With the match back at level terms, the 'Caps tried to respond quickly, but Arze could only roll his shot wide of goal on the half-hour mark before Haber hit the side-netting at the far post from a Nash free kick three minutes later.
Then, just as the events edged towards the halftime whistle, the City Stars were awarded a penalty in controversial circumstances on 44 minutes. Hirano was adjudged to have brought down Gibson in the Vancouver box, with match referee Niko Bratsis immediately pointing to the spot. Aguilera stepped up to put his spot kick past Nolly for an improbable 2-1 Cleveland lead at the break.
USL First Division Stories from June 23, 2009
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- Late Pizzolitto Goal Lifts Impact - Montreal Impact
- Whitecaps Tie with City Stars - Vancouver Whitecaps
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- City Stars Draw Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 - Cleveland City Stars
- Timbers' Hayes, Josten Selected to USL First Division Team of the Week - Portland Timbers
- Whitecaps vs. Cleveland Tonight - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Watson named to USL-1 Team of the Week - North Carolina FC
- USL Week 11 pro honors announced - USL-1
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