VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 2 – REAL SALT LAKE 1
CASA GRANDE, AZ – Vancouver Whitecaps FC ended their two-week pre-season trip to Arizona on a positive note with a 2-1 friendly win over Major League Soccer (MLS) champions Real Salt Lake on Saturday afternoon.
Two first-half goals by Marlon James helped the USSF D-2 Pro League club to a notable victory over the MLS Cup holders at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Arizona. Though Argentine striker Fabían Espíndola replied late on for the Utah-based outfit, the ‘Caps held on for the win on the final day of their Arizona training camp.
Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made three changes to the side that started Monday’s 4-1 defeat to MLS club Chicago Fire in Tempe, Arizona. Former Real Salt Lake (RSL) keeper Jay Nolly replaced Dan Pelc in goal, while Luca Bellisomo replaced Greg Janicki at centre back, and Nizar Khalfan came in for Justin Moose on the right-hand side of midfield. New ‘Caps signing Nelson Akwari was also given the chance to play against his former club in central defence.
RSL head coach Jason Kreis played two different line-ups against the Blue and White on Saturday, but he would not have been pleased with the performance of his first-half group, as a sharper-looking ‘Caps side dominated the opening 45 minutes.
It only took two minutes for Vancouver to take the lead. A fine through ball from Takashi Hirano freed James, who then eluded the attentions of Salt Lake’s first-half goalkeeper Tim Melia near the edge of the RSL box. The big striker took a touch before striking a shot off the right post and into the net for a 1-0 Whitecaps lead.
The goal prompted a response from Salt Lake on seven minutes, but forward Abe Thompson’s shot from the edge of the ‘Caps box hit the inside of Nolly’s post and away to safety. At the other end, some sustained Whitecaps pressure resulted in several corners for the Canadian club. On 14 minutes, Hirano forced a good save from former Rochester Rhinos shot-stopper Melia.
The match winner came on 23 minutes. Canadian international Will Johnson was caught in possession in midfield, with Vancouver able to break down the left flank. Zourab Tsiskaridze then played a quick give-and-go with James before the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international struck home his second goal of the game for 2-0.
The Whitecaps were in the ascendancy at this stage and pushing for a third goal. On 31 minutes, Tsiskaridze just missed the target with a shot before Mexican midfielder Ricardo Sánchez headed a ‘Caps corner over the RSL crossbar a minute later.
Nolly would need to make a save before the break, with the Whitecaps number one needing to tip a 45-yard strike from Johnson over his own crossbar on 39 minutes. As a result, the ‘Caps took a well-deserved two-goal lead into halftime.
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