Archive for Vancouver Whitecaps
Whitecaps Leave Arizona With Win
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.
Why Is This Important?
Paul James
Paul James writes the James on Soccer blog. You can reach him at
GlobeSports Blog
Canadian coaches in the MLS
It was good to see Colin Miller, the former Canadian World Cup player, being announced last week as an assistant coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Miller, who at 45 has had an extensive soccer career including playing for Rangers in the top flight of Scottish football, will be an excellent addition to the Whitecaps organization, which is slowly but surely putting together the pieces of a franchise which will be ready to ‘compete to win’ in the MLS in 2011.
Miller’s addition was on the heels of another Canadian, Mark Watson, being acquired by the San Jose Earthquakes again as an assistant coach. Factor in Nick Dasovic at TFC, Nick Desantis in Montreal (albeit as a GM), and Frank Yallop himself at San Jose and all of a sudden you are beginning to see a modest rise in the opportunities for Canadians to cut their teeth in coaching and management at the highest level in North America.
Dramatic Yardstick For All Future Voyageurs Cups
Ben Knight
Ben Knight writes and publishes
Onward!
Expanding the Voyageurs Cup
With this week’s happy news that Edmonton is joining Whatever The Second Division Is Called in 2011, Canada now apparently has four men’s professional soccer teams.
Edmonton sources confirm the CSA has already invited the new team to join Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver in the Voyageurs Cup a year from now.
Much has already been written about possible formats for such a tournament, so I’m going to write from a more emotional perspective.
Maybe you have to live here – and be immersed in the soccer scene – to understand why a true Canadian soccer league is never going to fly. Geography is unalterable. The lack of facilities will take decades to address. Lack of public interest longer still.
