Whitecaps Prepare For Minnesota
VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1-0-0) will look for their second win of the 2008 season when they host Minnesota Thunder (0-1-0) at Swangard Stadium on Saturday evening.
Head coach Teitur Thordarson started his United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) career with an important 1-0 home win over Canadian rivals Montreal Impact on April 12. The Icelandic tactician will want to build on that season-opening victory by completing the opening month of the campaign with another three points against Amos Magee’s new-look side.
The Whitecaps lead the overall series against the Thunder with a record of 17 wins, eight defeats, and five draws. Vancouver’s dominance over Minnesota is particularly notable at Swangard, as the Whitecaps have a record of 13 wins, one defeat, and two draws. In fact, the Thunder are winless in their last 15 visits to the Lower Mainland.
Last season, the Whitecaps claimed three wins and a draw against Minnesota. Vancouver won their lone away trip 2-1 on May 6 before Tony Donatelli’s winner gave the Whitecaps a 1-0 home win in their second meeting on June 10. Minnesota claimed a 1-1 draw at Swangard on August 12 before Martin Nash scored the winner between the two clubs in their third home meeting on August 30.
