Friday, May 11, 2012
VANCOUVER, B.C. -- On a sunny Friday night at Swangard Stadium, Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 began a "junior" edition of the Cascadia Cup with their first ever match against Sounders FC U-23 in the USL PDL. Despite attacking for much of the match, the ’Caps ultimately fell 2-1 to their newfound Pacific Northwest rivals.
The ‘Caps came into this match a week after a decisive 3-0 home victory over defending PDL champions Kitsap Pumas at Swangard. Vancouver fielded a similar squad to its prior match, with MLS roster players Caleb Clarke, Russell Teibert, and returning captain Michael Boxall all offering their services. Head coach Craig Dalrymple opted for a 4-3-3 formation with Fisk, Clarke, and Teibert bringing the firepower up front, compared to last week’s 4-4-1-1 lineup.
Things got to a flying start with drumming and chanting Southsiders competing with a handful of Sounders supporters, chanting back and forth. Vancouver had the first clear chance of the match when Teibert was given too much space up the middle before his strike was deflected barely wide of the net in the eighth minute. Teibert again was menacing on 12 minutes when he was left free in the 18-yard box for a solid strike that Sounders goalkeeper Doug Herrick parried from danger.
In the 23rd minute, the Sounders’ Deandre Yedlin made a scintillating run up the right wing from his defence position and sent Darwin Jones through forcing a challenge and a save from Callum Irving before Boxall cleared the ball. One minute later the breakthrough came when Troy Peterson’s chip over the defense found Jones on the breakaway, as he calmly sidestepped a rushing Irving and slotted home to give the Sounders U23’s the 1-0 lead on 24 minutes.
Clarke then combined give-and-go passes at the top with Gagan Dosanjh at the 35th minute mark and released a shot through the middle only to see it fly wide of the mark. The ’Caps were given one last first-half chance in the 41st minute courtesy of confident ball control from Clarke in the opposing third, however Herrick comfortably saved his low shot to the corner.
The Whitecaps looked to ignite their comeback at the opening of the second half when Teibert was again given space to run at the goal for a shot that went over the bar. However, it was the visitors who bounced back right away in the 51st with a deflected goal from Fernando Monge inside the box after Luis Esteves provided a dangerous ball into the box from the left wing.
Just when the ‘Caps looked to be on their heels, Clarke was able to bring the game back within one goal as his strong stature over the ball gave him enough space for a beautifully curled left-footed shot off the post and into the far left of the goal in the 53rd minute. With the momentum in their favour, the Blue and White created another great opportunity when Dosanjh deflected Fisk’s shot at goal, but Herrick was quick to react and saved the possible equalizer.
Vancouver was able to keep a firm grip on possession in the latter stages of the second half and open up the Sounders defense with multiple passes coming from the back to an eventual low driven strike by Teibert that was straight to the hands of Herrick.
The ’Caps luck seemed to run dry in the end, as Boxall’s 89th minute chance from a cross into the box was lightly shot through a crowd of legs and out of play.
Despite the setback, Dalrymple was left satisfied with the performance of his side but disappointed that it was left without reward.
“We were great with possession tonight," he said. "I feel that both our conceded goals were avoidable, we had maybe 60-70% possession but Seattle defended well - to their credit. Kitsap wanted to come out and press us higher, but Seattle did well with their plan to sit in, block it up, and counter, so we’ll have to work on those counter attacks for next game."
Next up for Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 is a Mother’s Day clash at 5 p.m. with “Juan De Fuca Plate” bragging rights at stake against Victoria Highlanders FC, who will be opening their PDL campaign.