WHITECAPS DRAW WITH RAILHAWKS

July 3, 2007 - Vancouver Whitecaps 0
Carolina RailHawks 0

SAS Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina (Attendance: 5189)

Match Report

Vancouver Whitecaps FC men remain two points clear at the top of the USL First Division standings after a goalless draw at Carolina RailHawks on Tuesday evening.

In the fourth match of their six-game road trip, the USL-1 champions were once again left frustrated at not being able to convert some decent goalscoring opportunities at SAS Soccer Park, as Bob Lilley’s side had to settle for a third straight stalemate result. The draw still leaves the Whitecaps in first place, but now two points ahead of second place Seattle Sounders after their 1-0 victory at Rochester Raging Rhinos on Tuesday.

Lilley made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Charleston Battery on Saturday; new signing Lutz Pfannenstiel made his debut for Vancouver in goal. The German replaced Richard Goddard, who had to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench after starting in the club’s last three games and recording two clean sheets in those contests.

With Independence Day in the US on Wednesday, there was a large crowd in attendance in Cary, North Carolina. The Whitecaps took on their hosts in their home uniforms of all white and looking the brighter side in an opening half that saw few chances at either end.

Steve Klein’s solid play at centre back this season was in full evidence, as he was called on to stop RailHawks striker Connally Edozien from getting a shot on target after teammate Diaz Kambere had lost possession in the early stages of the game.

The best chance of the half came just after the quarter-hour mark from the visitors, as David Testo forced RailHawks goalkeeper Chris McClellan into a fine save after he connected with a near-post header from Martin Nash’s cross. The Whitecaps went even closer seconds later, as captain Jeff Clarke’s volleyed attempt struck McClellan’s crossbar before bouncing over for a goal kick.

At the other end, Pfannenstiel was having a quiet debut in the Vancouver goal, as Carolina struggled to penetrate the resolute Whitecaps defence, with Lilley’s side applying good pressure high up the pitch on their hosts. “Lutz did not have a lot to do tonight,” Lilley told whitecapsfc.com after the game. “Anything that he had to deal with was well taken care of by him.”

The Whitecaps did have the ball in the Carolina net midway though the opening half, but the goal was disallowed after Alfredo Valente was adjudged to be offside after redirecting Tony Donatelli’s close-range strike home. Moments later, Testo had a similar chance in the Carolina box, but his half-blocked shot went into the arms of McClellan.

There was little life in the RailHawks attack until the latter stages of the half, as the Carolina fans shouted in vain for a penalty after Jonny Steele went down in the Whitecaps box while challenging for the ball with Klein just before halftime.

The second half saw Lilley introduce four substitutions, as Vancouver looked to claim a valuable away win. Fit-again Steve Kindel, Geordie Lyall, Jason McLaughlin, and Joel Bailey all came in to try and influence proceedings.

Carolina, meanwhile, looked at bit stronger in the second half, but they continued to struggle to break down their visitors, as the Whitecaps backline dealt with any danger that came their way. Pfannenstiel also showed his confidence with a couple of punched clearances in front of his own goal. Even the striking efforts of Kupono Low, Chad Dombrowski, and Frankie Sanfilippo failed to bother Vancouver’s new keeper. “We did a great job of defending anything they threw at us tonight,” Lilley said. “They were never able to break us down.”

The Whitecaps again had the best chance to break the deadlock in the second half, but McClellan was in the right place at the right time to stop the streaking Lyall with his feet after Bailey had found the defender with a fine through ball.

With the game in the dying stages, Vancouver kept pushing forward in search of a winning goal, but substitute McLaughlin was unable to make the most of two late half-chances, and the match eventually ended in a 0-0 draw.

After being disappointed with his team’s display in Charleston on Saturday, Lilley was far happier with Tuesday’s performance. “We were much better tonight,” he said. “Carolina are a strong team, but we dealt with their physical play and played well. There was a lot of positive soccer from us and we had the four or five decisive moments in the game. It’s been a long road trip, but I think there’s a lot that we will be able to take away from it.”

The Whitecaps will now move on from North Carolina to the US state of Georgia for Saturday’s game with Atlanta Silverbacks before finally returning home to prepare for a second visit to a resurgent Seattle on July 12.

Game Notes:
16' - Vancouver - A cross from Martin Nash was headed on goal by David Testo in front but goalkeeper Chris McClellan made a superb reaction save to palm it wide of the near post. From the ensuing corner kick, the ball was played around the box then dropped Jeff Clarke, who fired a volley that hit the top of crossbar.

29' - Vancouver - Vancouver thought they had opened the scoring, as Tony Donatelli fired the ball at goal where Alfredo Valente redirected it past the keeper from in close, but the flag had gone up, with Valente called offside.

74' - Vancouver - Joel Bailey sent a great pass to pick out Geordie Lyall on the run, as the fullback got behind the last man back, and found himself right in on goalkeeper Chris McClellan, who managed to block Lyall's point-blank shot.

Cautions: Vancouver – Joel Bailey 78', Martin Nash 86', Carolina – Connally Edozien 55', Chad Dombrowski 57', Santiago Fusilier 85'

Shots: Vancouver - 8 – Carolina - 5
Saves: Vancouver - 0 – Carolina - 4
Fouls: Vancouver - 19 – Carolina - 23
Offsides: Vancouver - 8 – Carolina - 3
Corners: Vancouver - 5 – Carolina - 1

Vancouver Whitecaps:
29.Lutz Pfannenstiel; 3.Steve Klein, 4.Adrian Cann, 24.Lyle Martin (13.Geordie Lyall 62'), 28.Diaz Kambere (8.Steve Kindel 62'); 2.Jeff Clarke, 7.Martin Nash, 9.Alfredo Valente (23.Joel Bailey 71'), 14.Tony Donatelli; 11.David Testo (15.Jason McLaughlin 71'), 17.Joey Gjertsen

Carolina RailHawks:
0.Chris McClellan; 2.David Stokes, 14.Caleb Norkus, 15.Frankie Sanfilippo, 23.Chad Dombrowski; 3.Kupono Low, 18.Stuart Brightwell, 22.Jonny Steele, 11.Chris Carrieri (21.Santiago Fusilier 64'); 8.Connally Edozien, 12.Anthony Maher (7.Marcio Leite 74')

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