Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC claimed their first road win of the 2009 season after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Minnesota Thunder on Saturday evening.

Making his first-ever start for the 'Caps, striker Marlon James scored a hat-trick to give the Whitecaps a second-straight victory of the year and a major boost of confidence before their midweek visit to Major League Soccer side Toronto FC and their opening match in the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

For the Thunder, defeat on Saturday was a hard pill to swallow in what was the club's home opener at the National Sports Center Stadium. Though Ricardo Sanchez pulled Minnesota back to level terms with two second-half goals, Donny Gramenz's side went down to their third defeat of the season, with the Thunder still looking for their first win after playing their first five matches of the regular season.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made three changes to the side that started last Saturday's 1-0 home win over Portland Timbers. James replaced youngster Marcus Haber in attack, while winger Ansu Toure faced his former club when he took the place of Mason Trafford in midfield. Defender Jeff Parke made his competitive debut for the 'Caps when he replaced Marco Reda to partner Wesley Charles in the centre of Vancouver's backline. Minnesota, meanwhile, made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Carolina RailHawks last Sunday. Rod Dyachenko and Dale Weiler replaced Quavas Kirk and Brian Kallman in Gramenz's starting XI.

On a sunny evening in Blaine, Minnesota, it was the Thunder supporters that were left disappointed with the action in the first half, as the Whitecaps – who were playing in their home kit of all white - dominated proceedings right up until the break.

Vancouver threatened as early as three minutes in, but striker Charles Gbeke had his goal-bound shot blocked away by the Thunder defenders on the edge of the Minnesota box. Three minutes later, Toure looked to score against his old club, but the Liberian winger's long-range effort sailed high and wide of the target.

Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly faced little work during the opening 45 minutes, as Minnesota struggled to penetrate the visitors' solid rearguard. On seven minutes, Thunder striker Leonel Saint-Preux rolled a tight-angle shot across the face of Vancouver's goal and wide after taking a forward pass from Rich Costanzo.

At the other end, Thunder goalkeeper Nicolas Platter was called on to make a routine save from James, as the big striker's header did not trouble the Minnesota number one on 14 minutes. Seven minutes later, Gbeke put a header of his own wide of goal after connecting with a Luca Bellisomo cross from the left.

On 25 minutes, the Thunder saw a second chance go begging after Melvin Tarley headed Weiler's cross from the left wide of the far post. Two minutes later, Toure was unlucky not to score the game's opening goal after heading Takashi Hirano's dangerous cross into the Thunder side-netting.

The Whitecaps were getting control of the contest at this stage, and on the half-hour mark, Platter did well to deny James from getting his head on Toure's cross into the Thunder box.

Then after Minnesota midfielder Lawrence Olum had headed Sanchez's corner wide of the Whitecaps goal on 35 minutes, the visitors went right up the other end and claimed the lead through James.

Whitecaps captain Martin Nash intercepted the ball before finding the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international with a forward pass. The striker then played a give-and-go with Gbeke, with the return ball freeing James to make a run into the Thunder box and finish with the outside of his right foot past a helpless Platter for his first competitive Whitecaps goal.

It was deserved lead for the visitors, and Gbeke was unlucky not to extend Vancouver's advantage after he was adjudged to be offside when he redirected Nash's goal-bound shot into the Minnesota goal two minutes later.

Nash himself was then unlucky not to hit the target on 40 minutes after striking a fierce free kick effort just wide of Platter's goal after Toure had been fouled near the edge of the Thunder box. Two minutes later, Platter needed to stop Gbeke's redirection of Charles' header on the goal line, as the 'Caps looked to take full command of the match by halftime.

Olum had the last chance of the half for the home side, but the former Portland Timbers midfielder was unable to redirect Sanchez's free kick on target, with the halftime whistle seeing the Whitecaps take a well-deserved one-goal lead to the break.

After a tame first-half performance in front of their home fans, Minnesota made the weekend contest far more interesting after the break, with the stadium under floodlight for the restart.

On 48 minutes, Minnesota stunned the USL-1 champions by scoring their first equalizer in controversial circumstances. A long ball from Weiler saw Saint-Preux challenge Hirano for the ball on the edge of the Whitecaps box. Though the Haiti international looked to have pulled the Japanese defender down with his right arm for what looked an obvious foul, referee Niko Bratsis waved play to continue. Saint-Preux took advantage of the situation and squared a pass to Sanchez before the Mexican finished past Nolly with his left foot for 1-1. While the Thunder players celebrated, the Whitecaps made their protests known to the officials on the pitch.

It was a disappointing start to the half for Vancouver, but their response was positive, with Nash shooting wide on the rebound after Toure had hit a free kick into the Minnesota wall on 52 minutes. Three minutes later, youngster Ethan Gage had a low effort deflect just wide for a Whitecaps corner. On 59 minutes, Thunder defender Jonathan Greenfield had to make an important clearance from Gbeke's looping header that got past the onrushing Platter, who came charging off his goal line to deal with the situation.

Two minutes later, however, the Whitecaps restored their lead through a fine second goal from James. Nash's deflected pass to the Caribbean marksman allowed James to turn past Thunder defender Chris Clements. The forward then used his powerful frame to fend off the attentions of Olum and make a run into the Minnesota box. With his left foot, James slotted the ball past a diving Platter for his second goal of the match.

Having claimed the advantage again, Thordarson introduced new faces to the match, with Vicente Arze and Justin Moose replacing Wes Knight and Gage in midfield. Moments later, James tried to curl in his third goal of the match from the edge of the Thunder box, but his shot flew wide of the target.

Minnesota, however, kept working and were rewarded with a fine second goal from Sanchez on 69 minutes. The Mexican found Dyachenko with a back-heeled pass near the Whitecaps box before the former D.C. United midfielder neatly flicked the ball back into the path of the attacking Sanchez. Having eluded the attentions of Charles and Hirano, Sanchez knocked the ball over Nolly's shoulder and into the net for 2-2.

The Thunder's second goal set up a great finish to the match, with Platter making important stops from Arze on 73 minutes before blocking James' far-post header two minutes later. At the other end, the ever-dangerous Sanchez headed an effort over the Vancouver crossbar on 77 minutes before Saint-Preux was off-target with a chance moments later, despite slipping the ball past the onrushing Nolly in the Whitecaps box.

The visitors were then left in disbelief on 78 minutes when James saw his powerful run and shot saved by Platter before Gbeke had his rebound strike hit the back of a Thunder defender and bounce out for a corner. Three minutes later, James was denied again by the Minnesota keeper, who did well to stop his redirection of Gbeke's initial turn and shot in the Thunder box.

Then after Gordon Chin replaced Toure for his first appearance in a Whitecaps uniform since 2003, Dyachenko nearly scored an unlikely winner for the Thunder on 85 minutes. Bellisomo's header back to Nolly was not strong enough, thus allowing the Minnesota midfielder to slip in and hit a shot past the Whitecaps keeper, but wide of the goal.

That miss proved costly for the home side, as Vancouver took all three points when they were awarded a penalty on 88 minutes. Nash's bicycle kick forward found James on the right-hand side. With Arze making a run into the Thunder box, the striker slipped a pass into the path of the Bolivian winger. As Arze received the ball, Olum came through the back of the 'Caps midfielder with his knee and the challenge immediately blown down for a spot kick. With two goals already to his name, James stepped up to secure his hat-trick with a right-footed penalty finish to make it 3-2 on 90 minutes.

Thordarson was pleased to see James' qualities were on full display in Minnesota. "Marlon's first two goals were hallmarks of a top goalscorer," he told whitecapsfc.com after Saturday's match. "He used his strength and awareness to score two very good goals from challenging situations."

Though the Whitecaps were seemingly on course for victory, there were still several minutes of time added on to be played. The extra time allowed Minnesota to have the final opportunity of what was a pulsating USL-1 contest. Sanchez was given the chance to claim his hat-trick with a free kick, but the midfielder's set-piece hit the Vancouver crossbar and bounced away to safety before the final whistle confirmed a valuable road win for the Whitecaps. "I thought the win as very well deserved, even if we needed a penalty to claim the points," Thordarson said. "We were the best team on the pitch tonight. We created a lot of chances, so there were a lot of positive things for us to take away before we travel to Toronto."


With two straight wins under their belts, the Whitecaps now head to Southern Ontario full of confidence ahead their opening Nutrilite Canadian Championship match versus Toronto FC on Wednesday evening. Minnesota, meanwhile, will have two weeks to prepare for their next league game, as they host the struggling Cleveland City Stars on May 16.

Scoring Summary:
35’ – VAN – Marlon James (Charles Gbeke)

48’ – MIN - Ricardo Sanchez (Leonel Saint-Preux)

61’ – VAN – Marlon James (Martin Nash)

69’ – MIN - Ricardo Sanchez (Rod Dyachenko)

90’ – VAN – Marlon James (PK)

Match Stats:
Shots: Minnesota 10 - Vancouver 10
Saves: Minnesota 9 - Vancouver 6
Fouls: Minnesota 7 - Vancouver 4
Offsides: Minnesota 7 - Vancouver 4
Corners: Minnesota 2 - Vancouver 6

Cautions:
49’ – VAN – Martin Nash
52’ – MIN - Jeremiah Bass
72’ – VAN – Takashi Hirano

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Jay Nolly; 3.Luca Bellisomo, 6.Wesley Charles, 22.Takashi Hirano (18.Mason Trafford 72’), 27.Jeff Parke; 7.Martin Nash, 8.Wes Knight (23.Vicente Arze 61’), 16.Ansu Toure (28. Gordon Chin 81’), 20.Ethan Gage (19.Justin Moose 61’); 9.Marlon James, 98.Charles Gbeke (14.Marcus Haber 83’)

Subs not used: 99.Diego, 2.Marco Reda

Minnesota Thunder
12.Nic Platter; 11.Rich Costanzo, 14.Chris Clements, 22.Jeremiah Bass, 28.Jonathan Greenfield; 7.Dave Weiler, 10.Ricardo Sanchez, 13.Lawrence Olum, 15.Rod Dyachenko; 2.Melvin Tarley, 17.Leonel Saint-Preux

Subs not used: 1.Matt Van Oekel, 3.Andres Arango, 5.Quavas Kirk, 8.Youssouf Kante, 18.Dan O’Brien, 19.Brian Kallman, 21.Geoffrey Myers