Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC moved closer towards securing a USL First Division playoff spot with an important 3-2 home win over Austin Aztex on Wednesday evening.

Two goals by Charles Gbeke followed Kenold Versailles' first-ever goal for the Whitecaps men's team, as the Blue and White came out victorious in an entertaining five-goal contest at Swangard Stadium. Though they have struggled through their inaugural season in USL-1, the Aztex showed plenty of determination to earn something from their first visit to Vancouver in club history, as Jean Alexandre scored twice in a losing effort for the Texas-based outfit.

The midweek win took Vancouver's record to 9W-9L-8D, though it keeps them in seventh place and the final playoff spot in the league standings. Defeat for Austin saw their record drop to 4W-14L-8D, with the USL-1 expansion club now eliminated from playoff contention this season.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made three changes to the side that started last Saturday's 1-1 home draw versus Rochester Rhinos. All three changes came in midfield, with Versailles replacing Martin Nash after the Whitecaps captain was sidelined with a hamstring problem. It is the first time in over five years that Nash has missed a Whitecaps game through injury, with the last occasion coming on August 18, 2004, when an ankle sprain kept the Canadian international out of a league match at Seattle Sounders. Versailles was joined in central midfield by Gordon Chin after he replaced Tanzanian international Nizar Khalfan. Tyrell Burgess replaced Ansu Toure on the left-hand side of midfield, while Wes Knight switched places with Lyle Martin to play on the right-hand side of midfield. Martin, meanwhile, dropped back to the right fullback position.

Aztex head coach Adrian Heath, meanwhile, made four changes to the side that started last Saturday's 1-0 win over Miami FC Blues in the Texas state capital. Defender Kieron Bernard, midfielder A.J. Godbolt, and strikers Alexandre and Gifton Noel-Williams came into the visitors' starting XI for Yordany Alvarez, Kyle Brown, Michael Callahan, and Eddie Johnson.

On a pleasant midweek evening, a Swangard crowd of 5,081 saw the Whitecaps dominate large parts of the first half, as they looked far improved from their weekend performance versus Rochester.

The home side had the first set of chances. Burgess found the arms of Aztex goalkeeper Nick Noble with a well-hit drive on four minutes before 'Caps centre back Chris Pozniak headed Chin's free kick from the right over the Austin crossbar five minutes later.

Vancouver's attack-minded approach paid off with an early goal, as two players that were discovered in last December's USL Men's Player Showcase in Charleston, South Carolina, combined to give the Whitecaps the lead on 11 minutes. A trademark Knight throw-in from the right found Versailles unmarked at the near post. The Haiti international rose to head the ball past Noble and into the far corner of the net for his first-ever goal with the men's team and in USL-1.

Striking early seemed to settle the 'Caps into their game, as they kept pressing forward in search of more goals. On 19 minutes, however, Gbeke was bit over ambitious with a low long-distance shot that rolled wide of the target.

Though they struggled to get themselves into the contest in the early stages, the Aztex forced a save from Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly just past the midway point of the half. Brazilian winger Sullivan Silva made a run down the right flank before laying a pass off to Alexandre. The on-loan Real Salt Lake forward then hit a deflected shot that forced the 'Caps number one into an important stop.

It proved to be a crucial intervention by Nolly, as Vancouver extended their lead on 23 minutes, with Gbeke striking his 11th goal of the year. The big striker played a give-and-go with Marcus Haber before his strike partner made a darting run into the Austin box. As Haber was teeing up to have a strike himself, Gbeke ran in and connected with a right-foot shot that beat a hapless Noble in the Aztex goal for 2-0.

Clearly unsatisfied with the performance of his team, Heath made an early substitution by replacing Bernard with midfielder Ryan McMahen on 28 minutes, as Austin looked to get back into what was a crucial match towards their faint playoff hopes.

On 34 minutes, the Aztex pulled a goal back through Haitian striker Alexandre. The powerful Caribbean forward took a pass from teammate Kevin Sakuda before hitting a fierce low strike that seemed to catch Nolly moving in the other direction. The Whitecaps number one dove to his left and got both hands on the ball, but the strength of Alexandre's shot was enough to find the back of the net and make it 2-1 to Vancouver.

With the match back in the balance, Austin's goal seemed to take a certain amount of confidence out the Whitecaps, with both sides battling in an even fashion through the dying stages of the opening half and the one minute of time added on.

As a result, the Whitecaps took a slender one-goal lead into the halftime break.

The second half saw Austin look the brighter side for a spell shortly after the restart. After Knight flashed a shot high and wide of goal for the 'Caps on 48 minutes, Austin's Michael Dello-Russo struck the Vancouver side-netting with a fierce shot in the Whitecaps box three minutes later.

Full of spirit, the Aztex kept pressing forward. However, on 53 minutes, Sakuda was booked by match referee Dave Gantar for simulation after falling down in the Whitecaps box, as Martin tried to make a challenge on the former Seattle Sounders and Montreal Impact player.

Even Sakuda's yellow card could not deter the visitors in their pursuit of an equalizer, and on 58 minutes, Aztex substitute McMahen took advantage of a Chin giveaway in his own half by forcing Nolly into a fine diving save with a solid strike from 25 years out. Noel-Williams then hit the face of Nolly with a tight-angle shot on the rebound, but the Austin striker was adjudged to be in an offside position beforehand. Three minutes later, Austin defender David Horst was unlucky not to hit the target with an unmarked header after Dello-Russo played a free kick forward into the Whitecaps box.

The visitors' growing confidence was causing the Whitecaps some concern, but any fears they had were eased with a second goal from Gbeke on 65 minutes. A flowing move saw Chin find fullback Takashi Hirano with a pass on the left flank. The Japanese defender was given enough time and space to play in a fine cross to the Vancouver goalscorer, who was left unmarked in front of goal. Gbeke made no mistake by powerfully heading his finish past Noble for a 3-1 Whitecaps lead. It was Gbeke's 12th of the year and a sixth goal in four matches by the Canadian international. The strike also tied Gbeke with Portland Timbers forward Mandjou Keita at the top of the USL-1 goalscoring charts, with both players having scored 11 goals so far this season.

The two-goal lead restored some relief around Swangard, and on 73 minutes, the hard-working Chin made way for Khalfan in Vancouver's central midfield. Two minutes later, Burgess had a glorious chance to score a fourth Whitecaps goal, but Noble was equal to his effort after the Bermuda international had intercepted a wayward pass from Aztex midfielder Ryan Caugherty.

Yet, credit to Austin, the visitors made sure the match remained a contest with a second goal of their own on 76 minutes. Alexandre took advantage of Martin's indecision in dealing with McMahen's forward ball on the edge of the Whitecaps box, as he eluded the right fullback to win possession and slip a shot past the onrushing Nolly for his second goal of the match and 3-2 Whitecaps lead.

While Whitecaps fans would have wanted their side to be in a more comfortable position, the neutral spectator was surely enjoying the end-to-end action in the second half. On 81 minutes, Gbeke squandered a chance to earn a hat-trick by striking Burgess' cutback pass wide of goal. A minute later, Versailles saw his low shot cleared off the Austin goal line after Haber cut the ball back into the midfielder's path. Then substitute Ansu Toure had a shot roll wide of an empty net on 84 minutes after Noble failed to deal Khalfan's free kick into the Aztex box.

The action continued until the end, with Austin having a further two opportunities to find an equalizer. On 87 minutes, the dangerous Alexandre turned his marker Shaun Pejic before hammering a shot over the Whitecaps crossbar. Then in the three minutes of time added on, Aztex defender Gareth Evans struck a dangerous free kick high and wide of Nolly's goal.

Goalscorer Gbeke was complimentary of the Aztex and their efforts on Wednesday night. "Austin are a pretty good team," the striker said after the match. "They have a good coach and use good tactics. It's unfortunate for them that they are near the bottom of the standings, but next year, I think they're going to do well. Tonight, however, I felt we deserved the three points because we battled so hard throughout the game."


The final whistle confirmed the Whitecaps magic number for securing a postseason berth is now down to six points, while Austin join fellow USL-1 newcomers Cleveland City Stars in missing out on the 2009 playoffs.

Thordarson was pleased his side earned three more points at Swangard. "It was a tough game, as Austin showed they are a better team than their record in the league currently shows," he said to reporters. "I thought they played quite well and caused us problems in certain periods of the game. We also had some very good moments, especially in the first 20 minutes of the match. We also scored our third goal in a very good period of the second half. Yet, we gave away some easy goals tonight, and that denied us the chance to have more control of the match, as we would have liked."

The Whitecaps will quickly turn their attentions to another struggling USL-1 club, as they visit Minnesota Thunder for the second time this season on Friday evening. Austin, meanwhile, will head to South Florida to take on Miami FC Blues on Saturday.

Scoring Summary:
11' - VAN - Kenold Versailles (Wes Knight)
23' - VAN - Charles Gbeke (Marcus Haber)
34' - AUS - Jean Alexandre (Kevin Sakuda)
65' - VAN - Charles Gbeke (Takashi Hirano)
76' - AUS - Jean Alexandre

Official Match Stats:
Shots: Austin 9 - Vancouver 12
Saves: Austin 3 - Vancouver 2
Fouls: Austin 11 - Vancouver 15
Offsides: Austin 5 - Vancouver 6
Corners: Austin 3 - Vancouver 2

Cautions:
53' - AUS - Kevin Sakuda
80' - VAN - Kenold Versailles
85' - AUS - David Horst

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Jay Nolly; 24.Lyle Martin, 4.Shaun Pejic, 6.Chris Pozniak, 22.Takashi Hirano; 8.Wes Knight (12.Geordie Lyall 89'), 13.Kenold Versailles, 28.Gordon Chin (29.Nizar Khalfan 73'), 25.Tyrell Burgess (16.Ansu Toure 82'); 14.Marcus Haber (17.Randy Edwini-Bonsu 85'), 98.Charles Gbeke

Subs not used: 31.Simon Thomas, 2.Marco Reda, 18.Mason Trafford

Austin Aztex
31.Nick Noble; 4.Gareth Evans, 5.Kieron Bernard (20.Ryan McMahen 28'), 28.Kevin Sakuda, 29.David Horst; 14.AJ Godbolt (15.Jarius Holmes 69'), 17.Ryan Caugherty, 22.Michael Dello-Russo; 7.Sullivan Silva (77.Jamie Watson 66'), 9.Gifton Noel-Williams (11.Kyle Brown 71'), 25.Jean Alexandre

Subs not used: 1.Miguel Gallardo-Aparicio, 16.Michael Callahan, 21.Wes Allen