Match Report:

By Farhan Devji/whitecapsfc.com

In their fourth of five consecutive matches on the road, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9W-3L-11D) extended their undefeated streak to five matches and their undefeated road run to nine games, as they defeated NSC Minnesota Stars (7W-10L-7D) 1-0 in Blaine, Minnesota, on Saturday evening.

Whitecaps FC captain Martin Nash netted his fourth goal of the season, as the NASL Conference-leading 'Caps increased their cushion to 10 points over second-place Carolina RailHawks - who fell 2-1 at Crystal Palace Baltimore earlier on Saturday.

On a cool and windy evening at the National Sports Center Stadium, it was the visiting Whitecaps who controlled the play early, and in a first half that saw Teitur Thordarson’s side defend well and look dangerous in the Minnesota final third. After a Philippe Davies corner led to nothing substantial on five minutes, the first scoring chance of the match came on nine minutes when striker Cornelius Stewart received a pass from midfielder Blake Wagner just inside two yards. After running onto a fine Nizar Khalfan through ball down the left flank, Wagner cut back and fed Stewart, but the speedy striker's bid to open the scoring was blocked by a Minnesota defender on the goalline.

Stewart did, however, set up the only goal of the match on 15 minutes. After a fine run down the left flank, Stewart sent a soft pass to midfielder Nash just outside the 18-yard box, and the Whitecaps captain finished first-time with a brilliant right-footed strike to give the ‘Caps a 1-0 lead. With the goal, Nash is now tied with Ivor Evans for eighth place in Vancouver’s all-time points list with 106. "I think Martin has been struggling a little bit in the last few games, but today he was back to his normal self," Whitecaps FC head coach Teitur Thordarson told whitecapsfc.com. "He controlled the midfield and he means a lot to our team because he keeps the team together and he's a good leader out there."

Dissatisfied with a one-goal lead, the Whitecaps nearly made it two five minutes later, but a dangerous looking Davies cross from the right flank deflected off Minnesota defender Kevin Friedland’s knee inside the area and just over the net.

Meanwhile, Minnesota striker Simone Bracalello had the home team’s best opportunities of the match, but Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly stood tall on both occasions – on 21 and 25 minutes.

In the first and only minute of additional time, Nash nearly netted his second goal of the match after he did well to win a Davies cross, but the captain’s strike from five yards out was stopped by Stars goalkeeper Joe Warren. On the ensuing play, Khalfan’s rebound attempt was blocked and Stewart could not catch up to the loose ball before a sprawling Warren covered it up.

Although Thordarson says the team was focused on playing sound defensively, he was also pleased with the way they moved the ball forward in the opening 45 minutes. "We wanted to attack as well, which we did in the first half," said Thordarson. "We wanted to show well defensively and make sure we didn’t give them any openings and I think we managed that. They only had the one scoring chance in the first half and we should have scored more."

As the rain started to pour down in down in Blaine, the home side came out with a new found intensity after the break, and nearly evened the score on 48 minutes. A nice passing play between Melvin Tarley and Daniel Wasson in midfield led to a decent Wasson opportunity, but the midfielder’s strike from 25 yards went just over Nolly’s goal, as the score remained 1-0.

Johnny Menyongar had a similar opportunity on 54 minutes, but the Minnesota midfielder’s attempt from just outside the penalty area sailed way wide.

The second half also saw recently newly-acquired midfielder Terry Dunfield and striker Jonathan McDonald make their first appearances with Whitecaps FC. After receiving a short pass from Nash, Dunfield let loose an ambitious attempt from 30 yards, but his first opportunity with his hometown club sailed over the Minnesota goal on 63 minutes. "I basically saw what I expected from them," said Thordarson when asked about Dunfield and McDonald. "I know that neither of them are very game fit, so I knew that they would give us a good effort to begin with, but for how long, I didn’t know."

After play was suspended for a half hour at the 79-minute mark due to thunder and lightning, the Whitecaps seemed content to sit on their one-goal lead in the dying stages of this USSF D-2 affair.

Despite two Minnesota free-kick opportunities, one from just outside the penalty area on 85 minutes and the other in the second and final minute of additional time, the ‘Caps were successful in holding off the home team, as they captured their ninth victory and 11th clean sheet of the regular season.


Thordarson was pleased his side saw Saturday's road victory through to the end. "I think we played quite well early on," he said. "In the second half, we were a little out of sync. We didn't get the passing going as we wanted and they also gave us some trouble, but all the games seem to be like this, so I'm still happy we got the three points."

Saturday's result, combined with Vancouver's previous victory and draw against Minnesota this season, means the Whitecaps win the season series against the USL Conference's Stars, with one contest left to play. The 'Caps move on to Florida for their lone away meeting with FC Tampa Bay Rowdies next Thursday night, while the Stars host Portland Timbers next Saturday evening.

Scoring Summary:
15' - VAN - Martin Nash (Cornelius Stewart)

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 10 - Minnesota 10
Saves: Vancouver 4 - Minnesota 3
Fouls: Vancouver 11 - Minnesota 3
Corners: Vancouver 3 - Minnesota 1

Cautions:
74' - VAN - Blake Wagner

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Jay Nolly; 22.Takashi Hirano, 2.Nelson Akwari, 14.Greg Janicki, 4.Chris Williams; 23.Blake Wagner (77.Zurab Tsiskaridze 70'), 3.Luca Bellisomo (6.Terry Dunfield '54), 7.Martin Nash, 15.Philippe Davies (13.Alex Elliott 70'); 39.Cornelius Stewart (19.Jonathan McDonald 60'), 29.Nizar Khalfan (11.Ridge Mobulu 52')

Subs not used: 27.Dan Pelc, 16.Kyle Porter

NSC Minnesota Stars
1.Joe Warren; 6.Kevin Friedland, 16.Kyle Altman, 25.Scott Lorenz, 3.Andres Arango; 8.Daniel Wasson, 13.Kentaro Takada (7.Andrei Gotsmanov 75'), 10.Johnny Menyongar (20.Brian Cvilikas 79'), 11.Ely Allen; 18.Melvin Tarley (9.Warren Ukah 89'), 19.Simone Bracalello (4.Neil Hlavaty 45')

Subs not used: 30.Matt Van Oekel, 11.Chris Clements, 17.Geison Moura