Bob Mackin
The Buzz:
Charles Gbeke’s 81st minute goal salvaged a 1-1 tie for the Vancouver Whitecaps against the visiting First Division-leading Charleston Battery in a Wednesday night United Soccer Leagues’ match. The Whitecaps, however, remain winless in five games.
Hello, Gbeke:
Gbeke, a 30-year-old native of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, finally scored in his seventh league game with Vancouver since 1998. The late second half substitute rejoined the club for his fourth tour of duty in a July 7 trade with the Montreal Impact for Tony Donatelli.
Amazing Randi:
Charleston took a 1-0 lead when Trinidad and Tobago international Randi Patterson scored in the 18th minute on a Mike Richardson cross. Patterson has eight of the Battery’s 24 goals.
Scoring drought:
The Whitecaps have scored four goals in the last five games. Their last multi-goal performance was a 3-1 win on June 7 over the Portland Timbers in the last of a four-game winning streak.
Thor talks:
“We had a poor first half, a first half where basically nothing happened. We did absolutely not take the initiative in the game,” said Whitecaps’ head coach Teitur Thordarson.
Next up:
The Whitecaps host the Carolina RailHawks for the second time this month on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Whitecaps women host the Seattle Sounders in the W-League Western conference final at 4 p.m.
