Forward's two-goal game inspired by Jamaican sprinters
Steve Ewen
Nicholas Addlery scored two goals for the Vancouver Whitecaps Friday. Usain Bolt might merit an assist.
"I watched it on a daily basis -- those guys definitely inspire me," Addlery, a forward from Kingston, Jamaica, said of the Beijing Olympics after leading the Whitecaps to a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers at Swangard.
"To see a guy like that, 22 years old, doing things like that on the world stage ... three world records -- has that ever been done? I'm definitely proud of all our Jamaican athletes."
Addlery had just two goals in his first 21 games with Vancouver this season, but he had looked several times like he was about to bust out. He's skilled enough that he spent last season with Major League Soccer's D.C. United.
And his goals Friday certainly weren't of the plumber variety.
He opened the scoring in the third minute with a left-footed rocket from the top of the box, and then he bagged the eventual winner in the 43rd minute, holding off a Portland defender and then beating goalkeeper Chase Harrison high after being sprung for a rush by midfielder Lyle Martin.
Addlery had a few other chances, too.
"We've been working hard and doing a lot of great things in practice," said Addlery. "Now, it's translating, which is good, because we're coming up on the playoff run. Things are coming to fruition at the right time."
Vancouver (12-6-6) remains two points in back of the USL First Division-leading Puerto Rico Islanders
(13-6-5). There are six games left in the regular season for both squads.
First gets an opening-round bye.
Midfielder Lawrence Olum scored for the Timbers (6-9-10), who are
dueling with the Montreal Impact
(8-10-4) for the final playoff spot.
Vancouver midfielder/defender Steve Kindel (knee), who hadn't dressed the past two games, came on in the 59th minute for Alfredo Valente. Midfielder/defender Jeff Clarke (hamstring) and defender Geordie Lyall (hamstring) didn't dress.
© The Vancouver Province 2008
