Vancouver struck by Thunder By BOB MACKIN, 24 HOURS
The Buzz BURNABY, B.C.: The Vancouver Whitecaps had a man advantage for 42 minutes Sunday night but instead allowed the Minnesota Thunder to escape with a 0-0 tie.
Arango-away Minnesota’s Andres Arango was ejected in the 41st minute for his second yellow card of the game on a deliberate kick at Whitecap Justin Moose in midfield. The Whitecaps outshot the Thunder 12-7 and failed to beat goalkeeper Nic Platter, whose biggest test was in the 72nd minute. Whitecap Alfredo Valente’s cross into the penalty area found Lyle Martin who flicked the ball to Jason Jordan, but Platter pushed the ball over the crossbar.
Even Omar Referee Fabrizio Romano evened the teams at 10 players in the 83rd minute when he assessed Vancouver defender Omar Jarun his second yellow card of the night. Minnesota beat the Whitecaps 1-0 in their only other 2008 visit on April 15.
The long way home The Whitecaps came home Saturday on a 16-hour, 6,106 kilometre trip from San Juan, Puerto Rico where they were 1-0 losers on an 89th minute goal to the Islanders. The distance between Vancouver and San Juan is the biggest in any domestic soccer league in the world. The 8-11-9 Thunder played Friday in Montreal against the Impact and also traveled to Vancouver on Saturday.
MLS Night A sellout crowd of 5,288 on a beautiful late summer evening provided the Whitecaps with the footage and photographs needed for their Major League Soccer bid book. The Whitecaps announced their bid for a 2011 expansion franchise in July. Their formal proposal is due mid-October. If successful, the Whitecaps will move to B.C. Place Stadium after its roof is replaced with a retractable system.
Next The 13-7-8, second-place Whitecaps are playoff-bound, but have two more games: Sept. 13 vs. the Montreal Impact and Sept. 20 at the Seattle Sounders.
