Score: 3:0 Win
Venue: Spartans Sports Complex
Match Type: 
Match Number: 5
Kickoff (PDT): 7:00 PM
Attendance: 1520

Match Report:
Trinity Western University - 0
Vancouver Whitecaps - 3

Spartans Sports Complex - Langley, BC (Attendance: 1520)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC men completed their preseason schedule of friendly games with a 3-0 away win over Trinity Western University Spartans on Wednesday evening.

The result made it four straight victories for Teitur Thordarson's side, as the Whitecaps begin their final preparations before the April 12 season opener versus Canadian rivals Montreal Impact at Swangard Stadium. Alfredo Valente gave the Whitecaps a one-goal lead at halftime before an early second-half strike by Eduardo Sebrango was followed by a third goal from Steve Kindel, as Vancouver thoroughly dominated the 2007 Canada West men's soccer champions after the break.

Thordarson altered his side from the starting XI that claimed a similar 3-0 friendly win over Simon Fraser University Clan in New Westminster, BC, last Saturday morning. Jay Nolly took the place of Srdjan Djekanovic in goal, while Diaz Kambere replaced Geordie Lyall at right fullback. Valente made a start on the left-hand side of midfield, with Kindel starting in a central midfield position. In attack, Sebrango was partnered by Jamaican forward Nicholas Addlery, who replaced Nick Webb up front.

On a cool, but beautiful, spring evening for soccer at the Spartans Sports Complex in Langley, BC. A committed crowd of 1520 fans saw a spirited first half display from both sides, with chances seen at both ends. Trinity Western had the first chance of Wednesday's game, but David Rowse failed to test Nolly with his header from Adrian Kekec's cross after just seven minutes.

The presence of centre back Omar Jarun on Whitecaps set-pieces in the Spartans box was evident all evening, with the Palestinian international forcing a save from TWU goalkeeper Andrew Fink on the quarter-hour mark before the visitors went even closer five minutes later. Lyle Martin was unlucky to head Jeff Clarke's cross from the left against the post at close range.

Fink then needed to save from Sebrango on 28 minutes before the Spartans caused a scare at the other end, as Adrian Cann had to clear the ball off his own goal-line after Brendan Campbell had initially directed Kekec's corner towards the target. The Whitecaps centre back felt his side fared better after halftime than before the break. "We were a bit disorganized in the first half, but I think in the second half, we got things together," Cann told whitecapsfc.com after the game. "We still have a week left to get things more into line and gel as a team better."

On 38 minutes, the Whitecaps made it 1-0 when Valente was able to get his far-post header over the TWU goal-line after connecting with Clarke's long cross from the right. The midfielder then came close to finding the scoreheet again, as he drove a low shot across the face of Fink's goal just before the break. "We knew what would happen in the first half against Trinity Western," Thordarson said of the 3-0 win. "I've seen their side twice beforehand and they played exactly the same way with a high level of aggressiveness. We, however, wanted to start the same way as we've been doing by pressing them high."

Though the Whitecaps had claimed the upper hand, Al Alderson's Spartans side made life difficult for their guests in the first half. Unfortunately for Trinity Western fans, the second half saw Thordarson's squad take more control of proceedings. The warning signs were evident as early as the 49th minute, as Jarun just missed the target with a far-post header from a well-played corner into the TWU box by new Japanese signing Takashi Hirano.

Within the space of a minute, the Whitecaps doubled their lead through Sebrango. Addlery forced Fink into a fine save with his point-blank strike from Martin's centering ball. The rebound struck the back of TWU defender Paul Hamilton and the post before falling to the Cuban striker's feet to convert for 2-0.

Trinity Western's chances to test former Major League Soccer keeper Nolly were becoming increasingly rare, with Spartans midfielder Mustafa Demirci squandering a fine free-kick opportunity for the home side on 62 minutes. In fact, the Whitecaps could have increased their lead two minutes later, as Valente forced Fink to tip his curling free kick strike on to the top end of his own crossbar and out for a corner.

Undeterred, the Whitecaps ended the friendly as a contest with a third goal on 69 minutes. Kindel slotted home from the left side of the TWU goal after taking a measured pass from Valente in the buildup.

Thordarson's side created more chances in the dying stages through Jarun and substitute striker Nick Webb before the Spartans were handed one last opportunity for a consolation goal in injury time. Nolly, however, was able to stop Kekec's direct free kick strike and preserve a clean sheet, as Vancouver ran out comfortable three-goal winners. "I'm very happy with the guys," admitted Thordarson. "The second half tonight was very good to look at. We played good attacking football and scored three goals, though I was hoping we could have scored two or three more because we had so many chances."

The Whitecaps will now gear up for their 2008 regular season opener, as they host Montreal Impact at Swangard Stadium on April 12. The game is the first of five competitive meetings between the two Canadian rivals this year.

Goal Summary:
38' - Vancouver - 1-0 - Alfredo Valente (Jeff Clarke)
A loose ball fell to Steve Kindel 35 yards out. He played it to Clarke, who sent a cross to Valente on the left of the TWU goal. His looping header went in off the crossbar, with neither the Spartans goalkeeper nor a defender on the goal-line able to stop it.

50' – Vancouver - 2-0 - Eduardo Sebrango (Nicholas Addlery)
Lyle Martin on the right sent in a good ball to Addlery, whose powerful shot from inside the TWU box was parried by goalkeeper Andrew Fink. It rebounded off the backside of Spartans defender Paul Hamilton before hitting the left post and coming out to Sebrango, who first-timed the ball in from close range.

69' - Vancouver - 3-0 - Steve Kindel (Alfredo Valente)
Valente on the left slipped the ball ahead to Kindel, who rifled it in from 15 yards.

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 15 – TWU 6
Saves: Vancouver 2 - TWU - 4
Fouls: Vancouver 11 - TWU - 7
Offsides: Vancouver 0 - TWU - 2
Corners: Vancouver 8 - TWU - 3

Cautions:
Vancouver: Steve Kindel 33'
TWU: Nathan Pogue 33', Colby Sawatzky 45'

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Jay Nolly; 4.Adrian Cann, 15.Omar Jarun (6.Luca Bellisomo 80'), 22.Takashi Hirano, 28.Diaz Kambere (27.Stefan Leslie 65'); 8.Steve Kindel, 2.Jeff Clarke, 9.Alfredo Valente (13.Mason Webb 80'), 24.Lyle Martin; 11.Nicholas Addlery (3.Nick Webb 71'), 16.Eduardo Sebrango (26.Jason Jordan 57')

Subs not used:
77.Srdjan Djekanovic, 12.Geordie Lyall, 7.Martin Nash, 23.Vicente Arze

Trinity Western University Spartans
1.Andrew Fink; 2.Jake Jorgensen, 6.Brendan Campbell, 17.Brayden Volkenant, 18.Paul Hamilton; 3.Nathan Square-Briggs, 7.Mustafa Demirci, 22 Goran Vitic (4. Josh Weinberger 80'), 23 David Rowse (12.Jordan Hart 62', 25.Daniel Lowen 85'); 8.Adrian Kekec, 16.Nathan Pogue (13.Colby Sawatzky 40')