Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps men continued their winning ways after claiming a 1-0 victory at Miami FC Blues on Friday.

A first-half strike by Eduardo Sebrango proved the difference, as Whitecaps head Teitur Thordarson claimed his first road victory as a USL First Division head coach.

In difficult conditions, the confidence that was seen in the Whitecaps first-half display changed dramatically in the early stages in the second half, as striker Nicholas Addlery was sent off for a second bookable offence - thus leaving the visitors to play a man short for the rest of the game.

Though they were handed the man advantage, Miami struggled to break the Whitecaps down, as the visitors held on to claim a second straight win in the league and boost their confidence further ahead of the big Victoria Day Monday clash against the Impact in Montreal.

After playing the same starting XI against Rochester Rhinos last Saturday and Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy in Edmonton, Alberta, on Tuesday, Thordarson made one change on the right-hand side of midfield, as Justin Moose replaced Tony Donatelli to earn his first start for the club. Miami FC head coach Zinho, meanwhile, brought Juan Pablo Galavis and Avery John into his starting XI after last Friday's 3-1 defeat at Charleston Battery.

On a typically hot and humid south Florida afternoon, the Whitecaps looked the more settled side in possession of the ball on the dry and hard Tropical Park Stadium surface, despite playing into a stiff wind in the first half.

The first chance of the game came after just five minutes, as Galavis beat Whitecaps centre back Omar Jarun down the left flank before clipping a cross over the outstretched arm of Vancouver goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic, but past his far post.

It was the visitors' turn to create a chance at goal on 12 minutes, but midfielder Martin Nash failed to trouble Blues goalkeeper Josh Saunders with a point-blank effort from the edge of Miami's box. Minutes later at the other end, the ever-dangerous Alex Afonso forced a good save from Djekanovic with his close-range header.

That brought a bright spell of play from the Whitecaps, and on 18 minutes, Vancouver struck the game-winner after Miami gave possession away on the edge of their box. Lyle Martin slipped a fine through ball to Sebrango, who turned and put a shot past Saunders for his fourth goal of the season.

It was an excellent start for Thordarson's side, and they came close to extending their lead moments later. After clearing the ball out of their own half, Steve Kindel fed a forward ball for the speedy Alfredo Valente to race down the left. The long-time Whitecap reached the edge of Miami's box before striking a shot just wide of Saunders' far post. "We created some good chances and got the one goal," Thordarson said of the first half to whitecapsfc.com. "We kept the ball well in possession and looked in good shape by halftime."

Despite the warm conditions, the Whitecaps had pressed their hosts well through the opening 45 minutes, though Zinho's side would create opportunities before the break. Galavis was wayward with both a header from a Walter Ramirez corner before knocking a curling Afonso cross wide of Djekanovic's far post. Eric Vasquez would also squander two chances for the Blues before setting up Sean Cameron to head on target with his set-piece, but the effort only found the hands of the Whitecaps keeper.

The halftime whistle saw the Whitecaps take a slender one-goal lead into the break, with Zinho showing his displeasure at the game officials before walking away to his team's dressing room.

The restart then brought a moment of drama for the Whitecaps, as Addlery was issued a second yellow card on 53 minutes for a challenge on Cameron at the halfway line. Referee Shane Moody's decision left Thordarson's side a man short for the rest of the second half. "We were a bit unfortunate to lose Nick, as I thought there was nothing to his first yellow card in the first half," Thordarson said. "He came into a challenge for the ball with his foot a bit high, so that may have warranted a yellow card in itself, but as it was his second, there was nothing that we could do."

Addlery's sending off seemed to unsettle Vancouver for a short spell, and Djekanovic needed to make a fine point-blank save from Sean Fraser to keep the visitors in front. It also prompted Thordarson to bring on Vicente Arze and Tony Donatelli to freshen up his side just before the hour mark. The Icelandic tactician was delighted with the contribution of his replacements. "I thought Vicente and Tony did very well when they came in, as did Nick and Mason Webb," Thordarson said. "I must say that I'm very satisfied to have many different players that can maintain our level of play when they come into a game. I feel that is important for us."

Though they had the extra man on the pitch, Miami were not imposing themselves as well as could be expected. In fact, Hirano nearly created a second Whitecaps goal on 67 minutes, but the Japanese fullback's cross from the Miami byline failed to reach Donatelli in front of Saunders' goal, as the danger was cleared away.

Then, after Djekanovic made an assured save from Afonso's close-range cross, substitute Arze had a glorious opportunity to score his first goal for the club on 71 minutes. The tricky Bolivian eluded two challenges and had put himself in a prime position to strike at goal, but he failed to connect properly with his shot inside Miami's box.

The final stages saw the Blues in search for an equalizer, but substitute Luis Calix curled his free kick wide of the target on 78 minutes before Sean Barrett had a glorious opportunity in front of the Whitecaps goal. The Jamaican forward, however, sailed his first-time effort high over the crossbar three minutes later.

Looking for his third clean sheet in the league, Djekanovic then needed to make saves from Afonso and Barrett again before the game went into injury time. It was in time added on that Miami's final hopes for a goal fell to Cameron, with Vancouver struggling to clear the ball in a scramble in their own box. Djekanovic made a fine initial save from the midfielder before Cameron clipped the rebound over the crossbar, as the Whitecaps held on for their first road win of the season.


Though happy to earn a third 1-0 result of this new USL-1 season, Thordarson admits it was hard work for his side. "It was a very difficult game," he concluded. "The weather was really hot, so that was always a challenge for us. It is not easy to come down here and play the way we have been doing in these conditions. It worked well for the first half, but we got very tired in the second half. We knew it would be difficult to stay in front at 1-0, and when we went a man down, we decided to get the team organized to defend well, and we did that."

Thordarson's side will now move from south Florida to the province of Quebec and a rematch with the Impact on Monday afternoon. The game will be the first-ever to be played at Montreal's brand-new Saputo Stadium. Miami, meanwhile, will search again for their first home win of 2008 when they host another difficult Pacific Northwest opponent in Portland Timbers on Sunday.

Goal Summary:
18' - 1-0 Vancouver – Eduardo Sebrango (Lyle Martin)
The Whitecaps scored the game-winner on 18 minutes. Miami FC gave possession away near the edge of their box. Vancouver right fullback Lyle Martin then slipped a fine through ball to Sebrango in the Blues box. The Cuban striker turned and put a shot past Miami goalkeeper Josh Saunders for his fourth goal of the season.

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 6 – Miami 11
Saves: Vancouver 8 – Miami 0
Fouls: Vancouver 15 – Miami 8
Offsides: Vancouver 0 – Miami 5
Corners: Vancouver 2 – Miami 2

Cautions:
Vancouver: Nicholas Addlery 29', 53', Adrian Cann 67'
Miami: Avery John 28', Sean Cameron 45', Alex Afonso 83'

Ejections:
Vancouver: Nicholas Addlery 53'

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
77.Srdjan Djekanovic; 4.Adrian Cann, 15.Omar Jarun, 22.Takashi Hirano, 24.Lyle Martin; 7.Martin Nash (13.Mason Webb 80'), 8.Steve Kindel, 9.Alfredo Valente (23.Vicente Arze 59'), 25.Justin Moose (14.Tony Donatelli 59'); 11.Nicholas Addlery, 16.Eduardo Sebrango (3.Nick Webb 77')

Subs not used: 1.Jay Nolly, 27.Stefan Leslie, 28.Diaz Kambere

Miami FC Blues
1.Josh Saunders; 2.Eduardo Gutierrez (18.Nicolas Mosquera 75'), 4.Cristiano Dias, 13.Avery John (20.Luis Calix), 21.Walter Ramirez; 8.John Pulido (14.Jarryd Goldberg 59'), 11.Eric Vasquez (25.Sean Barrett 45'), 17.Sean Cameron, 19.Juan Pablo Galavis (3.Christopher Williams); 7.Sean Fraser, 9.Alex Afonso

Subs not used: 12.Sam Reynolds, 15.Cauê da Mata