Match Report:

By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps men recorded their third straight win on the road, as they knocked off Minnesota Thunder 1-0 to move into first place in the USL First Division standings on Saturday night in Blaine, Minnesota.

For the second match in a row, veteran striker Jason Jordan scored a first-half game winner to pace Vancouver to victory. The win avenged a 1-0 loss to the Thunder earlier this season at Swangard Stadium.

The 'Caps have been nearly flawless in their five road games to date, recording four wins and a tie, and no goals against! This was the third shutout in a row for goalkeeper Jay Nolly, who has yet to concede a goal for the Blue and White.

The start of the game was delayed nearly an hour due to a tornado warning. When it finally kicked off, Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson had made just one change to the starting XI that won 2-0 in Charleston on Wednesday night, as midfielder Tony Donatelli got the nod in place of Vicente Arze. Thunder head coach Amos Magee, meanwhile, made one change to the side that beat Miami FC Blues 3-1 last Saturday, with Tighe Dombrowski replacing Andrew Barron in the Thunder midfield. Former Whitecaps striker Alen Marcina was also included in the starting line-up against his former club.

Minnesota started brightly, knocking the ball around nicely. On nine minutes, Tighe Dombrowski got off a hard shot, which Nolly saved.

The Whitecaps were playing well off the ball, closing down the passing lanes and keeping the home side from building any momentum. Instead, it was Vancouver who began to take control of the game, as Whitecaps pressure on the ball started to translate into pressure on goal.

On 11 minutes, Vancouver forced a turnover, with Jordan breaking in on the right. He played it inside for Eduardo Sebrango, whose quick stabbing shot rang off the right post.

At the 20 minute mark, a corner kick from Justin Moose on the right found the head of the towering Omar Jarun, but the centre back's effort was powered just over the crossbar. On 33 minutes, a wide open Tony Donatelli had a similar chance on a cross from Martin Nash on the right, but he couldn't keep his header down either, as the Thunder fans breathed a sigh of relief.

There was no relief for the Thunder defence however, as the Whitecaps kept coming. Two minutes later, Jordan on the right turned his marker inside out, dropped it for Moose at the corner of the box, and his cross found Sebrango right in front of goal. As if to show his teammates how it should be done, the veteran striker snapped a downward header, but it went right into the arms of Thunder goalkeeper Nicolas Platter, who was well positioned to save.

The Vancouver pressure eventually paid off, as Minnesota were hit on a quick break late in the half. With 41 minutes on the clock, Lyle Martin at right fullback fired a low ball up the middle to Sebrango and he redirected it ahead, where Moose and Jordan were breaking. It ran to Moose on the right, who took it into the box and then slipped it inside to Jordan, and the 'Caps veteran calmly controlled it before firing home from eight yards out.

The Thunder pressed for a quick reply, but the Whitecaps weathered the storm with no damage done, and made it to halftime leading 1-0.

To start the second half, Thordarson brought on the fresh legs of Nicholas Addlery to replace Jordan, while Vicente Arze came on for Donatelli.

For their part, the Thunder pushed forward looking for an equalizer but could make little headway against the well-organized Whitecaps defence. Minnesota's best moments came from tricky Jamaican left winger Stephen deRoux, who often had to be double-teamed. But on the occasions when deRoux was able to set up a teammate for a shot, it either went a wide, or a 'Caps player was there to block the effort.

Minnesota's other main threat was the aerial menace of six-foot-five defender Kevin Taylor, who came forward at every opportunity, as the minutes counted down. Taylor tested Nolly with a weak header on minute 78, and eight minutes later , sent another effort from a good position looping over the crossbar.

At the other end, it was Addlery who came closest to netting an insurance goal for the Whitecaps, as Vancouver hit Minnesota on the break. Addlery was denied by Platter on a low blast from the edge of the area on minute 77, and eight minutes later, the former DC United hit-man had an opportunistic volley deflected just wide by a Thunder defender.

The game's final chance came from the head of Taylor four minutes into injury time, but it lacked power and Nolly dove comfortably to his right to make the save. Minnesota had a 10-2 edge in shots in the second half, but the Vancouver goal was rarely in serious danger.


The Whitecaps finished as deserving winners, as they continue to dominate on the road.

With a record now of 6-2-1, the 'Caps move into top spot of the USL First Division with 19 points, two more than the 5-2-2 Charleston Battery. Minnesota fall to 4-3-1 for 13 points to sit tied for fourth place.

The Whitecaps now return home for a Saturday rematch with the Portland Timbers, who are looking to avenge last Saturday's 1-0 home loss to Vancouver. The challenge for the 'Caps is to now try and reproduce their sparkling road form at Swangard Stadium, where recent results have so been mixed. Minnesota, meanwhile, will head to the Pacific Northwest for games with Portland on Thursday and Seattle Sounders on Saturday.

Goal Summary:
41' – VAN 1-0 - Jason Jordan (Justin Moose)
Lyle Martin out of the back fired a low ball up-field, which Eduardo Sebrango redirected to Justin Moose, breaking on the right. The tricky midfielder took it into the box, then slipped the ball inside to Jordan, who took a touch before rifling it in from eight yards for his second goal of the season.

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 7 – Minnesota 19
Saves: Vancouver 3 – Minnesota 4
Fouls: Vancouver 9 – Minnesota 9
Offsides: Vancouver 1 – Minnesota 2
Corners: Vancouver 1 – Minnesota 6

Cautions:
Vancouver: Steve Kindel 68'
Minnesota: Kevin Friedland 45', Ricardo Sanchez, 86', Frederico Moojen 90'

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Jay Nolly; 15.Omar Jarun, 19.Chris Pozniak, 24.Lyle Martin, 28.Diaz Kambere; 7.Martin Nash, 8.Steve Kindel (27.Stefan Leslie 90'), 14.Tony Donatelli (23.Vicente Arze 45'), 25.Justin Moose (9.Alfredo Valente 67'); 16.Eduardo Sebrango, 26.Jason Jordan (11.Nicholas Addlery 45')

Subs not used: 77.Srdjan Djekanovic, 13.Mason Webb, 20.Dever Orgill

Minnesota Thunder
12.Nicolas Platter; 28.John Greenfield, 5.Kevin Taylor, 17.Stephen deRoux, 6.Kevin Friedland; 8.Luchi Gonzalez, 22.Jeremiah Bass (18.Andy Barron 80'), 24.Tighe Dombrowski, 10.Ricardo Sanchez (14.Leo Gibson 67'); 2.Melvin Tarley (23. Frederico Moojen 58'), 11.Alen Marcina (9.Aaron Paye 58')

Subs not used: 1.Matt Van Oekel, 19.Brian Kallman, 13.Dayton O'Brien