Match Report:

By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com

A Christine Sinclair-inspired Vancouver Whitecaps women's side downed rivals Seattle Sounders 3-1 on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Swangard Stadium.

Sinclair, who was making a special one-game cameo for the 'Caps, scored two goals, including an 87th minute winner. Finnish international striker Sanna Talonen, making her Swangard debut, had an injury-time insurance goal and set up Sinclair's winner. Midfielder Sophie Schmidt had two assists in a game in which the Whitecaps finished strong with two late goals after Seattle had equalized on a second-half penalty kick from Lisa Sari.

The Whitecaps fielded a multi-national attacking trio, with Sinclair partnering Talonen and American star Tiffeny Milbrett in a 4-3-3 formation. The home fans also welcomed former German youth international Katrin Schmidt, who started at left fullback in her first game in a Whitecaps uniform. On the other flank, youngster Rheanne Sleiman got her first start in nearly two years, somewhat unexpectedly at fullback for a player better known as an attacker.

Sinclair's surprise addition to the Whitecaps roster was bad news for Sounders head coach Teddy Mitalas. "I read it in the Vancouver paper yesterday," he said, "we had set up our team to mark up Tiffeny, and when we found Sinclair was here, we knew we were going to be in some trouble."

It was all Whitecaps in the early going, with Vancouver attacking in waves to keep Seattle pinned in their own end. On four minutes, from a corner kick, Sinclair sent a header off the right post. A minute later, Zurrer then had a goal called back after Talonen hit the post, with the Finnish striker being called offside. Two minutes after that, Talonen broke in on goal, but was stopped by Seattle goalkeeper Kati Hutlin.

Seattle chances were few and far between in the first half. Their only shot on goal came on minute 19, as Annie Schefter fired a hard shot from the top of the area, but Whitecaps goalkeeper Justine Bernier was in good position to make the grab.

At the other end, the woodwork came to Seattle's rescue again, as on 23 minutes, Selenia Iacchelli hit a screaming 30-yard half-volley that slammed against the right post.

Vancouver finally found the opening goal on 25 minutes, and predictably enough, it was Sinclair who scored. Sophie Schmidt in midfield chipped it ahead to Sinclair, who got behind the last defender and then lifted it past Hutlin from 19 yards out.

Whitecaps head coach Bob Birarda was a little surprised that this new line-up had come together so quickly, and credited Sinclair's presence, "when you have Sinclair up front making those kind of moves, it's pretty clear to everyone else how to run off of that, and I think everybody took some confidence from who was on the park tonight."

New addition Katrin Schmidt had an impressive debut, and came close to extending the lead on 34 minutes, as she curled a shot just over the bar from the top of the area with the goalkeeper at her mercy.

Milbrett was also a threat. Late in the half, she tested Hutlin with a first-time shot, and then with a minute to go before the break, she unleashed a first-time drive from 25-yards that slammed into the junction of the crossbar and post.

It was 1-0 at the half, a scoreline that flattered the Sounders.

The second half started more slowly, but the Whitecaps continued to carve out chances. Hutlin did well to stop a shot from Milbrett on minute 57, then denied Talonen's off-balance shot five minutes later, and Milbrett again moments later from in close.

Defensive errors have been a frequent problem for this young Whitecaps squad, and this game would prove no exception. On minute 70, Sleiman played a soft pass back to Bernier, and speedy Sounders winger Temeka Sumter intercepted. Sumter, who had just entered the game minutes earlier, was taken down in the box by the Whitecaps keeper before referee Marco Arrudo pointed to the penalty spot. Sari took the penalty kick and scored to make it 1-1.

Suddenly it was level, and with the Whitecaps looking shaky, Seattle went for the win. On minute 74, Sari hit the top of the crossbar with a free kick, and a minute later, an unmarked Sumter headed over from right in front.

"After their goal, we certainly had a three or four minute-mental collapse and gave them a couple of chances," said Birarda, "but I was really pleased by the response to go back at them and finish the game off."

In the final ten minutes, the Whitecaps kicked it up a gear, and it was Sinclair who led the way. First, she teed a chance up for Milbrett before the former USA international blasted just wide. Then on minute 84, Sinclair's change of pace took her past the last Sounders defender, who seemingly took her down in the box. Referee Arrudo, however, waved play on before booking an outraged Sinclair for arguing the decision.

Anger soon turned to joy, as on minute 87, Sinclair got on the end of a pass from Talonen on the edge of the area before bursting between two Seattle defenders and firing the ball past Hutlin from 14 yards. A minute later, Sinclair hit the crossbar with a powerful header off a Milbrett corner. It was the fourth time that Vancouver had hit the woodwork in the game.

Talonen rounded out the scoring in the second minute of injury time. Schmidt played a superb forward pass over the top to the Finnish striker, who took it in her stride as she raced through the box and slotted it past a hapless Hutlin.

"The players we had up front today are phenomenal world-class strikers," said Schmidt, "and I knew they could get on the end of any ball I put out there, so I just tried to make it the best one I could."


The importance of the win was not lost on Birarda, who hopes Sinclair's impact will have a lasting influence on his young players. "To see Sinclair's response today in getting the yellow card and get angry and really want to compete for the club is something that sends a big message to the rest of these players. They see that this is important, that this is a big deal for everybody," he said. "So I think they can take a lot from that and go away and see if they can't keep it going for us."

The Whitecaps will now head out on the road for a pivotal three-game road trip to southern California. With assistant coach Marc Rizzardo taking charge for the absent Birarda, Vancouver begin their road trip with a visit to the winless Los Angeles Legends on Wednesday. Seattle, meanwhile, will head to Colorado this week for their away meetings with Real Colorado Cougars on Wednesday and Fort Collins Force on Friday.

Scoring Summaries:
25' 1-0 Christine Sinclair (Sophie Schmidt)
Schmidt in midfield chipped the ball ahead to Sinclair, who timed her run well and was in alone. From the edge of the area, Sinclair first-timed her finish over Sounders goalkeeper Kati Hutlin and into the net.

71' 1-1 Lisa Sari (PK)
After Temeka Sumter was taken down in the box by Whitecaps goalkeeper Justine Bernier, Sari punished the home side with a well-taken spot kick.

87' 2-1 Christine Sinclair (Sanna Talonen)
Talonen flicked the ball to Sinclair, as she raced into the box. The Canadian national team captain sliced between two Seattle defenders before firing past Hutlin for her second goal of the game.

90'+ 3-1 Sanna Talonen (Sophie Schmidt)
Schmidt played a superb forward ball over the top to Talonen, who took one touch to control it in the box, take it past the last Seattle defender and wide of Hutlin before slotting it home for her first-ever Whitecaps goal.

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 22 – Seattle 8
Saves: Vancouver 3 – Seattle 6
Fouls: Vancouver 16 – Seattle 6
Offsides: Vancouver 3 – Seattle 3
Corners: Vancouver 9 – Seattle 1

Cautions:
Vancouver: Bernier 70', Zurrer 74', Sinclair 84'
Seattle: none

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
26.Justine Bernier; 10.Katrin Schmidt, 2.Emily Zurrer, 6.Myriam Bouchard, 20.Rheanne Sleiman; 11.Selenia Iacchelli, 16.Sophie Schmidt, 21.Paige Adams (7.Rosalyn Hicks 75'); 25.Tiffeny Milbrett, 4.Christine Sinclair, 14.Sanna Talonen

Subs not used: 27.Sian Bagshawe, 17.Eden Hingwing, 18.Chelsea Stang, 19.Anoop Josan, 12.Mallory Outerbridge, 29.Kirsteen Buchan

Seattle Sounders
31.Kati Hutlin; 15.Shannon Lovejoy, 21.Kate Warner, 22.Beth Drollinger (3.MaryAnn Boddy 61'), 23.Kelli Smith; 5.Kara Hamby (25.Amy Carnell 89'), 9.Tafara Pulse, 10.Annie Schefter, 11.Lisa Sari; 2.Chalise Baysa (8.Arica Slawson 88'), 20.Dani Bridges (7.Temeka Sumter 66')

Subs not used: 30.Jessica Salvi, 4.Stacey Sorry