Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps men came from a goal down to earn a 1-1 home draw with Carolina RailHawks on Sunday evening.

In the first meeting between the two USL First Division clubs this year, there was nothing to separate either side in the weekend encounter at Swangard Stadium, despite an exchange of late goals. Daniel Antoniuk gave Carolina the lead late in the second half before Eduardo Sebrango's fifth goal of the season made sure the points were shared amongst the two league combatants.

The Whitecaps will be disappointed not to have claimed the victory over the North Carolina outfit, as their attacking endeavour failed to produce the goals that the home side so desired. For Carolina, Sunday's draw meant they remained undefeated in three all-time meetings with Vancouver, with the RailHawks having joined USL-1 as an expansion club back in 2007. The result also took the Whitecaps winless run in the league to four games.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made two changes to the side that started last Wednesday's Nutrilite Canadian Championship draw with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. Srdjan Djekanovic returned to the starting line-up in goal, having last started for the Blue & White on May 23 when the 'Caps lost 2-0 at home to Seattle Sounders. Also making a start against the RailHawks was Bolivian winger Vicente Arze, as he replaced Alfredo Valente in the midfield.

Carolina head coach Scott Schweitzer was forced into one change for Sunday's contest. Kupono Low replaced the suspended Martin Nunez, with the Uruguayan forward missing out on the game in Vancouver after being sent off in Friday's 2-2 draw at Minnesota Thunder.

On a hot and sunny summer's evening on the Lower Mainland, a Swangard crowd of 4,989 saw the Whitecaps play plenty of good attacking soccer in the first half, but struggle to turn their forward play into goals.

Vancouver's intent to attack Carolina was seen as early as the third minute, as striker Nicholas Addlery headed Steve Kindel's cross over the RailHawks crossbar, though the play was blown down for an offside decision against the 'Caps. Two minutes later, the visitors had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Mathieu Bourdeau after Antoniuk went down under the challenge of Lyle Martin in the Whitecaps box.

On nine minutes, Kindel was next to head the ball wide of the Carolina goal from Justin Moose's cross before the home side created an even better opportunity for Addlery seven minutes later. The Jamaican forward eluded RailHawks defender Chad Dombrowski to a forward ball before racing into the Carolina box. With a clear sight at goal and strike partner Sebrango open to his left, Addlery looked to have the bright late evening sunshine in his eyes, as the former DC United man opted to cross the ball – likely thinking that Sebrango was at the far post.

On 24 minutes, Arze caused a scare in the Carolina box when he flicked Moose's corner from the left just wide of the far post before the RailHawks created their best chance of the half five minutes later. Santiago Fusilier's cross from the right flew across the face of Djekanovic's goal and found Steven Curfman at the far post. Thankfully for the home side, the midfielder's goal-bound shot was blocked away at close range.

Carolina goalkeeper Chris McClellan had been kept on his toes for much of the opening half, but his first real save came on the half-hour mark, as he did well to deny Arze's driven strike from the edge of the visitors' box before easily saving Sebrango's header two minutes later.

On the other side, Vancouver fullback Martin made numerous runs down the right flank in the first half, and on 41 minutes, the speedy Californian forced a fine sliding challenge from Dombrowski, as he blocked out Martin's low cross into the Carolina box.

Despite not creating many opportunities before the break, new RailHawks acquisition Hamed Diallo caused a bit of a scare in the Whitecaps box when he knocked Low's corner over Djekanovic's crossbar before both sides went to their respective dressing rooms in a 0-0 halftime draw.

The second half saw the Whitecaps press forward some more, while Carolina showed more bite to their attacking play after the restart.

On 51 minutes, Diallo headed Curfman's corner from the left over the Vancouver crossbar before RailHawks keeper McClellan made a mess of Martin Nash's corner into the Carolina box four minutes later, as Fusilier had to clear the loose ball off his own goal line.

Whitecaps fans were then disappointed to see Sebrango's header hit the Carolina post on 57 minutes after Arze found the Cuban hit-man with his cross. Two minutes later, the RailHawks were awarded a dangerous free kick after centre back Jeff Clarke had fouled Antoniuk near the edge of the Vancouver box. Curfman struck the set-piece, but his effort flew straight into the arms of Djekanovic on the Whitecaps goal line.

The home side continued to take the attacking initiative, but Arze was unable to find the target with a shot on 66 minutes after Carolina failed to clear Moose's free kick from the right. Then after entering the game for Addlery, substitute Charles Gbeke acrobatically struck Takashi Hirano's cross from the left wide of goal on 70 minutes.

With the goalless stalemate reaching the latter stages, Carolina stunned the home crowd with the opening goal on 74 minutes. Antoniuk got on the end of Diallo's forward header before eluding the attentions of Whitecaps defender Omar Jarun in the Vancouver box. His first-time finish flew past Djekanovic to make it 1-0 to the RailHawks. "The goal we gave up was unlucky, as I thought we dominated the game," Djekanovic said after the game. "The Carolina keeper made some good saves tonight, though I thought we were unlucky not to get the three points. Hopefully, after our short break, we can come back and make that push for first place."

Carolina's advantage, however, lasted just one minute. Nash's searching volley allowed Sebrango to make a free run in on McClellan. As the Carolina keeper came out to close the angle down, the Whitecaps striker neatly clipped the ball over McClellan and into the net for 1-1.

The goals livened the game up for the final stages, with Carolina having another great chance to score a second goal, but an unmarked Matt Watson saw his shot roll wide of the target. At the other end on 83 minutes, Nash's throw into the Carolina box forced RailHawks defender David Stokes to clear the loose ball over the crossbar from near his own goal line.

One player that made a late appearance for Vancouver was new signing Wesley Charles. The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international enjoyed his brief debut for his new club. "I can see that the boys here are good footballers," he told whitecapsfc.com. "I hope to bring my experience and help the guys around me. My aim is to try my best, so fingers crossed that I can help the team and that we do the business at the end of the season."

The game remained well poised in the dying stages, with either side looking capable of taking all three points. The best opportunity before the final whistle fell to Carolina midfielder Watson, but his run and shot flew wide of goal, as the contest ended in a 1-1 draw.


For Schweitzer, Sunday's draw was brought about by the hard work of his Carolina players. "We did what we needed to do tonight," Schweitzer said. "To get the point here in Vancouver is phenomenal for us, considering the parity in the league right now. We would have loved to get the three points, but we'll take the tie. For us to come in here and play a team that was waiting for us after the trip we made to get here, it showed the guts that our team had tonight."

Thordarson was again left to ponder how his side did not convert their many goalscoring opportunities. "I'm disappointed not to get all three points because I felt we had some good chances and that we deserved to win," he told reporters after the game. "In the first half, I didn't feel we got control of the midfield play as I wanted, but I felt that aspect of our game was better in the second half. After falling behind by one goal, I guess we just have to be happy at getting one point out of this game, though I thought we were the better team."

The Whitecaps will now take a well-deserved break of 10 days before returning to USL-1 action on Wednesday, July 23, when they host league leaders Charleston Battery at Swangard. Carolina, meanwhile, return home to prepare for the visit of the in-form Puerto Rico Islanders on Friday evening.

Scoring Summaries:
CAR - Daniel Antoniuk (Hamed Diallo) 74'
Daniel Antoniuk got on the end of Hamed Diallo's forward header before eluding the attentions of Whitecaps defender Omar Jarun in the Vancouver box. His first-time finish flew past goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic to make it 1-0 to the RailHawks.

VAN - Eduardo Sebrango (Martin Nash) 75'
Martin Nash's searching volley allowed Sebrango to make a free run in on Chris McClellan. As the Carolina keeper came out to close the angle down, the Whitecaps striker neatly clipped the ball over McClellan and into the net for 1-1.

Cautions:
Vancouver: Jeff Clarke 63', Alfredo Valente 90+'
Carolina: Dan Antonuik 18', Chad Dombrowski 65'

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 11 - Carolina 8
Saves: Vancouver 1 - Carolina 2
Fouls: Vancouver 17 - Carolina 17
Offsides: Vancouver 3 - Carolina 2
Corners: Vancouver 7 - Carolina 3

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
77.Srdjan Djekanovic; 2.Jeff Clarke, 15.Omar Jarun (9.Alfredo Valente 90+'), 22.Takashi Hirano, 24.Lyle Martin; 7.Martin Nash, 8.Steve Kindel, 23.Vicente Arze, 25.Justin Moose (4.Wesley Charles 83'); 11.Nicholas Addlery (98.Charles Gbeke 66'), 16.Eduardo Sebrango

Subs not used: 1.Jay Nolly, 5.Luca Bellisomo, 26.Jason Jordan, 27.Stefan Leslie, 28.Diaz Kambere

Carolina RailHawks
0.Chris McClellan; 2.David Stokes, 23.Chad Dombrowski, 3.Kupono Low, 18.Chris Lemons; 16.Steven Curfman (25.Phil Long 66'), 21.Santiago Fusilier, 12.Ryan Solle, 17.Matt Watson; 19.Hamed Diallo (4.Richard Perdomo 90+'), 22.Daniel Antoniuk (14.Caleb Norkus 84')

Subs not used: 1.Brian Levey, 5.David Lilly, 6.Nathan Zuzga, 10.Connally Edozien