Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency claimed a dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over San Fernando Valley Quakes in their USL Premier Development League playoff contest on Saturday.

After finishing second in their inaugural PDL Western Conference Northwest Division regular season campaign, Thomas Niendorf's young side made the trip south to Fresno, California, for their conference semifinal meeting with the Southwest Division winners at Chukchansi Park.

Randy Edwini-Bonsu's season-saving equalizer deep into second-half stoppage time was followed by his winner in the second period of extra time. Substitute Drew Russell then sealed Vancouver's passage to Sunday's conference final with a well-taken third goal.

Residency assistant coach Steve Meadley, who was deputizing for the absent Niendorf in Fresno, included men's first-team players Stefan Leslie and Mason Webb in his starting XI, while Navid Mashinchi also earned a start after appearing for the 'Caps first team in Wednesday's 1-1 draw at home to USL First Division leaders Charleston Battery.

In the late afternoon sunshine in Fresno, it was the Whitecaps that looked to test Quakes goalkeeper Kevin Guppy, with PDL All-Western Conference selection Gagandeep Dosanjh shooting just wide of the target on four minutes.

Alex Semenets then brought a save out of Guppy on 25 minutes before Edwini-Bonsu was unfortunate to miss the target from six yards out on 28 minutes.

Residency goalkeeper Simon Thomas then needed to save well from San Fernando Valley forward Devin Deldo on 38 minutes, while Edwini-Bonsu clipped the post with a shot at the other end a minute later, as both sides went to the break at 0-0.

The early stages of the second half saw Deldo and Diego Barrera miss opportunities for the Quakes, who looked the stronger side after halftime.

Deldo had further chances that he squandered midway through the half before Ferguson Agwa went even closer for the Quakes when he hit the post on 75 minutes. However, the San Fernando Valley midfielder would not be denied seven minutes later.

After Thomas stopped Deldo's initial shot on goal, Agwa pounced on the rebound to finish and give the Quakes what looked to be the game-winning goal.

On 84 minutes, however, Agwa turned from hero to goat, as he was issued a straight red card for stamping on Dosanjh.

With ten men, San Fernando Valley seemingly looked like they would get through the lengthy stoppage time and advance. The Quakes, however, did not count on Edwini-Bonsu, as his left-foot strike in four minutes of time added on flew past Guppy to give the Whitecaps the lifeline of extra time.

Full of confidence, the Whitecaps settled the semi in the second period of extra time. Edwini-Bonsu was on hand again to strike another left-footed shot home on 110 minutes for the match-winner. That was followed six minutes later by substitute Russell, as the young Iowa native beat two Quakes players before striking a fine shot into the top corner of Guppy's goal for a 3-1 final.


Whitecaps Residency will now advance to Sunday's PDL Western Conference playoff final, where they meet Northwest Division rivals Tacoma Tide for the third time this season at Chukchansi Park. Tacoma advanced to the final after a convincing 3-0 win over tournament hosts Fresno Fuego on Saturday evening. Daniel Scott, Spencer Schomaker, and Chase Tangney all found the scoresheet for the Washington State outfit.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC have announced that they will pursue one of two Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchises set to be added to the league by 2011. Fans are encouraged to visit whitecapsfc.com/mls to register their support for a Whitecaps MLS franchise and help show the rest of North America what Vancouver and British Columbia have to offer.

Goal Summaries:
SFV - Ferguson Agwa (Devin Deldo) 82'
VAN - Randy Edwini-Bonsu 90+4'
VAN - Randy Edwini-Bonsu 110'
VAN - Drew Russell 116'

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 21 – San Fernando Valley 18
Saves: Vancouver 7 – San Fernando Valley 7
Fouls: Vancouver 5 – San Fernando Valley 8
Offsides: Vancouver 0 – San Fernando Valley 1
Corners: Vancouver – San Fernando Valley

Cautions:
Vancouver: Stefan Leslie 65', Philippe Davies 69', Gagandeep Dosanjh 86', Drew Russell 114', Sahil Sandhu 118'
San Fernando Valley: Chad Borak 72', Matt Tracy 104'

Ejections:
Vancouver: none
San Fernando Valley: Ferguson Agwa 84'

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
1.Simon Thomas; 3.Navid Mashinchi (18.Drew Russell 90'), 5.Anthony DiNicolo, 15.Antonio Rago, 27.Stefan Leslie; 6.Ethan Gage, 17.Alex Semenets (35.Sahil Sandhu 77'), 34.Mason Webb (33.Nick Webb 60'); 8.Philippe Davies (16.Marcus Johnstone ET), 9.Randy Edwini-Bonsu, 14.Gagandeep Dosanjh

Subs not used: 12.Karm Shergill

San Fernando Valley Quakes
18.Kevin Guppy; 3.Robert Pate, 8.Chad Borak, 12.Matthew Tracy, 17.Jose Esquivel; 10.Diego Barrera, 14.Sung-Hyun Kim, 20.Ferguson Agwa, 23.Taylor Canel; 21.Devin Deldo, 23.Jason Leopoldo

Subs not used: 1.Rod Lafaurie, 11.Josh Ault, 15.Garrett Maloney, 25.Edson Ospina