Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps began their four-game road trip in fine style with a 2-1 victory at Miami FC Blues on Tuesday evening.

Eduardo Sebrango's team-leading seventh goal of the season was followed by a superb late winner from Alfredo Valente. The midfielder's second goal of the campaign came after the USL First Division's leading goalscorer in Alex Afonso had pulled Miami level in the second half at Tropical Park Stadium.

The result maintained Vancouver's 100 percent all-time record in south Florida, as the Whitecaps have won all five games that they have played against the Blues in Miami in club history.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made one change to the side that started last Saturday's 1-0 home win over Carolina RailHawks. Steve Kindel returned to the Vancouver midfield, as he replaced Justin Moose in the starting XI. His Blues counterpart in Brazilian World Cup winner Zinho also made one change to the side that started last Sunday's 3-0 home win over Atlanta Silverbacks, as midfielder John Pulido replaced defender Avery John.

On a pleasant evening for soccer, fans at Tropical Park were treated to an open first half of soccer, with plenty of chances seen at both ends. Action started as early as the third minute, with Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly needing to dive to his left to block Sean Fraser's low shot away for a corner.

Three minutes later, the Whitecaps responded with an effort from their captain Jeff Clarke, but his strike flew high and over the crossbar from near the edge of the Miami box before Fraser drilled a shot into the arms of Nolly at the other end moments later.

Vancouver's best chance of the half came on eight minutes, as Pulido had to clear Omar Jarun's looping header off his own goal line after the Whitecaps centre back connected with Martin Nash's throw into the Miami area. Two minutes later, Charles Gbeke tried an ambitious effort at goal from wide on the right-hand side that Blues goalkeeper Josh Saunders had to tip over his own crossbar for a corner.

The play was even but scrappy at times, with both sides trading chances again past the midway stage of the half. On 25 minutes, Afonso struck at shot at Nolly before Whitecaps fullback Luca Bellisomo struck an ambitious effort from long range that Saunders had to negotiate with a minute later.

On the half-hour mark, Gbeke had a glorious opportunity in the Miami box, but he was dispossessed by Blues defender Chris Williams just as he lined up to shoot. Five minutes later at the other end, Eric Vasquez hit a powerful shot right into the chest of Nolly, who held on to the ball with confidence.

On 37 minutes, Jarun received his fifth booking of the season when he conceded a foul on the edge of the Miami box, with the defender set to miss a league match as a result. The chance, however, was squandered by Miami defender Walter Ramirez, as his free-kick strike flew over Nolly's crossbar.

Three minutes later, Jarun conceded another free kick after fouling Afonso further out from the Vancouver box. Leo Inacio Nunes took the set-piece for the home side, but his effort flew into the welcoming arms of Nolly.

The closing stages of the half saw Eduardo Sebrango force Saunders into a fine save with a turn and shot from the edge of the area on 42 minutes, The Vancouver forward took possession of Gbeke's flick after Bellisomo launched a ball forward from the halfway line.

The half ended with Miami's Afonso and Vancouver's Nash trading chances, as both sides went to their dressing rooms deadlocked at 0-0.

Where the first half was a void of goals, the second half saw both teams get on the scoresheet.

Miami had chances soon after the restart, with Fraser firing a low shot that was saved by Nolly on 48 minutes before Ramirez was wayward with a strike from the left-hand side of the Whitecaps goal three minutes later.

Vancouver took the lead on 57 minutes. A good forward run into the right side of the Miami box by Bellisomo allowed the fullback to take Kindel's return pass before his low cross found Sebrango in front of goal, and the forward struck home his seventh league goal of the season for 1-0.

The goal brought another open spell of play at both ends, with Afonso having a headed goal ruled out for offside on 59 minutes before Nash sailed a free-kick effort over the Miami bar a minute later.

On 61 minutes, the Blues pulled level through the prolific Afonso. The Brazilian was presented with a simple close-range tap-in after Vasquez was able to get on the end of a Miami forward ball in acres of space on the right side of the Whitecaps box before crossing low into the South American's path.

It was proving to be an eventful midweek contest, as Vancouver were presented with a superb chance to restore their lead on 63 minutes. Kindel's cross to the far post found Gbeke, but his header flew across the face of the Blues goal – much to the striker's frustration.

The Whitecaps created more chances through Valente on 68 minutes and Sebrango a minute later, with the Cuban hit-man heading over the bar from about six yards out after Kindel's goal-bound shot bounced up off a Miami defender.

Then it was woodwork that denied both sides a second goal. Miami's Afonso hit the Vancouver post from Vasquez's cross on 71 minutes before Nash cannoned a long-range pile driver off the Miami crossbar a minute later.

With the match well poised in the dying stages, a cleverly taken free kick from Nash on the left-hand side found the feet of Valente on the edge of the Miami box. The midfielder turned towards goal and hit a sublime strike with the outside of his left foot past Saunders to make it 2-1 on 81 minutes. Thordarson was delighted with the quality of the game's winning goal. "It was really a fantastic goal that you only really see in big games and in big leagues, so well done from Nashy and well done from Freddy," he said to whitecapsfc.com.

There was plenty of passion on the teams' benches, with Zinho seeing his assistant Bruno Costa ejected from the game by the match officials just as Mason Trafford made his USL-1 debut when he replaced Valente on 85 minutes.

With the Whitecaps defending resolutely in the four minutes of stoppage time, substitute Nicholas Addlery had a great chance to seal victory when he broke away and in on Saunders from his own half. His initial shot was saved by the Miami number one, but as the ball spun up in the air, Kindel tried in vain to reach the rebound and knock it home.


It made no difference in the end, as the Whitecaps made it two wins in a row to go level on points with USL-1 leaders Charleston Battery, with a game in hand on their South Carolina rivals.

Thordarson was thoroughly delighted to claim three more points at Tropical Park. "I think it's a huge win," he said. "The heat down here in Miami is a major factor, but we dealt with it, and the win takes us back into first place, so that is very good. Though we had a good feeling that we were defending well, Miami were creating quite a lot of opportunities, even though many of them were more half chances. At the same time, we were dangerous every time we attacked them. I was a little unsure about how the team would react to Miami making it 1-1 in the second half, but I felt the team spirit really came through, as we took control of the game and went on to score the winner."

The former Iceland international striker was also pleased to extend the club's perfect record in Miami. "The record is a fantastic thing for us, as we have seen many teams come down here and struggle, especially in the heat," he said. "I feel that's a great thing for us to take on the rest of this road trip."

The Whitecaps now travel to Cary, North Carolina, for the third and final regular season meeting with the RailHawks on Friday evening. Miami, meanwhile, will take an extended break before playing the Silverbacks in Atlanta on Friday, August 8.

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.

Scoring Summaries:
VAN - Eduardo Sebrango (Luca Bellisomo) 57'
Luca Bellisomo made a fine run into the Miami box on the right side. After receiving a return pass from Steve Kindel, his low cross set up Eduardo Sebrango to strike home his seventh goal of the current USL-1 season.

MIA - Alex Afonso (Eric Vasquez) 61'
In acres of space on the right-hand side, Eric Vasquez slipped a fine low cross into the path of Alex Afonso, with the Brazilian striking home his league-leading 10th goal of the season.

VAN - Alfredo Valente (Martin Nash) 81'
A cleverly taken free kick by Martin Nash on the left side found the feet of Alfredo Valente on the edge of the Miami box. With space and time, the midfielder turned and struck a sublime shot with the outside of his left foot that flew past Blues goalkeeper Josh Saunders for the game's winning goal.

Cautions:
Miami: Alex Afonso 41', Willie Sims 88'
Vancouver: Martin Nash 20’, Omar Jarun 36’

Match Stats:
Shots: Miami 15 - Vancouver 13
Saves: Miami 3 - Vancouver 8
Fouls: Miami 5 - Vancouver 16
Offsides: Miami 5 - Vancouver 1
Corners: Miami 7 - Vancouver 5

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Jay Nolly; 4.Wesley Charles, 6.Luca Bellisomo, 15.Omar Jarun (23.Vicente Arze 57'), 22.Takashi Hirano; 2.Jeff Clarke, 7.Martin Nash, 8.Steve Kindel, 9.Alfredo Valente (18.Mason Trafford 85'); 16.Eduardo Sebrango (11.Nicholas Addlery 77'), 98.Charles Gbeke (26.Jason Jordan 66')

Subs not used: 77.Srdjan Djekanovic, 29.Admir Salihovic

Miami FC Blues
1. Josh Saunders; 3.Chris Williams, 15.Cauê da Mata (18.Nico Mosquera 83'), 21.Walter Ramirez, 24.Eric Brunner; 8.John Pulido (19.Juan Pablo Galavis 89'),10.Leonardo Nunes (27.Ricardo Cavalcante 74'), 11.Eric Vasquez, 14.Jarryd Goldberg (5. Bruno Menezes 63'); 7.Sean Fraser (22.Willie Sims 77'), 9.Alex Afonso

Subs not used: 12.Sam Reynolds, 20.Luis Calix