Residency draw 3-3 with Frankfurt

March 19, 2008

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency played out an eventful 3-3 draw with German club Eintracht Frankfurt at Dallas Cup XXIX on Wednesday.

Following a 1-0 defeat to Benfica and a 2-2 draw with Chivas Guadalajara in their first two Bracket C games, Thomas Niendorf's side were hoping to claim their first tournament win at Dallas' Richland College. Instead, Whitecaps Residency had to come from behind on two occasions to earn a draw on a very windy midweek afternoon in Texas.

Vancouver had two great opportunities to take the lead in the first five minutes of the match, but strike partners Randy Edwini-Bonsu and Dever Orgill were unable to take advantage of their one-on-one opportunities against the Eintracht goalkeeper. Frankfurt then made their Canadian opponents pay for those missed chances when it took the lead on 11 minutes before quickly doubling their advantage with a 17th-minute penalty.

Though they were two goals down, the Whitecaps worked their way back into Wednesday's contest when Residency striker Orgill made it 2-1 five minutes before halftime.

The Jamaican youth international was causing his German counterparts plenty of problems throughout the game, and after eluding three Frankfurt markers in a run towards goal, the Caribbean youngster was pulled down in the Eintracht box for a Whitecaps penalty. Though he was only on the pitch a few minutes, substitute Philippe Davies converted the spot kick to make it 2-2 on 58 minutes.

With the wind at their backs, the Whitecaps looked to be turning the game in their favour, but Eintracht had other ideas after regaining the lead on 78 minutes with a counter-attack move. The lead was short-lived, however, as Kyle Porter scrambled home the Residency team's third goal of the game two minutes later.

The Whitecaps were then reduced to ten men after Orgill was red carded following an altercation with an Eintracht defender, but being a man short would not deter the Residency squad from seeking a winning goal. Midfielder Devin Gunenc came ever so close to scoring in the dying stages, but Frankfurt were able to make a decisive goal-line clearance and hold on for a 3-3 draw.

"Overall, it was a hard-fought game," Niendorf said of Wednesday's game to whitecapsfc.com. "In the first half, we had a tough time getting things going, as we were playing against a strong wind and a very organized Eintracht Frankfurt team, are one of top teams in the U-19 Junior Bundesliga. It took us a half to adjust and get into the game. We made a few changes at halftime, and with the wind on our side, we managed to get control of the contest."

The result saw both teams finish Bracket C with two draws and a defeat from their three group games. The Residency team will remain in Dallas before flying home to Vancouver on Easter Monday.

Whitecaps FC Residency - line-up v Eintracht Frankfurt (Dallas Cup XXIX)
Simon Thomas; Greg Smith (Antonio Rago 45'), Adam Straith, Anthony DiNicolo, Navid Mashinchi (William Hyde 45'); Kyle Porter (Drew Russell 83'), Devin Gunenc, Gagandeep Dosanjh (Philippe Davies 55'), Alex Semenets (Marcus Johnstone 77'); Randy Edwini-Bonsu, Dever Orgill

Subs not used: Karm Shergill, Ethan Gage

To view the latest news and features from the Whitecaps Residency's trip to Dallas Cup XXIX – including tournament blogs from defender Adam Straith - please CLICK HERE for our special Dallas Cup page.

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