By Bob Mackin
BURNABY, B.C. – The Vancouver Whitecaps ended 274 consecutive minutes of scoreless soccer on Saturday but prolonged their shutout streak when they beat the Rochester Rhinos 2-0 in a United States Soccer Federation Division 2 game.
Rookie Cornelius Stewart scored in the 17th minute with an assist from Marcus Haber. It was the first Vancouver goal since Nelson Akwari’s marker in an April 29 loss in Portland to the Timbers.
Defender Greg Janicki doubled the lead in the 52nd minute when he headed in a Martin Nash corner kick. Vancouver goalkeeper Jay Nolly had his sixth shutout in seven 2010 matches.
“We played a decent game, it wasn’t the best, but we’re happy with the win,” said Whitecaps’ coach Teitur Thordarson. “Two good goals and a clean sheet. We had opportunities to score more.”
Stewart, a 19-year-old from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, made his debut a week earlier against the Montreal Impact.
“I came out today with confidence, to just run at defenders, do what my coach wanted me to do,” Stewart said. “In the end I got a goal and I’m so happy about that.”
The game marked the return to Vancouver of Rochester coach Bob Lilley, the Whitecaps’ coach from 2005 to 2007. In 2006, the Whitecaps were United Soccer Leagues’ First Division champions for the first time. Thordarson replaced Lilley in 2008 and also won a championship
The Whitecaps visit Montreal for the penultimate match in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship series. A win will keep Vancouver a contender in the qualifier for the CONCACAF Champions League. The Caps’ next league match is May 29 in Rochester.
