Marc Weber
JJ's one back of Catliff's club record for career goals
The Jason Jordan of old might be back, and that's great news for a Vancouver Whitecaps team looking for new results up front.
Jordan, the USL-1 MVP in 2005 after scoring 17 times in 27 games, endured two painful, unproductive seasons after the accolade because of a nagging big toe injury that required two surgeries.
He considered retirement but signed on for a 12th season in February. It's a move that is starting to pay off. Jordan scored the game-winning goal in the Whitecaps' last two wins -- 2-0 at Charleston and 1-0 at Minnesota -- and will start again Saturday at home to Portland.
"I'm starting to feel like a soccer player again," said the 30-year-old Richmond resident, whose 78 strikes are one back of John Catliff for second on the club's career goals list.
"When you're injured for so long you don't really feel like you can get back into the swing of things, but this road trip helped out."
The Caps went 3-0-0 on the road trip to move into first place in USL-1, with Jordan, not Nick Addlery, starting in partnership with Eddy Sebrango.
Head coach Teitur Thordarson made the switch because, despite dominating in attacking time, finishing was becoming an issue.
Six matches into league play, Sebrango had all three of the team's goals. "Nick has not been doing poorly," said Thordarson, "but JJ's maybe a little bit more dangerous in the opposition's box.
"We want to score more goals and it's just a matter of being a little better in certain situations."
Close to pain free, Jordan says it's now about getting his fitness back, though he's surprised to even be in this position.
"I didn't think I would [be starting again]," he admitted. "I was ready to do anything that they asked me to do.
"I don't think I was ready yet [at the start of the season]. It's been nice to gradually get back into it and hopefully by August I'll be flying out there.
© The Vancouver Province 2008
