|
|
Vancouver Tops Canadian Championship Table With TFC Win
The Vancouver Whitecaps inched one step closer to securing a spot in the CONCACAF Champions’ League in an impressive 2-0 victory over Toronto FC at Swangard.
Jun 3, 2009 2:09:19 AM
Toronto FC entered the Nutrilite Canadian Championship match against the Vancouver Whitecaps with the hopes of wrapping up a birth in the CONCACAF Champions League, needing only one point to represent Canada in the international competition. Vancouver, after two victories against the Montreal Impact, intended to extend keep its hopes alive with a victory at home at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, British Colombia.
First Half
Both teams started the match with energy and purpose as various chances were witnessed by each side, however none materialized into a goal.
The 25th caused a scare for Toronto as Danny Dichio, who recovered from a concussion over the off-season, butt heads with defender Lyle Martin. Dichio laid on the pitch for a few minutes but recovered and continued.
Half an hour in, Ansu Toure for Vancouver made an impressive run down the middle of the field and let a shot go from 20 yards out, just missing the left post. As redemption, he followed up this opportunity with a goal in the 31st minute. A Wes Knight shot was stopped by 'keeper Gregg Sutton, who deflected the ball to an open Toure on the left. The Liberian deposited the ball into the open side, 1-0 Vancouver.
In the 35th minute, Chad Barrett attempted a cross which caused trouble for Vancouver 'keeper Jay Nolly. He curled the ball close to the goal forcing the goal-guardian to push it off the line and out for a corner, which did not prove fruitful for Toronto.
Dwayne De Rosario had a glorious opportunity to equalize as he went in on goal and chipped the 'keeper, but the Whitecaps defense recovered and pushed the ball off the line. Soon after, Pablo Vitti was sent in by Barrett, blasting the ball past Nolly, but his shot hit the post.
Toronto continued to push, keeping play in the Whitecaps half for the remainder of the entertaining first 45. The half ended with 12 total shots, seven for Toronto and five for Vancouver with the home side up 1-0.
Second Half
Both teams came out flying in the second with Vancouver pressing early. Vancouver’s Charles Gbeke streaked down the pitch on the right side of the box, but rookie Attakora-Gyan recovered well to stop the Whitecaps’ forward. Minutes later, De Rosario crossed a great ball from 30 yards out on a free-kick, finding the head of Barrett in the box, but Nolly made an excellent save to maintain the lead.
Martin had an opportunity to increase the Whitecaps’ lead in the 62nd, taking a drop pass from Knight, but his weak shot was easy for Sutton to stop.
Gbeke, who had a strong match from start to finish, made a great turn on Attakora-Gyan and rushed in on goal in the 69th, but his shot sailed over the Toronto goal. A minute later, Haber thought he was in clear but defender Serioux did well to get back and win the ball for TFC.
The score line set up an interesting final 15 minutes as Toronto looked for the equalizer.
Dichio had two opportunities from at least 12 yards out, but both of his shots were blocked by Whitecap defenders. Then De Rosario from 20 yards out in the 77th took a hard shot, but Nolly saw it the entire way through, diving to his right to make the save.
Vitti had a chance from 16 yards out two minutes later, chesting the ball down, but his scuffed shot whisked wide of the goal on what should have been the equalizer.
Toure struck his second goal of the match with less than ten minutes remaining to seal the game. Gbeke dropped a ball to him at the top of the box and struck a brilliant left-footed shot past Sutton.
Vancouver put in an excellent effort to bring Canada’s national soccer tournament to the final match. Vancouver currently sits atop the Nutrilite Canadian Championship table with nine points, with Toronto trailing by three. To advance to the CONCACAF Champions’ League, Toronto must defeat Montreal by four goals in their final match. The final showdown is June 18 at Montreal’s Saputo Stadium.
Rashed Abuodeh is a contributor to Goal.com
First Half
Both teams started the match with energy and purpose as various chances were witnessed by each side, however none materialized into a goal.
The 25th caused a scare for Toronto as Danny Dichio, who recovered from a concussion over the off-season, butt heads with defender Lyle Martin. Dichio laid on the pitch for a few minutes but recovered and continued.
Half an hour in, Ansu Toure for Vancouver made an impressive run down the middle of the field and let a shot go from 20 yards out, just missing the left post. As redemption, he followed up this opportunity with a goal in the 31st minute. A Wes Knight shot was stopped by 'keeper Gregg Sutton, who deflected the ball to an open Toure on the left. The Liberian deposited the ball into the open side, 1-0 Vancouver.
In the 35th minute, Chad Barrett attempted a cross which caused trouble for Vancouver 'keeper Jay Nolly. He curled the ball close to the goal forcing the goal-guardian to push it off the line and out for a corner, which did not prove fruitful for Toronto.
Dwayne De Rosario had a glorious opportunity to equalize as he went in on goal and chipped the 'keeper, but the Whitecaps defense recovered and pushed the ball off the line. Soon after, Pablo Vitti was sent in by Barrett, blasting the ball past Nolly, but his shot hit the post.
Toronto continued to push, keeping play in the Whitecaps half for the remainder of the entertaining first 45. The half ended with 12 total shots, seven for Toronto and five for Vancouver with the home side up 1-0.
Second Half
Both teams came out flying in the second with Vancouver pressing early. Vancouver’s Charles Gbeke streaked down the pitch on the right side of the box, but rookie Attakora-Gyan recovered well to stop the Whitecaps’ forward. Minutes later, De Rosario crossed a great ball from 30 yards out on a free-kick, finding the head of Barrett in the box, but Nolly made an excellent save to maintain the lead.
Martin had an opportunity to increase the Whitecaps’ lead in the 62nd, taking a drop pass from Knight, but his weak shot was easy for Sutton to stop.
Gbeke, who had a strong match from start to finish, made a great turn on Attakora-Gyan and rushed in on goal in the 69th, but his shot sailed over the Toronto goal. A minute later, Haber thought he was in clear but defender Serioux did well to get back and win the ball for TFC.
The score line set up an interesting final 15 minutes as Toronto looked for the equalizer.
Dichio had two opportunities from at least 12 yards out, but both of his shots were blocked by Whitecap defenders. Then De Rosario from 20 yards out in the 77th took a hard shot, but Nolly saw it the entire way through, diving to his right to make the save.
Vitti had a chance from 16 yards out two minutes later, chesting the ball down, but his scuffed shot whisked wide of the goal on what should have been the equalizer.
Toure struck his second goal of the match with less than ten minutes remaining to seal the game. Gbeke dropped a ball to him at the top of the box and struck a brilliant left-footed shot past Sutton.
Vancouver put in an excellent effort to bring Canada’s national soccer tournament to the final match. Vancouver currently sits atop the Nutrilite Canadian Championship table with nine points, with Toronto trailing by three. To advance to the CONCACAF Champions’ League, Toronto must defeat Montreal by four goals in their final match. The final showdown is June 18 at Montreal’s Saputo Stadium.
Rashed Abuodeh is a contributor to Goal.com
Make Your Prediction
Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Houston Dynamo
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Houston Dynamo
Prediction Submitted
Most Popular Predictions
-
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 Houston Dynamo
- 50 %
-
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0-1 Houston Dynamo
- 50 %
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.
-
McCARTHY: Harrisburg springs its wildest Open Cup upset to date
The City Islanders fought back from three goals down with nine minutes to play and won the game on penalty kicks in a stunning game on a wild night for the U.S. Open Cup.