Vancouver Whitecaps: Season1, Final Report

Hello  friends and welcome to the final installment of Vancouver’s first season in Major League Soccer.

September 2011

We started the final two months of the regular season with a four game road trip, the first stop being in New York to take on the Red Bulls. It was very much a one sided game which we controlled after New York were reduced to 10 men which shortly after we took the lead through Edinho who found the gap between the back four and struck the ball home. Looking comfortable we gave up our lead early in the second half through a free kick despite weeks of intensive training, the scorer being Thierry Henry of course.

North American Champions League: Group B Match Day 3

Next stop was Mexico to take on Morelia who we knew nothing about but had to be strong as they were 4/6 on favorites. We defied those odds in the opening 16 minutes with Hassli opening the scoring with a fantastic strike into the roof of the net after just 12 minutes. Canadian Russ Tiebert finished off a brilliant run down the left flank with a shot that went underneath the keeper 4 minutes later. Things were going great until the last 10 minutes when some re-shuffling due to injuries allowed two goals in quick succession for Morelia to snatch a point which was very unlucky for us though I think we can beat them in the return game in BC.

The second half of our trip began with a crucial game in Los Angeles and although we couldn’t overtake them in the standings we needed to stay ahead of Colorado. Due to injuries picked up in Mexico I also found myself short of attacking wide men…

The game itself played out as a bore draw though my Brazilian striker Tardelly had numerous opportunities to win the game but his shots were weak and unthreatening. It seems I have yet another South American flop in my front line regardless of what the attributes say.

The final game before heading home was in Colorado for Match Day 4 in Group B of the NACL which was a repeat of our 90 minutes in L.A. – another bore draw.

A full house was on hand at BC Place for the visit of our American neighbors and League leaders Seattle whom we had been 5-0 earlier in the season. Any expectations of a similar result were soon killed off as Seattle took the lead with just 5 minutes on the clock. Our fans though soon had something to cheer about as Jay DeMerit headed in the equalizer from a corner 7 minutes later. Once more our dominance in possession failed to turn into further goals until with 18 minutes left a free kick by Edinho went over everyone’s head and landed on the foot of DeMerit who struck the ball cleanly on the volley…2-1! Seattle immediately pressed forward but we won the ball, hit it forward to Hassli who then beat three defenders and finished off with a stunning strike into the roof of the net. The home fans went wild as we had done the double over Seattle!!!

North American Champions League: Group B Match Day 5

After the victory over Seattle morale was high amongst the players and fans as we took on Tauro at BC Place. We got off to a fantastic start as Salinas’s cross from the right was met by Tardelly whose powerful header finally got his first goal for Vancouver. That was the catalyst for a rampant thirty minutes that saw three more superbly created goals and by half time the game was over and done. Tardelly would score his second of the game midway through the second half with a cracking effort from 22 yards out though a free kick allowed Tauro a consolation goal late in the game.

That win, with still one game to play ensured our qualification to the quarter finals where our opponents will be far tougher, no doubt. We will have to wait until February 2012 for our next game.

October 2011

Following that exciting win over Tauro was a very disappointing Cascadia Cup game against Portland which ended in a 0-0 draw. The Cascadia Cup is between Vancouver, Portland and Seattle the winner having local bragging rights and nothing else –but is important to the fans.

The fourth and final game of this home series saw the visit of DC United which got off to an explosive start with Edinho hitting one from 25 yards which curled into the net with just 4 minutes on the clock. Russ Teibert added a second just 9 minutes later thanks to Salinas’s determination to win the ball and his low cross was side footed in by the Canadian. Three minutes later a midfield pass into the box was pounced on by Tiebert and placed coolly into the left corner of the net. Goal number four came soon afterwards as Demerit headed in form a corner and with just 26 minutes gone Tierbert completed his hat-trick by again being first on a through ball into the penalty area. An incredible opening half an hour was unfortunately not built upon and there was no further scoring by either team.

We now just had two games left to play in the regular season, away to Dallas and at home to Colorado with the play-off picture looking like this.

Our trip to Texas ended in a 1-1 draw with Dallas despite overwhelming them for most of the second half with 59% possession. The final ball always let us down as we struggled to take advantage of a very one sided game; Tardelly scoring the only goal for us.

It wasn’t all bad news though as the draw was enough to earn a spot in post season action!

Having qualified for the play offs and the quarter-finals of the NACL we put in two very lack lustre performances to finish off the season losing at home to Morelia and then having to rely on a 92nd minute own goal to spare our blushes against Colorado.

The final tables for the season look like this and after all was said and done we finished second both in the Western Conference and overall.

Western Conference

Overall Standings

Results Summary:

Once the wild card games were complete the semi-finals match ups will see us take on Seattle whom we had beaten twice in regular season games.

The Play-Offs

MLS Western Conference Semi-Final 1st Leg

So the stage was set and we drove two hours south to Seattle for the 1st leg of this conference semi-final. We laid siege to the Seattle goal in the opening 20 minutes but couldn’t find that killer ball to open up the Seattle defence and when we did their goalkeeper was in brilliant form. Eric Hassli finally got the ball into the net early in the second half but his effort was ruled offside. Seattle, who barely had a sniff at our goal, took the lead from a free kick after goalkeeper Joe Cannon could only partially save the shot which rebounded nicely for their striker to tuck home. We never gave up, kept pressing and eventually found the equalizer through Tardelly with just a minute remaining on the clock.

MLS Western Conference Semi-Final 2^nd Leg

A capacity crowd was on hand for the second leg  which began how we left off before with us a applying pressure to the Seattle goal but with no joy  at least not until the 18^th minute. A through ball by AMC Jarju found Shea Salinas all alone on the right flank and running into the box struck the ball cleanly under the Seattle keeper and it was 1-0 We dominated the midfield breaking down virtually every attacking move which led to the second goal just on the hour mark when Tardelly’s shot was pushed away by the Seattle keeper and there was Salinas to place the ball neatly in the net for goal number two. That was enough to demoralize Seattle and send us through to the conference final where we will meet Salt Lake who surprisingly defeated Los Angeles.

MLS Western Conference Final

Having a better overall record than Salt Lake we had home field advantage for the final and a blistering rendition of “Oh Canada” before the kick- off pumped up fans and players alike – even the non-Canadian ones. The packed in crowd at BC Place didn’t have long to wait for something to cheer about with Brazilian striker Tardelly picking up the ball in midfield and playing a quick through ball to winger Tiebert who hit it first time and it was 1-0. From the kick off we won the ball back, Salinas ran with it down the right flank, crossed it over and there was Tardelly to side foot it into the net to make it two nil. The guys weren’t done; Edhino making a storming run into the box with his shot pushed away by the Salt Lake keeper straight into the path of Tardelly and it was goal number three just as the referee blew the whistle for half time. The second 45 proved to be far less exciting and with the damage already done we coasted through to the end of the game and into the MLS Cup Final!!!

MLS Cup Final

Vancouver v Sporting Kansas City

We didn’t have far to travel as the final was being held just south of us in Portland and it was KC who made the better start pinning us back in the opening 10 minutes but never really threatened our goal. Our first real attack came after 20 minutes with Salinas being brought down outside the box. Edhino quickly took the free kick squaring the ball to DeMerit who hit it first time and it flew into the corner of the net. Having taken the lead we then dominated possession but as with much of the season we just couldn’t break down the defence or find that extra space in front of goal. The second half played out much the same way and although Kansas were a bit more attacking their shots were wild and off target. With the game drawing to a close Salinas made a break down the right crossing the ball from the by line and Tardelly was there unmarked in the six yard box to push the ball over the line. In not the most memorable of style we had won the MLS Cup in our very first season in the league.

 As unexpected Champions the board was absolutely delighted at our achievement.

Super Sevens:

Wingers Russ Tiebert and Shea Salinas were very much part of this seasons success and Brazilian striker Tardelly came good at the right time with seven goals in 12 appearances.

 At just 18 years old Russell Tiebert has a bright future ahead of hime though how long I can keep him from straying off to Europe remains to be seen.

Finances:

There doesn’t seem to be any prize money for winning the MLS, well at least not yet an as a result of investing in our youth facilites the finances took a major hit by the end of the season.

 Wrap Up:

It really was an incredible season winning both the MLS and the Canadian Championship with NACL quater final action to look forward to as well next year. My first year goal was to build the foundations of the team with perhaps achieving the play offs in the third season but that has been well surpassed.

The hard part now will be building on this instant success and  we will of course drop down the list for draft picks next season. I’ll be looking for possibly three new players as long as I can keep the rest of those I want in the team for 2012.  This has been a great start for my ultimate goal of becoming Canadian National Coach.

Thanks very much for taking the time to read this report and I look forward to your comments.