jonovision
09-02-2003, 12:21 PM
'Caps stunned by San Jose
Vancouver takes 3-0 first-half lead, then gives up 4 for the loss
Dan Stinson
Vancouver Sun
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Outplayed over half of an exhibition game Monday night, the San Jose Earthquakes showed the Vancouver Whitecaps why they are the best team in Major League Soccer.
Trailing 3-0 one minute into the second half, the Earthquakes exploded for four consecutive goals in 31 minutes to defeat the Whitecaps 4-3 before 4,187 stunned fans at Swangard Stadium.
Midfielder Eddie Robinson got the ball rolling for the California visitors with their first goal in the 55th minute and it was followed in smart order by tallies by Canadian international striker Dwayne De Rosario in the 74th and a pair of goals by midfielder Manny Lagos in the 77th and 86th -- much to the relief of Earthquakes' head coach Frank Yallop.
Yallop said he "had a go" at his players during the halftime break after the Whitecaps had forged to a 2-0 lead on a fifth minute goal by midfielder Jeff Clarke and a 45th minute tally by forward Niall Thompson.
"I told the guys that they had to wake up, that they were being beaten to the ball all over the park," said Yallop, who has guided the Earthquakes to an MLS-best 11-7-4, 40-points record to date.
"Fortunately, they responded well in the second half. But the Whitecaps definitely deserved their early lead."
It was a game of two halves. Paced by the superb playmaking skills of midfielder Johnny Sulentic, the Whitecaps outshot the Earthquakes 15-5 during the first 45 minutes and forged to a 3-0 lead one minute into the second half, when halftime substitute Dave Morris scored off a Thompson pass.
Thompson had nine of the Whitecaps' game total of 24 shots, but either missed the target or had his drives saved by goalkeeper Jon Conway, who started and finished the game, replacing regular starter and Vancouver native Pat Onstad.
"I could have had five or six goals tonight," said Thompson, who admitted to being rusty after missing six games through suspension in mid-season. "But it was a great test for us nevertheless. Everyone wants to play against a high-level team and the Earthquakes certainly proved they are exactly that tonight."
The friendly helped bridge a 12-day break between the end of the Whitecaps' regular season and their A-League Pacific Division final playoff series against the Seattle Sounders. The two-game total-goal series kicks off Friday night at Seattle's Seahawks Stadium and concludes Sunday night at the Burnaby facility.
"It was a great warmup for the playoffs, but we should have put the game beyond reach in the first half," said Sulentic.
"When you don't convert your scoring chances against a good team like San Jose, you're inviting them to come back into the game. We should have finished them off early."
San Jose came closest to scoring in the first half in the 38th minute, when a powerful low drive by midfielder Ramiro Corrales was partially saved by Whitecaps' 'keeper Mike Franks. The ball eluded Franks' grasp, however, and was cleared off the goal line by Whitecaps' midfielder Steve Kindel.
Franks was replaced at halftime by back-up 'keeper Alex Marques. It was one of five substitutions Whitecaps' head coach Tony Fonseca made at the break. The subs also included Morris for striker Carlo Corazzin, Paul Dailly for defender Nick Dasovic, Alfredo Valente for Kindel and Jeff Skinner for defender Jeremie Piette.
Striker Jason Jordan and midfielder Oliver Heald, who were the Whitecaps' No. 1 and No. 2 scorers during the regular season, did not dress for the game.
Vancouver takes 3-0 first-half lead, then gives up 4 for the loss
Dan Stinson
Vancouver Sun
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Outplayed over half of an exhibition game Monday night, the San Jose Earthquakes showed the Vancouver Whitecaps why they are the best team in Major League Soccer.
Trailing 3-0 one minute into the second half, the Earthquakes exploded for four consecutive goals in 31 minutes to defeat the Whitecaps 4-3 before 4,187 stunned fans at Swangard Stadium.
Midfielder Eddie Robinson got the ball rolling for the California visitors with their first goal in the 55th minute and it was followed in smart order by tallies by Canadian international striker Dwayne De Rosario in the 74th and a pair of goals by midfielder Manny Lagos in the 77th and 86th -- much to the relief of Earthquakes' head coach Frank Yallop.
Yallop said he "had a go" at his players during the halftime break after the Whitecaps had forged to a 2-0 lead on a fifth minute goal by midfielder Jeff Clarke and a 45th minute tally by forward Niall Thompson.
"I told the guys that they had to wake up, that they were being beaten to the ball all over the park," said Yallop, who has guided the Earthquakes to an MLS-best 11-7-4, 40-points record to date.
"Fortunately, they responded well in the second half. But the Whitecaps definitely deserved their early lead."
It was a game of two halves. Paced by the superb playmaking skills of midfielder Johnny Sulentic, the Whitecaps outshot the Earthquakes 15-5 during the first 45 minutes and forged to a 3-0 lead one minute into the second half, when halftime substitute Dave Morris scored off a Thompson pass.
Thompson had nine of the Whitecaps' game total of 24 shots, but either missed the target or had his drives saved by goalkeeper Jon Conway, who started and finished the game, replacing regular starter and Vancouver native Pat Onstad.
"I could have had five or six goals tonight," said Thompson, who admitted to being rusty after missing six games through suspension in mid-season. "But it was a great test for us nevertheless. Everyone wants to play against a high-level team and the Earthquakes certainly proved they are exactly that tonight."
The friendly helped bridge a 12-day break between the end of the Whitecaps' regular season and their A-League Pacific Division final playoff series against the Seattle Sounders. The two-game total-goal series kicks off Friday night at Seattle's Seahawks Stadium and concludes Sunday night at the Burnaby facility.
"It was a great warmup for the playoffs, but we should have put the game beyond reach in the first half," said Sulentic.
"When you don't convert your scoring chances against a good team like San Jose, you're inviting them to come back into the game. We should have finished them off early."
San Jose came closest to scoring in the first half in the 38th minute, when a powerful low drive by midfielder Ramiro Corrales was partially saved by Whitecaps' 'keeper Mike Franks. The ball eluded Franks' grasp, however, and was cleared off the goal line by Whitecaps' midfielder Steve Kindel.
Franks was replaced at halftime by back-up 'keeper Alex Marques. It was one of five substitutions Whitecaps' head coach Tony Fonseca made at the break. The subs also included Morris for striker Carlo Corazzin, Paul Dailly for defender Nick Dasovic, Alfredo Valente for Kindel and Jeff Skinner for defender Jeremie Piette.
Striker Jason Jordan and midfielder Oliver Heald, who were the Whitecaps' No. 1 and No. 2 scorers during the regular season, did not dress for the game.