A season high crowd of just over 5400 saw a rare Carlo Corrazin penalty secure a hard-earned win over the Minnesota Thunder. The Whitecaps almost won it on a hotly disputed goal a minute into the extra session but in the end, despite some nervy moments, the 'Caps finished the season unbeaten in 13 games.
With so many attacking options, it was no surprise that both sides had their chances. The Whitecaps are always happy to get forward in numbers, and Corrazin found plenty of support from a lively Steve Kindel. But Minnesota are a well-organized team, and although the 'Caps tried to take the game by committing players forward, they usually were unable to find a way past a resolute Thunder defense. Both Mark Schulte and Adam Eyre were instrumental in thwarting excellent opportunities. For the Thunder, Johnny Menyongar was a constant threat all night with his pace and willingness to take a run at the heart of the defense. But he took a few too many wayward shots when perhaps a cross looked the better option.
The Whitecaps began the game in a confident mood, perhaps buoyed by the fact that they had clinched a playoff berth the previous evening (due to the Portland Timbers losing in El Paso). The opening stages were hard fought, with neither team gaining a clear advantage. Minnesota's Steve Shak had the first opening of the match with a header in close on 6 minutes, but his effort was cleared off the line by Nick Dasovic. It was hard going, and Vancouver's first real opportunity would come on the half-hour mark when a John Sulentic blast from just outside the box was saved well by keeper Joe Warren. Both teams would have chances to control the game, but it would take a fair bit to break the deadlock, and we would have to wait a while for the opening to happen.
Minnesota started to gain control of the midfield shortly into the second frame, and extended periods of posession resulted in some partial breakthroughs. In fact, Vancouver were lucky to escape on the hour mark when defender Chris Franks gifted a ball to Menyongar who seemed to have a pile of space to run at goal. But Franks recovered well, and made an important tackle to prevent the quick Minnesota forward from getting a clear look at the net.
Joe Warren denied Vancouver victory with a brilliant one-handed save from Dasovic in close on 55 minutes, while the Thunder would also have opportunities to get the 3 points with a spirited performance. About a minute after Dasovic's chance, Marco Ferruzzi unleashed a howler from 22 yards that forced Whitecaps keeper Mike Franks to dive quickly to his right and he managed to hang on to the ball.
A series of substitutions late in the second half slowed the play down a bit, but as the game neared the end it was the Whitecaps that were benefitting the most from the fresh legs. By this time, Menyongar was out of the game, and the 'Caps were the ones generating the chances at the end. The game was very nearly over after only one minute of overtime when a Carlo Corrazin effort rolled weakly into Warren's far right side. But linesman Martin Reid made what looked like an offside call, and referee Paul Ward had no choice but to disallow the goal. Although no player had interfered with the ball, the ruling was that someone in an offside position had used the advantage to get the ball on goal. It was, as expected a hotly contested call. Still the game went on. Both teams kept organized, and it would take a penalty to finally break the Minnesota back line, and the Thunder would have only themselves to blame. Niall Thompson was brough down in a fairly obvious tackle from behind by Dustin Branan, and the Thunder would pay for the lapse in concentration. The usually reliable Oliver Heald had been taken out of the game by this point, and it was Corrazin who stepped up and buried the ball to Warren's right. His penalty finally broke the entertaining stalemate, and in the process handed the excellent Thunder only their second defeat away from home this year.
The Whitecaps finish the regular season undefeated in 13 games, and now wait for next weekends game between the Seattle Sounders and the El Paso Patriots to see if they stay atop the Pacific Division. It will be first place if the Patriots win or tie in Seattle. El Paso did us a big favour on Saturday night in defeating the Timbers, and lets hope they have one more favour left to go.
Whitecaps: M. Franks /Lyall, C Franks (King 78’), Piette /Dailly, Dasovic, Kindel, Sulentic (Morris 78’), Veer (Clarke 69’) /Corazzin, Heald (Thompson 45’)
Minnesota: Warren /Branan, Eyre,Schulte /Shak, Willan (Magee 81')Gramenz (Kilickan 62’), Llamas (Anderson 69’), Ferruzzi /Menyongar (Morehead 85’),Torres
shots: Vancouver 19, Minnesota 13.
