Vancouver Take First Step In Defending Title

Match Report: Vancouver Whitecaps v Carolina Railhawks (USL1 Playoffs)

Vancouver Whitecaps started their 2009 USL1 playoff campaign off with a fine 1-0 home first leg win in their first round match up against Carolina Railhawks.

In front of a disappointingly non sold out crowd of 5,135, Vancouver dominated the match against a very poor and toothless Carolina side.

The game had 0-0 written all over it as Vancouver came close time and again.

Luca Bellisomo had the Caps best chance in the first half, with the ball falling to him just yards out but it was a case of the wrong player in the wrong position for the big defender.

The rash of second half substitutions couldn’t see Vancouver break down the Railhawks defence but the breakthrough did finally came with 13 minutes remaining thanks to Randy Edwini-Bonsu’s first goal for the Whitecaps first team.

The pacy winger has looked impressive every time he has come off the bench in recent games and it was his speed that led to the goal. Marlon James flicked on a long Jay Nolly kick into the path of Edwini-Bonsu and the young Cap evaded a Hawks defender before taking the ball round keeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell and hit it home into the empty net.

The goal sent the Caps players and the Southside into raptures and gives Vancouver a slender lead going into Sunday’s second leg, with all to play for. It should be a cracker in store in Carolina but I back Vancouver to do the business as they are clearly playing like a team that believes.

After the results of the other first round, first leg matches, it’s shaping up to be a dream Vancouver run to the title. Arch rivals Portland await them in the second round if they can get past Carolina and the surrender monkeys of Montreal could give everyone of a blue and white persuasion a dream final and a chance for real justice.

The playoff dreams are alive and kicking.