Seattle Sounders come-a-calling to Vancouver on MLS action next Saturday. Tonight we had an appetizer for the main course, but hopefully there will be a different end result on display in eight days time.
The Sounders U23 team made the trip north to Swangard this evening and came away with a 2-1 victory over an out of sorts Whitecaps Residency team.
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What a difference a week makes. The cohesion and attacking flair that was on display in last Friday's 3-0 demolition of defending USL PDL champs Kitsap Pumas wasn't really anywhere to be seen.
It wasn't that Vancouver didn't create chances. They had the better of the game. They just couldn't take what came along and time and again the attackers were let down on breaks by a lack of support, especially on the left wing.
Still, it's early days and this team haven't had a chance to train all that much together, never mind gel, and the signs are there that we have a talented team for this year's campaign.
The Caps side had three players on loan from the MLS squad this evening. Michael Boxall once again captained the side, and Russell Teibert and Caleb Clarke made their first PDL appearances of the season.
Teibert was in the thick of the action from the start.
He first saw a goalbound effort deflected for a corner in the 8th minute and then five minutes later Sounders keeper Doug Herrick did well to save his close range effort.
Seattle had their best chance of the game so far in the 24th minute and this time it was Whitecaps goalkeeper Callum Irving who had to be alert.
DeAndre Yedlin broke quickly on the right and perfectly put through Darwin Jones, who forced a good save from Irving, with Boxall on hand to mop up the danger that still remained.
It was only to be averted for a minute though and this time Jones did get the better of Iriving.
Troy Peterson sent a dangerous ball over the Caps defence, which Jones expertly latched on to. Irving was exposed and had no option but to rush out of his goal to try and at least narrow the angle.
The Washington native easily sidestepped the Caps keeper and fired home the opening goal of the night.
Vancouver came close to grabbing the equaliser with ten minutes of the half remaining.
Clarke collected the ball on the edge of the box, after a one-two with Gagan Dosanjh, made room to get his shot off and fired just past the right hand post.
The game was flowing end to end and Seattle were causing problems for Irving, who was uncharacteristically flapping at some crosses, one which ended up being shot into the side netting.
As half time approached, Vancouver continued to push for the equaliser.
Ben Fisk shot wide in the 39th minutes and then moments later Bobby Jhutty shot over from the edge of the box and Clarke forced a save from Herrick with a low drive.
Seattle held firm and went into the break a goal to the good.
Six minutes into the second half and they had doubled their advantage when Fernando Monge's shot in the box was deflected past Irving.
Their two goal lead was to last a matter of two minutes and Clarke put the home side back into the game with a beautiful curling shot into the bottom left hand corner.
Vancouver took the remainder of the game to Seattle, but had nothing to show for their efforts by the full time whistle except close calls.
Dosanjh shot narrowly wide in the 57 minute under pressure from the Sounders goalie, after Ben McKendry had headed Fisk's cross to the back post into his path.
Dosanjh had another chance on the hour mark, deflecting Fisk's cross straight at Herrick, who got down low to save.
Boxall hit a low long range effort past the right hand post in the 74th minute and then watched on agonisingly as the game moved into stoppage time, when his shot through a ruck of players was deflected just past the same post with the keeper wrongfooted.
It was a disappointing loss in the end, but something to build on and should give Head Coach Craig Dalrymple some food for thought as to his best line up for the upcoming games, which will now come thick and fast.
The Caps line up was as follows:
Callum Irving; Declan Rodriguez (Reynold Stewart 54), Michael Boxall, James Farenhorst, Adam Polakiewicz; Ben McKendry (Michael Marousek 75), Bobby Jhutty, Gagandeep Dosanjh; Ben Fisk, Caleb Clarke (Carlos Marquez 84), Russell Teibert [subs not used: Sean Melvin, Wesley Cain, Sang Hwang, Tyrin Hutchings]
The Whitecaps don't have any time to sit and lick their wounds.
They travel to Victoria on Sunday to face Victoria Highlanders in a 5pm kick off at Royal Athletic Park, in what will be the Highlanders home opening weekend of the new season, where they also play Seattle on the Saturday.
AFTN will be there and will bring you a report and pictures on Sunday evening as the young Caps look to bounce back with a win in the first match for the new <a href=" http://www.juandefucaplate.ca/" target="_blank">Juan de Fuca plate</a>.
Christopher Vose's slideshow of photos from tonight's game can be viewed <a href="
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