Vancouver Whitecaps got their 2012 PDL season underway in some style at Swangard Stadium this evening, easily defeating last year's National Champions Kitsap Pumas 3-0.
It was a comprehensive win from start to finish and there were several stand out performances from the young Caps, with a brace of goals from Carlos Marquez and some sublime passes from Ben Fisk.
The line-up was bolstered by three players from the MLS squad.
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Michael Boxall was captain of the side and got his name on the scoresheet, whilst Bryce Alderson controlled the middle of the park and came close on a couple of occasions.
The big talking point was the first competitive appearance by Etienne Barbara in a Whitecaps jersey. He had some nice touches, was eager, but ultimately looked a little rusty and still needs to work on his execution and sharpness. It was just great to finally see the Malteser take to the field after all of his injury woes.
It was all Vancouver from the start and Kitsap looked anything but champions, although a couple of their players looked like they could have careers in rugby and may have confused the Pumas of Bremerton for the ones from Argentina.
Alderson came close to breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute when he was sent through and curled an effort off the right hand post.
It was just to be a temporary delay for the Caps and a minute later it was 1-0 when Boxall slotted home a Marquez cross from the right. Not quite sure what the big Kiwi was still doing that far up the field, but it was obviously the right decision!
Nine minutes later and it was Marquez's turn to finish, easily firing home a low ball in from Yassin Essa.
Alderson came close again in the 36th minute, crashing a free kick off the crossbar from the edge of the box.
The Caps third goal came in the 42nd minute and was their pick of the bunch.
Fisk collected the ball just inside the Caps half, ran on a little and then curled a peach of a cross field pass out right to Essa, who in turn played it into the box for Marquez to easily finish past <strike>Dusty Bin</strike> Dustyn Brim in the Kitsap goal.
Marquez had put in a fantastic half and was replaced at the break by Etienne Barbara.
It would have a been a nice story if Barbara could have found the net after all his injury problems, and he came close a minute before the hour mark, flashing a header from a corner narrowly past.
Vancouver seemed to have taken their foot off the gas a little, but were still controlling the game and it was the 70th minute before Callum Irving had his first real save to make and he had a couple of stops to make in the closing minutes of the game, without ever really being too troubled.
Brim tipped a cross-come-shot onto the bar in the 74th minute, before standing up and filling the net to keep out a Barbara shot with two minutes to go, after the striker had been put through.
All in all, it was a well deserved victory for Vancouver and is certainly something to build upon for the season ahead. Once this squad has time to gel and to get to know each other's game fully, it's looking like a very promising PDL season in store.
The Whitecaps line-up was as follows:
Callum Irving; Bobby Jhutty, James Farenhorst, Michael Boxall, Adam Polakiewicz; Bryce Alderson, Ben McKendry, Yassin Essa (Wesley Cain 61), Gagan Dosanjh (Reynold Stewart 58), Ben Fisk (Spencer DeBoice 75), Carlos Marquez (Etienne Barbara 46) [subs Not Used: Sean Melvin, Navid Mashinchi, Tyrin Hutchings]
The Caps are back in PDL action next Friday with a home game at Swangard against Seattle Sounders U23's. Kick off is 7.30pm.
So if you can, get out to our old home and support the Caps' future and you'll see some good football whilst you're at it.
Below are some of Christopher Vose's photos from tonight's game.
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[Michael Boxall makes it 1-0]
[Carlos Marquez makes it 2-0]
[Carlos Marquez nets his second and the Caps third]
[Two goal hero Carlos Marquez]
[Etienne Barbara proves to be a handful, or two, for Kitsap]
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You can view the rest of Christopher's photos from the Kitsap game as a high resolution slideshow <a href="
You can view all of Christopher's Whitecaps photographs at <a href="http://www.consulphotography.com" target="_blank"><b>ConsulPhotography.com</b></a>. All of his photos are copyrighted but are available to purchase. Just contact him via his profile to the left.
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