2009 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season

Last updated

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2009 season
OwnersGreg Kerfoot
Jeff Mallet
Steve Luczo
Steve Nash
Head coach Teitur Thordarson
USL-1 7th
USL-1 Playoffs Runners-Up
Canadian Championship Runners-Up
Highest home attendance5,886
Oct 10 vs MI
Lowest home attendance4,516
Oct 1 vs PT
Average home league attendance5,312
  2008
2010  

The 2009 Vancouver Whitecaps season was the club's 24th year of existence (or 34th if counting the NASL Whitecaps), as well as their 17th and 2nd last year as a Division 2 club in the franchise model of US-based soccer leagues. Vancouver was officially named an MLS expansion city on March 18, 2009. [1] Following the end of the 2010 season, the Whitecaps FC joined MLS, becoming the second Canadian club and 19th overall (counting contracted franchises) to enter the league. [2] [3]

Contents

The 2009 season started in an up and down fashion including three game winning and losing streaks before ending the season with only one loss in their last ten games. The USL-1 league was a closely contested affair with the Whitecaps a member of an intermediate trifecta in the standings separated by less than three points. [4] The Whitecaps overcame the Railhawks and Timbers in tight, hard won playoff series before finishing as runners-up to the Montreal Impact in a dramatic playoff final series. [5] [6]

The Whitecaps also finished second in the 2009 Voyaguers Cup in a controversial fashion after Montreal rested important players for their following USL-1 league match against the Whitecaps.

2009 Montreal controversy

The Southsiders, a Whitecaps supporters group, with a Je me souviens banner referencing the events of June 18, 2009 during a match against the Impact on October 10, 2009. Southsiders Supporters Swangard 2009-10-10.JPG
The Southsiders, a Whitecaps supporters group, with a Je me souviens banner referencing the events of June 18, 2009 during a match against the Impact on October 10, 2009.

Schedule and results

Tables

  Commissioner's Cup, bye to semifinal round of playoffs
  Quarterfinal round of playoffs

PosClubPtsGPWDLGFGAGDH2H Pts
1 Portland Timbers 5830161044519+26
2 Carolina RailHawks 553016774319+24
3 Puerto Rico Islanders 533015874431+13PUE: 6 pts
CHA: 3 pts
4 Charleston Battery 5330141153321+12
5 Montreal Impact 4330127113231+1
6 Rochester Rhinos 4330111093432+2
7 Vancouver Whitecaps 4230119104236+6
8 Minnesota Thunder 31307101339445
9 Miami FC 29308517265226
10 Austin Aztex 21305817285123
11 Cleveland City Stars 19304719225230

Austin deducted two points for fielding an ineligible player on July 25, 2009 [10]

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldPtsWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGD
3042111094236 +69332615 +112761621 −5

Last updated: April 26, 2010
Source: uslsoccer.com
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

  Win  Draw  Loss

Pre-season

2009-02-13 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–1 Trinity Western University Burnaby, BC
15:00 PST Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg
Marlon James Soccerball shade.svg
Alex Semenets Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Burnaby Lakes West

USL-1

Results by round

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Ground H A A H A H H A H H A A H A A H A A A H H A A H H H A A H H
ResultDLDWWWLLLWLDWLLWWDLLDDDWDWDLWW
Source: uslsoccer.com [11]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
April 11, 20091 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0–0 Charleston Battery Burnaby, BC
22:00 ET Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5037
Referee: Fabrizio Romano
May 21, 20093 Austin Aztex FC 1–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Austin, Texas
20:30 ET Gifton Noel-Williams Soccerball shade.svg67' report Marco Reda Soccerball shade.svg18'Stadium: Nelson Field
Attendance: 1549
Referee: Elias Bazakos
April 25, 20094 Portland Timbers 0–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Portland, Oregon
22:00 ET report Martin Nash Soccerball shade.svg63'Stadium: PGE Park
Attendance: 5,102
Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau
May 2, 20095 Minnesota Thunder 2–3 Vancouver Whitecaps Minneapolis
20:05 ET Ricardo Sánchez Soccerball shade.svg48', 69' report Marlon James Soccerball shade.svg35' (61), 90'Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 3,298
Referee: Niko Bratsis
May 10, 20096 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1–0 Puerto Rico Islanders Burnaby, BC
22:00 ET Charles Gbeke Soccerball shade.svg82' report Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5023
Referee: John Oliva
May 16, 20097 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1–2 Rochester Rhinos Burnaby, BC
22:00 ET Dever Orgill Soccerball shade.svg90' report Chris Nurse Soccerball shade.svg17'
Johnny Menyongar Soccerball shade.svg37'
Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5288
Referee: Justin Tasev
May 30, 20098 Portland Timbers 2–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Portland, Oregon
22:00 ET Ryan Pore Soccerball shade.svg6'
George Josten Soccerball shade.svg41'
report Stadium: PGE Park
Attendance: 9081
Referee: Hidajet Tica
June 7, 20099 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1–2 Montreal Impact Burnaby, BC
22:00 ET Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg42' report Eduardo Sebrango Soccerball shade.svg20'
Daniel Testo Soccerball shade.svg44'
Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5288
Referee: Domenic Scali
June 12, 200910 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–2 Miami FC Blues Burnaby, BC
23:00 ET Charles Gbeke Soccerball shade.svg16', 34'
Marco Reda Soccerball shade.svg76'
report Zourab Tsiskaridze Soccerball shade.svg10'
Richard Perdomo Soccerball shade.svg78'
Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5288
Referee: John Oliva
June 20, 200911 Montreal Impact 1–2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Montreal
13:30 ET Rocco Placentino Soccerball shade.svg34'
Roberto Brown Soccerball shade.svg39'
report Marlon James Soccerball shade.svg63'Stadium: Stade Saputo
Attendance: 12,287
Referee: Justin Tasev
July 9, 200913 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4–0 Minnesota Thunder Burnaby, BC
22:30 ET Lyle Martin Soccerball shade.svg7'
Martin Nash Soccerball shade.svg71'
Charles Gbeke Soccerball shade.svg79'
Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg81'
report Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5,568
Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau
July 12, 200814 Miami FC Blues 2–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Miami
18:00 ET Alen Marcina Soccerball shade.svg5'
Leo Inacio Nunes Soccerball shade.svg23'
report Dever Orgill Soccerball shade.svg89'Stadium: FIU Stadium
Attendance: 405
Referee: Lee Suckle
July 25, 200916 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4–2 Puerto Rico Islanders Burnaby, BC
22:00 ET Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg4'
Own Goal Soccerball shade.svg51'
Marlon James Soccerball shade.svg64', 82'
report Josh Hansen Soccerball shade.svg76', 90'Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5,725
Referee: John Oliva
August 1, 200918 Cleveland City Stars 0–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Bedford, Ohio
19:00 ET report Stadium: Middlefield Cheese Stadium
Attendance: 1,363
Referee: Rizal Milliken
August 15, 200921 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0–0 Carolina RailHawks FC Burnaby, BC
22:00 ET report Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5,484
Referee: Dave Gantar
August 18, 200922 Carolina RailHawks 1–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Cary, North Carolina
19:00 ET Andriy Budnyy Soccerball shade.svg87' report Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg66'Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 2,377
Referee: Jeff Gontarek
August 23, 200924 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–0 Miami FC Blues Burnaby, BC
19:00 ET Charles Gbeke Soccerball shade.svg80', 90' report Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5,288
Referee: Michael Edmunds
August 29, 200925 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1–1 Rochester Rhinos Burnaby, BC
22:00 ET Charles Gbeke Soccerball shade.svg66' report Ze Roberto Soccerball shade.svg80'Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5288
Referee: Carol Anne Chenard
September 2, 200926 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–2 Austin Aztex FC Burnaby, BC
22:30 ET Kenold Versailles Soccerball shade.svg11'
Charles Gbeke Soccerball shade.svg23' (65)
report Jean Alexandre Soccerball shade.svg34', 76'Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5,081
Referee: Dave Gantar
September 4, 200927 Minnesota Thunder 1–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Minneapolis
20:00 ET Melvin Tarley Soccerball shade.svg87' report Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg38'Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 3,429
Referee: Ben Chouaf
September 4, 200928 Montreal Impact 0–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Montreal
20:00 ET Peter Byers Soccerball shade.svg90' report Stadium: Stade Saputo
Attendance: 11,867
Referee: Silvio Petrescu
September 13, 200929 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–1 Austin Aztex FC Burnaby, BC
19:00 ET Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg80'
Gordon Chin Soccerball shade.svg86'
report Jarius Holmes Soccerball shade.svg51'Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5,288
Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau

Post-season

Play-in round

September 24, 2009Leg 1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1–0 Carolina Railhawks Burnaby, BC
22:30 ET Randy Edwini-Bonsu Soccerball shade.svg77' report Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5,135
Referee: Fabrizio Romano
September 27, 2009Leg 2 Carolina Railhawks 0–0
(0–1 agg.)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Cary, North Carolina
17:00 ET report Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 2,471
Referee: Niko Bratsis

Semi-finals

October 1, 2009Leg 1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–1 Portland Timbers Burnaby, BC
22:30 ET Charles Gbeke Soccerball shade.svg25'
Marco Reda Red card.svg 45'
Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg49'
report Ryan Pore Soccerball shade.svg44' (pen.)Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 4,516
Referee: Geoff Gamble
October 4, 2009Leg 2 Portland Timbers 3–3
(4–5 agg.)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Portland, Oregon
19::00 ET Brian Farber Soccerball shade.svg10', 43'
Alex Nimo Soccerball shade.svg83'
report Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg4'
Martin Nash Soccerball shade.svg60'
Marlon James Soccerball shade.svg71'
Stadium: PGE Park
Attendance: 14,283
Referee: Gilario Grajeda

Finals

October 10, 2009Leg 1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–3 Montreal Impact Burnaby, BC
21:30 ET Martin Nash Red card.svg 51'
Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg56'
Marlon James Soccerball shade.svg65'
report Shaun Pejic Soccerball shade.svg45' (o.g.)
Peter Byers Soccerball shade.svg63'
Eduardo Sebrango Soccerball shade.svg89'
Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5886
Referee: Carol Anne Chenard
October 17, 2009Leg 2 Montreal Impact 3–1
(6–3 agg.)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Montreal
14:30 ET Tony Donatelli Soccerball shade.svg30' (pen.)
Joey Gjertsen Soccerball shade.svg40'
Roberto Brown Soccerball shade.svg42'
report Shaun Pejic Red card.svg 29'
Ansu Toure Soccerball shade.svg44'
Stadium: Stade Saputo
Attendance: 13,034
Referee: Dave Gantar

Voyaguers Cup

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Toronto FC (C)430183+59 Champions League
2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 430151+49
3 Montreal Impact 400411090
Source: CanadaSoccer.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) points in matches between drawn teams; 3) goal differential; 4) number of goals scored; 5) drawing of lots. [12]
(C) Champions

Results

May 6, 20091 Toronto FC 1–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Toronto, Ontario
17:00 PST Kevin Harmse Soccerball shade.svg3' report Stadium: BMO Field,
Attendance: 19,811
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
May 20, 20092 Montreal Impact 0–2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Montreal
17:00 PST report Marcus Haber Soccerball shade.svg1'
Charles Gbeke Soccerball shade.svg17'
Stadium: Stade Saputo
Attendance: 11,483
Referee: Steven Depiero
May 27, 20093 Vancouver Whitecaps 1–0 Montreal Impact Burnaby, BC
19:30 PST Ethan Gage Soccerball shade.svg67' report Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5,134
Referee: David Gantar
June 2, 20094 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–0 Toronto FC Burnaby, BC
19:30 PST Ansu Toure Soccerball shade.svg31', 81' report Stadium: Swangard Stadium
Attendance: 5,688

Cascadia Cup

2009 Cascadia Cup standings
TeamPldWLDGFGAGDPts
Portland Timbers321031+26
Vancouver Whitecaps31201323
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2009.

Staff

Professional teams

Youth development

Professional development program

Community soccer system

Current roster

Both Jay Nolly and Marcus Haber played all thirty regular season games with Jay Nolly playing every minute of every game. Charles Gbeke was tied for second among the USL-1 point leaders including the league golden boot with 12 goals while Marcus Haber was 7th (with 8 goals) and Marlon James 8th. Wes Knight had eight assists in the league. [13]

After the 2008 season, the Whitecaps and coach Teitur Thordarson changed the roster much more than in the previous seven years. Some of this was due to a ten-month contract versus the previous norm of an eight-month contract. Look at the preseason above starting in February with presumably a training camp before hand versus previous years of training camp starting in late March. [14] For some players with other part-time or off season employment and/or families the extra commitment was too much. Many long time stalwart veteran Whitecap players such as Jeff Clarke, Jason Jordan, Steve Kindel and Alfredo Valente were not on the 2009 roster. Additionally, several other players earning significant playing time over a number of years moved elsewhere. Eduardo Sebrango and back-up goalkeeper Serge Djekanovic started the 2009 season with Canadian rival Montreal while Nicholas Addlery went all the way to Puerto Rico.

Two players who remained to serve as the backbone of the side for 2009 were Martin Nash, the captain, and striker Charles Gbeke for offense. The club added Marco Reda from Charleston, Justin Thompson from Portland, and Ansu Toure from Miami. Foreign players signings included Caribbean internationals Kenold Versailles (Haiti) and Tyrell Burgess (Bermuda), who spent 2008 with the USL PDL's Reading Rage. Another signing for the portion of the season he was with the Whitecaps was former New York Red Bulls defender Jeff Parke. [15]

All stats as of the end of the season. [16]

Goalkeeper stats

No.Nat.PlayerTotal USL-1 Playoffs
MINSVGAGAASOMINSVGAGAASOMINSVGAGAASO
1 Flag of the United States.svg Jay Nolly 3240145461.2892700118361.20754027101.672

|} Updated to match played October 20, 2013
Source: 

Player statistics

No.Pos.NameAppsMinutesGoalsAssistsShotsFouls Yellow card.svg Red card.svg
1GK Flag of the United States.svg Jay Nolly 363540000120
2DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Reda 14(2)12742061240
4DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Justin Thompson 2(2)226001410
4DF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Shaun Pejic 151344004911
4DF Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg Wesley Charles 1210250021511
6DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Luca Bellisomo 12(4)1168014730
7MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Martin Nash 29248143272351
8DF Flag of the United States.svg Wes Knight 35(1)285519163540
9FW Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg Marlon James 12(11)1160112592940
13MF Flag of Haiti.svg Kénold Versailles 9(5)91210133140
13MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Geordie Lyall 2(5)253001410
14FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marcus Haber 30(6)2422114423020
15MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Philippe Davies 1(1)65002200
16MF Flag of Liberia.svg Ansu Toure 20(7)157913361640
17FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Randy Edwini-Bonsu (15)214118300
18DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mason Trafford 12(14)12560271820
19MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Chris Pozniak 11(2)10090061110
20MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ethan Gage 9(8)8030071710
20FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Charles Gbeke 28(6)2338132795831
20MF Flag of Jamaica.svg Dever Orgill 2(9)3012171020
22DF Flag of Japan.svg Takashi Hirano 33(1)2954026330
23MF Flag of Bolivia.svg Vicente Arze 8(10)79701142330
24DF Flag of the United States.svg Lyle Martin 19(4)172812121420
25MF Flag of Bermuda.svg Tyrell Burgess 11(14)104712281520
25MF Flag of the United States.svg Justin Moose 2(10)323002610
27DF Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Parke 7524003510
28MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Gordon Chin 14(12)139714242030
29MF Flag of Tanzania.svg Nizar Khalfan 9(5)7290020800
37MF Flag of Nigeria.svg Michael Onwatuegwu 145000200
99GK Flag of Brazil.svg Diego 14000000
Opponent Own goals 0
Updated February 28, 2014 [17]
[18]
  • Note this list includes only players that have dressed in the eighteen.
  • Note brackets indicate substitute appearances.
  • Note statistics are for league and playoffs (not preseason). Voyageurs Cup statistics appear to no longer be available.

References

  1. "MLS awards Vancouver team for 2011". March 18, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  2. Demosphere International (April 9, 2009). "USL-1 Season Preview – Part I". Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  3. DiVeronica, Jeff (April 7, 2009). "Islanders heavy favorites heading into the USL season". ESPNFC.com United Soccer Leagues (Archive). Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  4. Constantineau, Bruce (August 15, 2009). "Caps gear up for drive to playoffs". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  5. "Whitecaps and Impact win USL-1 semis". ESPNFC.com. October 5, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  6. Weber, Marc (October 17, 2009). "Montreal Impact end Vancouver Whitecaps' impressive playoff run". whitecapsfc.com. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  7. McColl, Michael (June 19, 2009). "Folding Frenchies Kill Whitecaps Dreams". Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  8. McColl, Michael (June 20, 2009). "Montreal Screws Vancouver Again". Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  9. "Vancouver Whitecaps Year in Review: Introduction". October 20, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  10. "Austin receives two point deduction". www.uslsoccer.com. July 29, 2009. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  11. "USL First Division 2009 Full Schedule". Demosphere International. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  12. "Nutrilite Canadian Championship Tie-Breaker scenarios". CSA Website. June 1, 2009. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  13. Demosphere. "USL First Division – Top 10 Stats Leaders". uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  14. Stinson, Dan (January 16, 2007). "Whitecaps launch talent search". The Vancouver Sun Newspaper. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  15. Demosphere International (April 9, 2009). "USL-1 Season Preview – Part I". Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  16. "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  17. "2009 Statistics". Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  18. "Full Schedule". Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2014.