It has been a season of many twists and turns for the Vancouver Whitecaps, from highly public ownership problems to the firing and then re-hiring of Bobby Lenarduzzi, to player signings (as well as players moving on). In the latter category, we find Jason Jordan. The popular #26 arrived mid-season last year and proceeded to re-vitalize a stale offence. And what a mark he has made over the last year. So much so, that he was due to leave for Colorado of MLS this week to take his carreer to the next level. So one may imagine the surprise when it was announced that Jordan had turned down the offer sheet and was returning to Vancouver.
The good news came at just the right time. You see, the other half of the puzzle is Niall Thompson. He was supposed to replace Darren Tilley as a strike partner to Jordan. But (like most of the team it seems) the injury bug had something to say about it, and Thompson only saw his first action of the season the last couple of games of the just-completed roadtrip. He would get his first start of the year at home against the Calgary Storm.
The Storm are experiencing a rough first year in the A-League, having won only one game to date. But they have been better lately, and with a bit of luck here or there could probably have an extra win or two under their belt. Indeed, when the industrious Chris Lemire fired in a stunning equalizer on 79 minutes, it was the Storm that looked the more likely to take the points.
But it wasn't always that way.
The downpour that started mid-morning hadn't eased up by kickoff: rather than a game of skill and flair, the 3,000-plus fans on hand were treated to a match dominated by giveaways, short spells of posession, and plenty of sliding. But the Whitecaps did get off to a bright start, and spent the better part of the first 20 minutes or so in the Calgary end. It was difficult to get anything done, though, and after a while Calgary found their legs and settled the game down.
Perhaps the one statistic that stands out is the fact that the teams combined for 30 shots. It certainly didn't seem like the kind of game that was going to produce anything offensively. Not with the ball running an extra 20 yards on the wet field. But then, there wasn't much in the way of midfield play at all, and the teams were more content to send the ball to the speedy forwards in the hope that some defensive error might produce the opening the game needed.
It wasn't until well into the second half that we finally got the ball rolling. On a play that was typical of the night, Niall Thompson slid onto his back as he tucked the ball past Calgary's Lars Hirschfeld. The goal seemed to wake the visitors up, and perhaps they sensed that the Whitecaps were going to try and defend the solitary goal. The Storm had a number of late chances and when Chris Lemire stunned Vancouver keeper Alex Marques with a curling shot off the far post from 10 yards, it was Calgary that looked like taking the game with them. And they nearly did as Lemire had a second gift-wrapped chance only moments after the goal.
When Niall Thompson had a late goal disallowed for a foul (still trying to figure it out, actually), so went the game. With the overtime looking as dreary as the weather, and the rain-soaked fans anxious to head home to warm, dry houses, the referee blew his whistle and the Calgary Storm can take a point with them back to Alberta where the two teams will try again on July 1.
Calgary (red shirts, black shorts and socks), 4-4-2
Hirschfeld; Chala, Pavicic, Auvigne, Seatiro; Bosch, Ledgerwood, Heidler (Zuniga 66'), Dutra; Lemire, Jesic
Vancouver (all white w/ blue trim) 3-4-3
Marques; N. Craveiro (Finan 64'), Coppin, Dasovic; Valente, Kindel, Veer (Morris 45'), Clarke; Jordan, Thompson, Heald (King 69')
attendance: 3,309
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