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City Stars Earn Point in 0-0 Draw With Vancouver
City Stars Earn Point in 0-0 Draw With Vancouver
| City Stars Earn Point in 0-0 Draw With Vancouver |
Saturday August 1, 2009 The Cleveland City Stars drew with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the second time this season on Saturday, earning a valuable point in league standings. Rookie goalkeeper Evan Bush had 4 impressive saves to clinch the City Stars shutout. The Vancouver offense made a strong start at the beginning of the first half, and applied pressure to earn a corner kick in just the second minute. The kick overshot the goal and rolled safely out of bounds, but the Whitecaps were unfazed and continued to apply pressure. In the 22nd minute Vancouver won a second corner kick which midfielder Tyrell Burgess played directly to the head of midfielder Kenold Versailles. Versailles' header was on goal before being deflected. The ball bounced directly back to him, and his second header was even more dangerous as it arced toward the goal. Luckily Stars midfielder Pato Aguilera was waiting at the back post to clear the ball out of bounds. Five minutes later the Whitecaps were at it again. The ball was played into the box to forward Charles Gbeke who was waiting in front of the City Stars goal. Gbeke wound up and seemed puzzled when his kick flew far wide of the post. In the 28th minute City Stars forward Leo Gibson retaliated with a shot of his own after forward Jason Hotchkin played him a well-placed ball at the top of the Whitecaps box. Gibson dribbled several Vancouver defenders before launching a shot into the waiting arms of goalkeeper Jay Nolly. City Stars rookie keeper Evan Bush had a save of his own a few moments later in the 34th minute, when Burgess took a long range shot from over 40 yards out, bringing Bush to his knees for a fantastic save.  The second half started slowly, but picked up speed when the City Stars won a corner kick in the 54th minute. Aguilera's kick was perfectly placed for defender Ibrahim Kante, who took a beautiful shot that went just high of the goal. The City Stars struggled against the tight Vancouver defense that firmly held the back line, luring the Stars into several offsides traps. In the 75th minute, midfielder Arsene Oka was subbed on for Aguilera and immediately impacted the pace of the game with his speed and energy. Racing up the field he received a perfect ball from forward Ricardo Pierre-Louie, and launched a tricky shot from the far corner of the Vancouver box. Unfortuantely goalkeeper Nolly stopped the shot, but the opportunity revitalized the City Stars offense. Just 4 minutes later Oka was at it again after controlling a strategic pass from midfielder Ryan Stewart on the wing. Oka's second shot lacked the power of the first, and Nolly had no trouble scooping it up, but it didn't discourage the tenacious midfielder. Vancouver had a good opportunity in the 86th minute as Takashi Hirano sent a cross into the box. An unmarked Marcus Haber had a free header on goal but the attempt sailed into the air and wide of the goal. In the 89th minute Pierre-Louis won a loose ball on the left sideline and dribbled into a free shot but the hard drive was expertly covered by Nolly. A few moments later the City Stars had the best chance of the match. Pierre-Louis came free again and sent a good looking cross into the box as Nolly came off his line but the charging Israel Sesay was a split-second late and was unable to knock the ball into the open goal.  The chance proved to be the last of the match for either side as the City Stars secured the shutout and the point against the Whitecaps.The Stars take to the road next week to rematch the Carolina Railhawks on Saturday, August 8th at 7 p.m. and the Charleston Battery on Tuesday, August 11th at 7:30 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast live on USLlive.com. The City Stars return home to Middlefield Cheese Stadium on Tuesday, August 18th as they fight for redemption against the Montreal Impact. The 18th is also Cleveland Soccer Legends Night, with appearances from many Cleveland soccer favorites. All fans that purchase tickets in advance will automatically be entered into the Pre-Purchase Ticket Contest, with the chance to win autographed merchandise and VIP ticket upgrades. Starting Lineups: Cleveland: GK Evan Bush, D Anthony Stovall, D Ibrahim Kante, D Troy Roberts, D Warren Kanu, M Alioune Gueye, M Leo Gibson (F Israel Sesay 83'), M Gordon Kljestan, M Pato Aguilera (M Arsene Oka 75'), M Ryan Stewart, F Jason Hotchkin (F Ricardo Pierre-Louie 68') Vancouver: GK Jay Nolly, D Luca Bellisoho, D Marco Reda, D Mason Trafford, D Taka Hirano, M Tyrell Burgess, M Kenold Versailles ( M Gordon Chin 65'), M Martin Nash, M Vicente Arze (D Wes Knight 55') F Dever Orgill (F Marcus Haber 55'), F Charles Gbeke (F Marlon James 63') Attendance: 1,363 |