2001 Apr 27

Vancouver Whitecaps  1 - 2  Project-40
Canterbury Classic, preseason tournament, Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, BC

Goals:
38' P40 - Buddle
86' VAN - Garner (Kindel)
88' P40 - Buddle

Vancouver: Didar Sandhu; Kevin Holness, Steve McCauley (Chris Handsor 86'), Rick Titus, Tony Fonseca (Oliver Heald 45'); Tiarnan King, Chris Handsor (Dave Morris 45'), Steve Kindel, Terry St. Louis; Darren Tilley (Dana Garner 45'), Danny Sankar.

Project-40: Lineup unavailable.



Match report based on the Whitecaps report:

The Vancouver Whitecaps saw their preseason record drop to 5-1 following a 2-1 loss to a young and talented MLS Project-40 squad in the opening game of the Canterbury Classic preseason tournament on a rainy Friday night at Swangard.

Striker Edson Buddle of MLS's Columbus Crew scored a pair of goals into empty nets to give the visitors the win. His 88th minute winner came just two minutes after Vancouver's Dana Garner had tied the score at 1-1. Vancouver, who were without six regulars due to injury, fell behind 1-0 on a disputed goal in a lacklustre first half.

The Whitecaps showed more urgency in the second half, but were denied an equaliser by Tampa Bay Mutiny goalkeeper Matt Nyman who made superb saves on a powerful blast from Garner in the 53rd minute and a point blank effort from Terry St. Louis in the 63rd. Nyman was also fortunate to see a redirection in front by Danny Sankar skip wide of the open side in the 48th. At the other end, goalkeeper Didar Sandhu made several good saves, but was twice caught out of his goal on the two tallies from Buddle.

The game marked the home debut of midfielders Terry St. Louis and Chris Handsor as well as the first appearance of the Whitecaps new Burnaby Blue road uniforms by UMBRO.

The Whitecaps continue the Canterbury Classic tournament on Saturday, April 28, at Swangard against the Seattle Sounders, starting at 7:30 p.m. Seattle and Project-40 then close out the tournament on Sunday in Poulsbo, WA.

Scoring Summary

38' P40 - Edson Buddle
Kyle Beckerman looked to be offside as he chased a through ball.  Sandhu came out of the box to clear the ball ahead of him, but chipped it while sliding straight to Buddle who hit the empty net from 40 yards.

86' VAN - Dana Garner (Steve Kindel)
A long ball Kindel found Garner who turned and fired a quick low shot from 20 yards into the fat corner.

88' P40 - Edson Buddle
Sandhu came out trying to beat Buddle to a bouncing ball, but Buddle got there first, pushed it past the keeper, and slotted it past Rick Titus on the line from 5 yards.

          Shots
Vancouver  8
Pro-40     9

Keepers      Saves
Didar Sandhu  7
Matt Nyman    7