Vancouver Whitecaps News Release - www.whitecapsfc.com

Saturday, April 21, 2007     -      watch the game On Demand at www.USLlive.com

VANCOUVER, BC -- The Whitecaps kicked off their defence of the United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) championship with a hard-fought 1-0 win over rival Seattle Sounders. Eduardo Sebrango netted the only goal as he chested the ball over the line on a cross from Alfredo Valente.

It was the sixth home opener in which Vancouver had shutout the opposition, as goalkeeper Tony Caig made one save against seven shots to record the clean sheet.

This was the first game of the season for both teams, as Vancouver’s record goes to 1-0-0 for 3 points, while Seattle are 0-1-0 for 0 points. That puts the Caps in an early first-place tie with the Portland Timbers, who were 3-1 winners over Puerto Rico Saturday.

The Whitecaps next game is Saturday, April 28 at home to the expansion California Victory, in a 7:00 p.m. kick-off at Swangard Stadium.

Scoring Summary

55’ Vancouver 1-0 Eduardo Sebrango (Alfredo Valente)

Martin Nash started the play as he fed Steve Kindel on the left and his cross deflected to Valente just to the right of goal. Valente chipped it in front from a sharp angle where a lunging Sebrango redirected the ball over the line with his chest from one yard out.

Game Notes

Seattle’s Chris Eylander was the busier of the two keepers in the first half. At 4’ Martin Nash set Eduardo Sebrango breaking in goal but Eylander made a superb stop on the striker’s 12-yard blast from the right. Then at 45’, Nash’s cross from the left was headed on goal by Jeff Clarke, but Eylander reacted well to make the grab.

The Vancouver chances continued in the second half, with Martin Nash again in the thick of things. At 48’ he ripped a low 30-yard blast that Eylander needed to dive to stop. A minute later Nash sent Sebrango in on goal, but Eylander dove bravely at the striker’s feet to block Sebrango’s first-timer.

Seattle’s best chances came later in the game. At 74’, Leighton O’Brien broke in on goal and was lining up to shoot when Steve Klein stripped the ball away and Steve Kindel nodded it out of danger. Then at 87’ Josh Gardener weaved his way through the Vancouver defence and hit a low hard shot which Tony Caig did well to get down and save.

Cameroon defender Narcisse Tchoumi and Trinidad and Tobago forward Joel Bailey both got their first starts for the Whitecaps, while forward Jason McLaughlin and rookie defender Graham Smith subbed on in the second half for their Whitecaps debuts.

The Whitecaps are on a ten-game undefeated streak going back to last season, including playoffs.

Martin Nash’s club record ironman streak is now up to 70 consecutive games since August 18, 2004.

This was a match-up between the last two USL-1 champions, as Seattle won the league crown in 2005.