Sunday, September 14, 2008

Soccer: Vancouver Whitecaps Beat Montreal Impact, 1-0

From The Vancouver Sun:

Just as he predicted he would, Charles Gbeke scored against his former club - and earned the Whitecaps a crucial win against their Canadian rivals in-the-process.

Gbeke, who only joined Vancouver in July, headed home a Lyle Martin cross in first-half injury time and kept alive the Whitecaps' faint hopes of claiming the USL First Division title.

In a tight first half, the home side dominated but lacked a cutting edge - top scorer Eduardo Sebrango, Alfredo Valente and Gbeke all spurning half-chances.

After the Whitecaps were hit by the loss of stand-in centre-half Geordie Lyall through injury in the 36th minute, Sebrango had a great chance to bring the home fans to their feet a minute later.

Justin Moose put him clear on goal, but the Cuban hesitated slightly and his eventual shot was blocked.

However, the resolute Whitecaps persevered and were rewarded just before the break.

With impact on the back foot, Moose chipped a ball to the rampaging Martin down the right and his inviting cross was met by Gbeke, who powered a header past Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan.

The game ended painfully for Gbeke, just after the interval, when he suffered a facial injury courtesy of Antonio Rebeiro's elbow and had to be stretchered off.

After that, Montreal huffed and puffed in a bid to nab an equaliser - former Whitecap David Testo going close - but were unable to pierce the mettle of a patched-up home defence.

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