FC Romania 4 v 3 Willesden Constantine

Saturday 26th May 2012
Middlesex County League Premier Division
Coles Park, North London
Admission: None
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 40 (estimate)
Match rating: 4

For what will surely be my final match of the 2011/12 season, there were only a handful of games to choose from in the south-east today, in the Middlesex County or Essex Olympian League, none of which had anything really riding on them. In the end, I chose to pay a visit to a senior football ground I had not previously visited.

Although they have played most of their games this season in Leyton, FC Romania played this game at Coles Park, home of Haringey Borough of the South Midlands Spartan League. The ground is located about a twenty minute walk from Wood Green underground station, along White Hart Lane - if one were to continue along the road, one would end up at the home of Tottenham Hotspur. In all honesty, it is not a ground that will live long in the memory. There is a main stand, which offers good elevated views apart from supporting pillars and floodlight pylons which slightly obstruct one's view. Behind the stand is a low building with changing rooms and a rather scruffy clubhouse. Around the rest of the pitch is just hard standing, and the background is housing and industrial units. Ground improvements appear to be well underway, with plenty of excavation work being carried out all around the stand. Basic programmes were available today, very much a one-off though by all accounts, as FC Romania do not usually issue programmes.

Today's match, on the last day of the season, would be between two of the better sides in the league, although there would be absolutely nothing left to play for for either side today. FC Romania are assured of second place in the table, twelve points behind champions Interwood and seven points clear of third placed Southall, who have already completed their games. They have ended the season in excellent form, winning their last six games and thirteen of their last fourteen games. Willesden Constantine are assured of fourth place, seven points behind Southall and with a much better goal difference than the two clubs immediately beneath them on the same points who have both completed their fixtures. They have lost their last two games, although their last game was three weeks ago. When the two teams met earlier in the season, Willesden Constantine won 3-2.

With this being the last game of the season, played in late May, with nothing riding on the outcome and in very warm and sunny conditions, everything pointed to a rather dull and pedestrian game. What panned out was, happily, nothing of the sort, and the game was one of the most entertaining I have watched all season. With just three minutes on the clock, a Willesden defender played a suicidal ball across the pitch straight to the FC Romania striker, who strode forward from close to the half way line towards goal and he showed good composure in side stepping the keeper before slotting the ball into the net. The game then settled down, always with FC Romania looking the better and more skilful side but with Willesden Constantine playing their part in a very entertaining first half. On 41 minutes though, the home side doubled their lead, when two shots were blocked on the line in quick succession, before the loose ball was drilled home through a crowd of players.

So a fairly comfortable lead for FC Romania at the interval, a lead which became even more comfortable ten minutes into the second half, when a Willesden defender sloppily lost possession 8 yards along the touchline, and a FC Romania pulled the ball back and his fellow striker smashed the ball home for what looked like "game over". It certainly was a harsh looking scoreline on the visitors, and they continued to play reasonably well and struck a few long distance off target shots. On 67 minutes, they scored what looked like a consolation goal when the ball was tucked home from 8 yards after the ball was pulled back from the touchline. Five minutes later and it was suddenly very much game on, and a Willesden player worked some space for himself close to the corner flag before sending a high cross into the box. The FC Romania defender made a hash of his header away, and the ball was smashed home from 8 yards out. Another five minutes later and Willesden Constantine completed an excellent comeback to level the scores. The FC Romania goalkeeper had to take much of the blame for conceding the goal, as a mix up with his defender saw a soft corner being conceded. From the corner, the goalkeeper went up to claim the ball but spilt the ball, and the loose ball was smashed high into the net. All of the momentum was obviously now with the visitors and they looked the likely side to win it in the remaining quarter of an hour, but deep into injury time, it was FC Romania who scored the winner thanks to yet more poor defending, when a Willesden Constantine defender lost possession in the box, and the ball was bundled into the net from close range following a short cross along the six yard box. Now it remains to be seen whether FC Romania shall be promoted. The ambition is certainly there, and apparently they shall groundshare at Cheshunt shoul they be promoted, although champions Interwood are also seeking promotion, which may have some bearing on whether FC Romania are successful.

Vancouver Whitecaps 3 v 1 FC Edmonton

Wednesday 9th May 2012
Canadian Championship, Semi Final Second Leg
BC Place, Vancouver
Aggregate Score: 5-1
Admission: CA$28.00
Programme: Free
Attendance: 15,011
Match rating: 4

Having visited the BC Place just four days previously, I was rather undecided as to whether to take in this game, all the more so as this would be the second leg of a cup game in which lower league opposition, FC Edmonton, of the North American Soccer League, lost the first leg 0-2. I also had memories of attending FC Edmonton's match at Toronto last season in similar circumstances when, after losing the first leg 0-3 at home, the game at Toronto was painfully poor, with Edmonton never looking like scoring and Toronto did just about enough to win the game 1-0 on the night. However, I finally decided to purchase a ticket on the morning of the game when I found, to may amazement, that it would be cheaper to buy a ticket with the same face value at the Ticketmaster box office compared to buying online.

Before the first leg, FC Edmonton had opened their league campaign poorly, picking up just one point from their opening four games, although at the weekend they had a confidence boosting 3-0 win at the Carolina Railhawks. A trip to the Whitecaps would be a tough assignment - in their three games in the Canadian Championship since they were invited into the competition last season as a newly formed club in the second tier of North American football, they have lost each time and failed to even score a goal. The Vancouver Whitecaps narrowly lost 2-3 on aggregate to Toronto in last season's Canadian Championship final, after taking the lead on the night and on aggregate in the second leg before the game had to be abandoned due to poor weather. As they had done in the first leg, the Whitecaps elected to rest much of the first team, with just three players staying in the team from those who played on Saturday.

On a pleasant evening when the stadium's roof was left open, it appeared that the tie was put beyond all doubt when Michael Nanchoff fired home before the linesman put his flag up for offside. Television replays showed this to be a desperately poor decision, with it not even being close to offside. The Whitecaps continued to show their superior quality and class with some delightful touches, however it did appear the complacency was setting in as their football was not threatening. Instead, FC Edmonton were looking increasinly impressive, as they gained more and more possession and showed excellent patience in their approach play, although they did show a desire to readily shoot from well outside the penalty area.

FC Edmonton were quite unlucky not to have taken a lead into the half time interval, but on 54 minutes, the cat really was set amongst the pigeons, when FC Edmonton took the lead when Antonio Rago crossed into the box and Yashir Pinto managed to get in between a couple of defenders to head the ball home. Suddenly it was very much game on, as Edmonton continued to look the more likely to score again, to take the tie into extra time. However, the three subsititions made by the Whitecaps arguably changed and won then the game, as only five minutes after coming on, Sebastian Le Toux levelled the game on the night on 75 minutes, when he slotted home after a good cross by Davide Chiumiento. The keeper really should have kept the shot out though, and with the two goal aggregate lead restored, with that goal went the end of Edmonton's hopes in the tie. On 87 minutes, Maltese international Etienne Barbara was fouled in the box and took the resultant penalty, but his shot was saved by the keeper onto the post and bounced clear. However, almost immediately the Whitecaps did take the lead on the night, when Le Toux scored again, heading home Chiumiento's free kick.Three minutes into injury time and the Whitecaps scored a third, when Chiumiento claimed a hat-trick of assists, pulling the ball back for substitute Darren Mattocks to slot home. The final scoreline was incredibly harsh on Edmonton who were unexpectedly but very clearly the better side on the night, but it was the Vancouver Whitecaps who progressed to a repeat of last season's final, as Toronto were victors against Montreal Impact in the other semi-final.

Video highlights can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txbcU7_z1zA

Vancouver Whitecaps 2 v 1 San Jose Earthquakes

Saturday 5th May 2012
Major League Soccer
BC Place, Vancouver
Admission: CA$33.00
Programme: Free
Attendance: 19,271
Match rating: 4

Today would be the footballing highlight of my visit to Vancouver, to take in a game between two of the early pacesetters in Major League Soccer, at a recently refurbished stadium.

The BC Place stadium is located just five minutes walk from the city centre and certainly looks extremely attractive as one approaches either as it looms as one walks from the city centre, or viewing it from the other side of the False Creek. Once inside, although the purists may frown upon the artificial pitch and with the roof closed is an indoor stadium, it is certainly a mightily impressive arena for football. Since serving as the Olympic stadium in the 2010 Winter Olympics, BC Place has been renovated with a new roof fitted, apparently making it the world's largest cable supported retractable roof stadium, reopened last September. Concourses are spacious, seats are comfortable with plenty of legroom, excellent views from wherever one sits and large four sided video boards above the centre circle - apparently the second largest in any North American sports stadium. With the fans close to the pitch, the roof closed and the stadium sensibly not making use of the upper tier of seating, which is covered with sheeting from the bottom of the upper tier towards the centre of the pitch, giving the stadium more of an intimate and more full up feel than the sight of many empty seats or a completely empty upper tier, and certainly facilitates yet further the making of a good atmosphere. Programmes were given away free of charge both outside and inside the stadium, consisting of 30 pages and contained most things one would want from a programme - reports, previews and previous results and line-ups.

Their first season in Major League Soccer was something of a struggle for the Whitecaps last year, as they finished bottom of both the Western Conference and had the worst record in the entire Major League Soccer. This season is looking much more promising though, as they went into this game sitting in third place in the Western Conference, with four wins and two draws from their opening eight league games. Their results so far this season have been remarkably symmetrical, opening their season with two wins, followed by two draws, followed by two losses, followed most recently by another two victories. Familiar names to an English observer in the starting line-up for the Whitecaps were Jay DeMerit, formerly of Watford and USA international player, and Lee Young Pyo, the former Tottenham Hotspur player and former South Korean international. The San Jose Earthquakes had only a marginally better season in 2011, finishing in seventh place in the nine team Western Division and with the 14 best record of all 18 teams in Major League Soccer. Like the Whitecaps, the Earthquakes have also been having a much better time of it this season, leading the Western Conference, having lost lost just once and won six of their eight games so far. They certainly came into this game in great form, winning their last three games and dropping just two points from their last seven games. The only recognisable name in the Earthquakes set-up to me was their coach, Frank Yallop, the former Ipswich Town player. Thanks to the rather bizarre scheduling in Major League Soccer which sees teams play certain other teams only once in the season whilst playing other teams two or three times, today's two teams have already met this season in California, with the Earthquakes winning 3-1, with a further league encounter to come in July.

After a farily quiet opening to the match, it was the visitors who took the lead on 15 minutes, when Marvin Chavez worked space for himselfy before firing over a perfect curling cross to the back post, and Chris Wondolowski was there to head home from 6 yards. The home team responded well, carving out some half chances before they did equalise on 40 minutes, when Omar Salgado swung in a free kick and Gershon Koffie headed home from six yards.

So the scores were level at half time, but in the second half, it was very much the Whitecaps in the ascendancy, as the Earthquakes looked increasingly tired and seemed to be content to go home with a point, although they did look capable of snatching a goal on their rare forays forward. It was looking like both sides would indeed have to settle for a point, although the home side had a wonderful chance in injury time to snatch a winner, when their French forward Eric Hassli burst forward but he blasted wastefully into the side netting as defenders closed down on him. However, amazingly, there was still time for Hassli to redeem himself, when a fabulous pass from Davide Chumiento found Hassli in acres of space just inside the box after timing his run to perfection, and he spun around and unleashed a shot which the Earthquakes keeper got quite a firm hand to but still the ball hit the back of the net via the post with just three second of injury time to spare. The stadium erupted and there was barely time to restart before the referee blew the final whistle. An amazing end to a very entertaining game of football, and a well deserved three points for the Whitecaps.

Video highlights can be found at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgt_5aWi6OA

Vancouver Whitecaps Residency 3 v 0 Kitsap Pumas

Friday 4th May 2012
USL Premier Development League Northwest Division
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Admission and Programme: Free
Attendance: 500 (estimate)
Match rating: 3

Touching down in Vancouver airport just before lunchtime, this game was very much a case of hoping I would have the energy to make it after the ten hour flight and going back eight time zones. Happily I did and so off I headed to the south west suburb of Burnaby to watch what would constitute a youthful reserve side of the Vancouver Whitecaps, before I would watch their first team the following day.

The Swangard Stadium is located about a five minute walk from Patterson station on the SkyTrain network.It used to be the home ground of the Vancouver Whitecaps first team until they were accepted into Major League Soccer, but presumably has been rather downgraded since the Whitecaps first team moved out. The only spectator accommodation is the main stand, which offers good, elevated and unobstructed views, albeit rather distant, as an athletics track lies between the stand and the pitch. The rest of the ground was unaccessible to spectators for this evening's match. The ground certainly enjoys a very picturesque setting, with three sides of the ground lined with trees from the adjacent Central Park, whilst in the distance mountains are also visible behind one of the goals. Together with free admission to this game - as seems to be the norm for Vancouver Whitecaps Residency games - a folded A4 teamsheet was also distributed without charge.

This game in the fourth tier of North American football would be the opening match of the season in the division, and would see the reigning champions visit the team who finished in third place last season. The Whitecaps team was predominently an Under 23 team, with a sprinkling of older members of the first team squad given a run out. On paper, it looked a tough assignment for the Whitecaps Residency team. In Kitsap Pumas, one of the few professional teams in the league, they would be taking on not only the reigning champions of the Northwest Division, but of the entire Premier Development League, having won the end of season play-offs. The Whitecaps Residency teams also have a poor head to head history against Kitsap Pumas, losing four and drawing the other of the five games to have taken place between the two sides previously.

Considering Kitsap Pumas' dominance of the league last season and in games between these two sides, this game was quite remarkable, as the Whitecaps Residency team dominated the game by controlling play and playing good cohesive football, whilst the Pumas struggled to retain possession and had a rather amateurish bordering on shambolic look about them. The home team deservedly went ahead on 14 minutes, when the ball was crossed from wide by Carlos Marquez and Michael Boxall bundled the ball home from close range. Ten minutes later and Whitecaps Residency doubled their advantage, when Yassin Essa surged forward before playing the ball into the path of Carlos Marquez, who fired the ball low into the corner of the net. Just before half time, the home side made in 3-0, with the same players combining as they had for the second goal, as Essa crossed the ball and Marquez volleyed the ball first time into the net.

The third goal surely killed the game as a contest, and indeed the second half was a poor affair. The Pumas came much more into the game, but that was mainly because the Whitecaps Residency dropped the pace of their play considerably and still looked in complete control of the game. The Pumas did have several good chances midway through the second half, but one felt that the Whitecaps would have been able to up their game if the need had arisen.

Video hightlights of this game can be found at http://www.whitecapsfc.com/video/2012/05/05/pdl-win-over-kitsap-pumas