Nuke Soccer

COQUITLAM, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC downed the visiting Real Colorado Cougars 2-1 at Coquitlam’s Percy Perry Stadium Sunday afternoon, to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Kirsteen Buchan netted the second half winner, after assisting on Jodi-Ann Robinson’s first half opener, to send 1,317 fans home happy. The Whitecaps are now on a two-game win streak, their longest of the season.

Whitecaps head coach Alan Koch made no changes from the 4-3-3 formation, which had defeated Ventura County Fusion on Canada Day. This was a critical game for Vancouver as well as Colorado, with both sides needing a win to keep pressure on Seattle Sounders in the W-League Western Conference playoff race.

Colorado had the better of the early play, but neither side was able to generate a good scoring chance inside the first twenty minutes. Play soon opened up though, and on 22 minutes Colorado forward Beth West tested Sian Bagshawe with a low shot, but the Vancouver keeper was equal to it.

On 23 minutes, Vancouver opened the scoring, as Kirsteen Buchan did well to hold the ball at the top of the box before dishing it to Robinson. The Canadian international then curled a shot inside the right post from 20 yards. It was the striker’s seventh goal of the season, and extended her goal-scoring streak to four games.

Two minutes later, off a Katie Thorlakson free kick, Randee Hermus flicked a header which Cougars keeper Taylor Vancil went to ground to stop at the near post.

Colorado drew level on 27 minutes from a corner kick. Beth West took the corner on the left and Kellyn Farrell got up well to head in the ball from eight yards.

Both goalkeepers made good saves in the final minutes of the half. On 43 minutes a blast from Buchan in the box was well held by Vancil, while two minutes later, Bagshawe stopped a hard shot from Rebecca Mays.

It was 1-1 at the break, following an evenly played first half.

Full Story