Residency end Spain tour with undefeated record
November 16, 2009
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency earned a 1-1 draw with the U-18 side of Rayo Vallecano de Madrid in the final match of their two-week trip to Spain.
Nick Chiarot's second-half header meant both sides had to settle for a stalemate after Rayo had initially taken the lead during Thursday afternoon's friendly at Torrelodones Club de Fútbol's Julián Ariza training complex. The result ensured Thomas Niendorf's side completed their five-match tour with an undefeated record of two wins and three draws. This included Wednesday's impressive 2-0 victory over the U-18 squad from Spanish and European giants Real Madrid Club de Fútbol.
Beautiful late afternoon sunshine greeted both sets of players for the match in the Spanish capital, with the Residency team using the same 4-5-1 formation that they utilized in their previous four matches.
Where the Whitecaps showed great spirit and determination in beating Real Madrid U-18's the day before, Thursday's performance struggled to match the display that Niendorf's young side put in on Remembrance Day, as Rayo - whose first team play in Spain's Segunda División (Second Division) - enjoyed plenty of possession on the Julián Ariza turf.
Nonetheless, the 'Caps remained solid defensively through the opening 45 minutes, with centre backs Jack Cubbon and Tim Hickson looking especially good in the Whitecaps backline before the break.
The Residency team's best opportunity to score in the first half came at the midway point, but lone striker Caleb Clarke missed the target after breaking in on the Rayo goal.
This meant both teams went to halftime tied at 0-0.
Niendorf made one change for the start of the second half, as Victoria, BC, youngster Patrick Bennett joined Cubbon at centre back, with Hickson moving into the midfield position that was vacated at the break by Ben McKendry. Rayo, meanwhile, made several changes to freshen up their side ahead of the restart.
Though they looked sharper once proceedings resumed, the Residency team found their Spanish opponents to be a talented and hard-working outfit. This resulted in spell of play where there was little to separate the two teams until the midway point of the half, as a pair of corners resulted in the game's two goals.
Rayo - who are based in the working-class Madrid neighbourhood of Vallecas - took the lead from their corner on 65 minutes. A glancing header towards the far post saw Residency goalkeeper Richard Causton and fullback Ezequiel Lubocki get in a mix-up, as the ball trickled over the goal line for 1-0.
However, the Madrid club's lead last only five minutes, as the 'Caps earned a draw from a corner of their own. Midfielder Russell Teibert's set-piece from the right found substitute Chiarot in the Rayo box. He powerfully headed home the opportunity just moments after replacing Wednesday's goalscoring hero Ben Fisk-Routledge in midfield.
Though it may not have been the best match of the trip, the Residency squad again showed plenty of character to claim a result and confirm a successful conclusion to their series of friendlies in and around the Spanish capital. "You could tell it was tough for the players to get the legs going again after such an high and emotional performance against Real Madrid," Niendorf told whitecapsfc.com after Thursday's match. "Today, we didn't click in the manner that we have seen during this trip, while Rayo played with a high work rate and made life difficult for us. Despite this, the players do deserve credit for getting a draw and leaving the pitch with another result."
With the friendly schedule now completed, Niendorf believes the Residency program and the Whitecaps as a whole have greatly enhanced their international reputation following his team's efforts in Spain. "In the last two weeks, our group have shown a real professional attitude to claim these results here in Madrid," he said. "It has been a positive experience for us and gives our staff a lot of encouragement in developing these players over the next two years. The trip has also proven again the viability of the Residency program to our club. Our colleagues here in Spain have really taken notice of our performances and the way our players conduct themselves. They can see that Whitecaps Residency is a professional development program, even though it is based in Canada and not a traditional soccer nation like Spain. Such attention has gained the club some valuable awareness over here, which is important for us, as we move towards Major League Soccer. People are starting to pay attention to what we are doing."
Whitecaps Residency will spend two more days in Madrid before returning home to Vancouver on Sunday. On Saturday night, they will attend the international friendly between reigning European champions Spain and South American giants Argentina at Club Atlético de Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium.
Whitecaps FC Residency - starting line-up v Rayo Vallecano de Madrid
Richard Causton; Lucas Sweda, Jack Cubbon, Tim Hickson, Ezequiel Lubocki; Kevin Cobby, Ben McKendry (Patrick Bennett 45'), Ben Fisk-Routledge (Nick Chiarot 65'), Bobby Jhutty, Russell Teibert; Caleb Clarke
Subs not used: Callum Irving, Manny Straith
