ST. LOUIS, MO (April 24, 2010) – AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, concluded their two-game West Coast road trip in Vancouver on Saturday night by dropping a 1-0 decision to the Whitecaps.

Head Coach Claude Anelka again made several changes to the starting lineup. Midfielder Hagop Chirishian was given his first start of the season, while defender Tim Velten began the game on the bench for the first time. Brazilian forward Alex Titton made his second start in as many games, as did defender Dillon Barna. Luke Kreamalmeyer moved up to forward to partner Titton, while Jack Traynor filled Kreamalmeyer’s traditional spot at right midfield. Defenders Anthony O’Garro and Zach Bauer returned to the starting lineup, and mainstays Christian Nzinga, Manuel Kante, and Mark Bloom filled their regular spots.

Alec Dufty started the game well by denying Ansu Toure an early goal. Dufty aggressively challenged Toure near the edge of the 18-yard box, taking away Toure’s chance to get a shot off. Minutes later AC St. Louis dodged a penalty claim when Wes Knight was taken down in the box, but AC defender Mark Bloom was judged to have clearly gotten a touch to the ball. In the 16th minute Dufty did well again, this time punching an early ball clear to help thwart a good Whitecap attack.

The Whitecaps got on the board in the 19th minute from a corner kick when Mouloud Akloul got a foot to the end of Martin Nash’s effort. Akloul was injured just as he took the shot, splitting two AC St. Louis defenders. Akloul was subbed off minutes later. Further evaluation showed the Whitecap goal scorer had broken his ankle on the play.

AC St. Louis dodged two more Vancouver chances midway through the half. The first from a long throw in near the corner flag that resulted in a shot hitting the crossbar, and the second being a shot from outside the penalty area that just missed Alec Dufty’s left post.

To start the second half AC St. Louis made several changes. Tim Velten came in for Christian Nzinga, while Troy Cole replace Manuel Kante. Alec Dufty kept the score line 1-0 in the 55th minute when he blanked Tsiskaridze at the left post on a near point blank attempt.

AC St. Louis did generate some attack throughout the second half, but could not find a shot to force Whitecap goalkeeper Jay Nolly into a save.

In stoppage time AC St. Louis won a corner, bringing all eleven players forward. The resulting Whitecap counter nearly provided a 50-yard empty net goal but Ricardo Sanchez’s shot was just feet wide.

AC St. Louis falls to 0-4-0 on the season. AC St. Louis returns home for a May 1 match against Crystal Palace Baltimore. Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling 1-888-STL-GOAL.

AC St. Louis at Vancouver Whitecaps – USSF Division 2 Pro League

April 24, 2010 – Swangard Stadium, Vancouver, BC, Canda

SCORING SUMMARY:

VAN 19th minute Akloul (Nash)

LINEUPS:

STL: Dufty; O’Garro, Nzinga, Barna, Bauer; Bloom, Chirishian, Kante, Traynor; Kreamalmeyer, Titton

VAN: Nolly; Tsiskaridze, Akwari, Akloul, Williams; Toure, Bellisomo, Nash, Knight; Edwini-Bonsu, Haber

SUBSTITUTES:

VAN 22nd minute Janicki for Akloul

VAN 37th minute Khalfan for Knight

STL 46th minute Cole for Kante

STL 46th minute Velten for Nzinga

VAN 55th minute Moose for Toure

VAN 60th minute Sanchez for Edwini-Bonsu

STL 66th minute Moore for Traynor

STL 71st minute Cosgriff for O’Garro

STL 85th minute Pogosyan for Chirishian