Something seems awfully familiar about this scene.

I’ve seen this place before, was it in a dream?

Was it just me or did you see it too?

Coincidence or déjà vu? 

The Thunder dropped their home opener 1-2 to the Vancouver Whitecaps in a game that seemed  much like 2005 and 2006.  The Thunder played well enough to earn at least a share of the points, if not all of them, yet got none.   But the night was not without bright spots and hope for a better year ahead.

Minnesota had a few opportunities to take a first half lead.  Sasha Gotsmanov was just wide in the7th minute and the 23rd again wide with a header.  In the 32nd Freddy Juarez also put his shot wide.  The Thunder were credited with 5 of their 12 shots in the first half, but none of them on goal.  Warren faced just 3 shots in the first half, 7 total, and was called to make one first half save.

It was also a physical half with 3 yellow cards going to Vancouver and one to the Thunder’s Mt. Fuji, Keisuke Ota.  Ota was a strong force throughout the game.  He was a main target on crosses and long balls and won more than his share.  He did well to not only win many balls, but knock them in a direction of a teammate.  He and Gotsmanov linked well as forwards.

The Thunder were also forced to use 2 subs in the opening 45 minutes.  Ansu Toure and Alfredo were forced to leave due to injuries.  Toure was dangerous until his injury in the 41st minute.  Initially on the left flank, Toure spent much of his time harassing the Whitecaps on the right.

Just five minutes into the 2nd half, former Thunder player Jay Alberts scored for Vancouver.  A crossed ball from the Vancouver left eventually came out to Alberts who gathered the ball and placed it well past Warren.

The Thunder almost responded in the 53rd minute. Ota had a shot blocked by a defender, then, on the ensuing corner kick defender Derek Smith put a header just over.

Smith made a great defensive play in the 64th.  With the Thunder playing a high line of defense, a long pass sprung the Vancouver attack.  The ref let a passive offside play correctly go, and Warren was caught in no man’s land.  Initially coming out for the ball, Warren saw that he was not going to get to it and began back peddling.  In the nick of time, Smith tackled the ball away before a shot could be taken on the retreating keeper.

The Thunder got their tally in the 66th minute on a wonder goal from Juarez.  The defensive midfielder was his usual pesky self all game, winning balls and making tackles.  He let go a ferocious shot from about 25 yards out on the right side that blistered the upper left corner.  Whitecaps goalie Tony Craig had no chance.

With the goal and tied score, Vancouver put on pressure.  Warren made a nice save getting down to stop a low shot from Vancouver’s left.  Then a few minutes later, grabbed a low cross also from the left.

In the final 15 minutes the Thunder looked the likelier side to find a match winner.  The boys in blue seemed to take Joe Mauer’s advice in his cheesy commercials and “pour it on.”  Vancouver saved 2 balls off the line in quick succession.  First Ota headed the ball on net in the 83rd from a free kick just outside the right corner of the penalty area.  Then Terry Alvino had a ball saved off the line from a corner in the 84th.

Those saves were as precious to Vancouver as the One Ring to Golem because in the 88th Vancouver’s Steven Klein put in their 2nd off a free kick that was from almost the exact spot as the Thunder’s five minutes earlier on the other end.  The cross came to the back post and the header beat Warren into the upper corner.  The Thunder had bodies in the area, but Klein’s head found the ball and produced the winning goal.

The Thunder have many new faces, and for the most part, they played with promise.  Brian Farber looked as fast as Speedie Gonzalez.  He motored all over the pitch in his 80 minutes.  Smith in defense, was solid in the center and as mentioned Ota's play showed off multiple skills.  Although they both made limited appearances in 2006, Gotsmanov and Toure are both getting starting chances this year and showed potential.  The attacking foursome of Farber, Toure, Gotsmanov and Ota hopefully will click.  Together they have a nice combination of speed and size.  If they can learn to link with each other the goals should come for the Thunder.

Defensively right back seemed to be the weakest link on the night.  The Thunder also lack some size in the back without the Branan brothers this year.

Although a disappointing loss, the Thunder showed signs that 2007 should be a better year.  The test will be if the team can gel before too much of the season slips away.

Injury Update:
Alfredo - has MCL damage, which could be severe, and will have an MRI on Monday.
Ansu Toure - has a Hip Flexor strain, and will also have an MRI on Monday.