By:Aaron Campbell (Twitter:@AaCamp81)
Match Report Courtesy of Whitecaps FC 2
Current Western Conference USL Standings
A thrilling 4-3 win over a rival? Where have we heard that before?
A day after the first team’s 4-3 victory over Toronto FC, WFC2 (5W-0L-2D) defeated LA Galaxy II (4W-2L-4D) by the same scoreline in front of energetic crowd of 2,778 on Sunday at UBC Thunderbird Stadium.
It was another fun game to watch on the Point Grey campus.
Fifteen-year-old Alphonso Davies scored his first professional goal, fellow Canadian Brett Levis opened his account for 2016, and captain Kyle Greig added to his team-leading tally with a first-half brace.
With the win, WFC2 leapfrog their fellow MLS-owned West Coast rival into the top spot in the Western Conference. WFC2 remain the only unbeaten team in the United Soccer League.
More encouraging, perhaps, is the development of Davies and the other youngsters on the squad.
Davies, who made his sixth straight start, was one of five Whitecaps FC Residency products and seven Canadians in Alan Koch’s starting lineup. They had a combined two goals and four assists.
The young ‘Caps came out flying in this one, scoring three goals in the first 21 minutes.
Greig got things started in the third minute, finishing off a pretty passing play between Residency products Marco Bustos and Kadin Chung, who delivered a perfect cross from the right to pick up his second assist in as many games.
Bustos and Chung were both lively in the early going – as was Davies.
But Greig added his second of the match and team-leading seventh of the season in the 17th minute, once again tapping in a pass from the right. This time it was Daniel Haber who provided the service after some great interplay between Chung and fellow Residency grad Matthew Baldisimo, who picked up his first assist as a pro on the goal.
The ‘Caps weren’t done there.
Just four minutes later, Davies got in on the fun. The 15-year-old picked off 21-year-old U.S. youth international Oscar Sorto, darted into in the box, and finished to make it 3-0 with his first of the season.
LA got one back in the 35th minute through first-teamer Jose Villarreal, who curled in a left-footed free kick from distance. Villarreal had two more great chances early in the second half, but goalkeeper Sean Melvin shut the door on both occasions.
This one ended just how it started – with a flurry of goals.
In the 81st minute, Levis made it 4-1 for WFC2. After making an interception from his left back position, the Saskatoon native raced up the field, played a nice one-two with Bustos, and then eventually banged in a rebound to score his first goal as a left back.
LA Galaxy made it interesting late with an 84th-minute Denzel Slager half-volley and stoppage time Villarreal penalty, but WFC2 held on for the victory.
Next up for WFC2 are a pair of road matches at Portland Timbers 2 and Saint Louis FC before hosting Real Monarchs SLC on May 29 as part of the Kids and ‘Caps Children’s Festival – there will be a bouncy castle, carnival games, and a live performance from youth band Sm:)e.
NEWS AND NOTES
Goalkeeper Marco Carducci, fullback Chris Serban, and midfielder Ben McKendry are away with the Canadian U-23 national team for a pair of international friendlies vs. Guyana and Grenada … WFC2 have now won three consecutive matches.
Attendance: 2,778
Scoring Summary
3’ – VAN – Kyle Greig (Kadin Chung, Marco Bustos)
17’ – VAN – Kyle Greig (Daniel Haber, Matthew Baldisimo)
21’ – VAN – Alphonso Davies
35’ – LA – Jose Villarreal
81’ – VAN – Brett Levis
84’ – LA – Denzel Slager
90’ + 2’ – LA – Jose Villarreal (penalty kick)
Stats
Shots: VAN 12 – LA 16
Saves: VAN 5 – LA 3
Corners: VAN 2 – LA 6
Fouls: VAN 20 – LA 13
Cautions
10’ – LA – Jose Villarreal
24’ – VAN – Matthew Baldisimo
71’ – LA – Lee Nishanian
73’ – VAN – Fatawu Safiu
90′ + 4′ – VAN – Thomas Gardner
Whitecaps FC 2
40.Sean Melvin; 63.Kadin Chung, 51.Sem de Wit, 14.Cole Seiler, 46.Brett Levis; 65.Matthew Baldisimo (45.Giulano Frano 53’), 58.Will Seymore (37.Mitch Piraux 76’); 56.Daniel Haber (61.Terran Campbell 90’), 32.Marco Bustos (64.Thomas Gardner 84’), 67.Alphonso Davies (49.Fatawu Safiu 68’), 47.Kyle Greig
Substitutes not used
39.Spencer Richey, 41.Jackson Farmer
LA Galaxy II
31.Clement Diop; 36.Oscar Sorto (58.Kainoa Bailey 83’), 72.Lee Nishanian, 69.Jeffrey Payeras (47.Nathan Smith 75’), 29.Josh Turnley; 65.Jaime Villarreal, 57.Alejandro Covarrubias (48.Rio Fujii 75’) , 40.Raul Mendiola; 68.Denzel Slager; 51.Ethan Zubak (73.Adonis Amaya 68’), 5.Jose Villarreal
Substitutes not used
75.Eric Lopez, 62.John Neeskens
