Whitecaps FC 2 get first win against Cascadia foes Sounders FC 2

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC2 squad won their home opener in a Cascadia Match with their rivals on the road on I-5 as they took on Seattle Sounders FC 2 at McLeod Stadium in Langley, Bc.

Vancouver opened the scoring against a younger Sounders side in the 13th minute as 3rd year veteran in the USL took a nice combination of passes from first year player Francis de Vries to blast home the games opening goal past a startled Sounders keeper Tyler Miller to give the Caps a 1-0 lead.

Seattle found their legs midway through the opening half using their speed and youth creating chances against the Caps. The Sounders were awarded a half dozen corner kicks but the Caps defense was steady in turning them away. Whitecaps goalkeeper Spencer Richey, who spent some time with the senior side last season, came up with a couple of big stops to preserve the shutout.

The Caps continued to play sound soccer with every player getting a touch of the ball in the first half.  That created problems for the Sounders defense as they came close to expanding the lead with a pair of chances late in the half. But Seattle stood strong holding the Caps to just the one goal.

In the second half Seattle seemed much more comfortable playing within their system as they used the ground attack with several one time touches of the ball. That in turn spread the Whitecaps giving the junior Sounders side some excellent chances to get back into the match.

But Vancouver adjusted and got the momentum back late in the game with some timely substitutions as well their opponents also sent in some key subs that made the game interesting.

Caps goalkeeper Spencer Richey was forced to punch the ball away from twice in the second half. He also stopped Zack Mathews and Seyi Adekoya on a series of set pieces.

Vancouver put the game away late in the half as substitute Andy Thoma scored a beauty off a set piece from Gloire Amada. Amada laid in a perfect cross that allowed Thoma  to toe home his shot past Tyler Miller. Thoma’s goal in the 86th minute was his first of the season.

The Caps garnered one more goal in the game in the 94th minute of extra time on a beauty by Ben McKendry fron a cross by veteran Will Seymore. McKendry, who has been with the Whitecaps since 2011, blasted home his chance to expand the lead to. For the 588 Caps 2 supporters in attendance it was a welcomed relief as it was their first win of the 2017 season. The three points against their rivals pushed their record to 1-1-1 in 2017. Another Cascadia match awaits as they will travel to Providence Park to take on T2.

Vancouver next game is on the road at Portland in Providence Park as they take on the Timbers in a key Cascadia match before returning home to face San Antonio FC at Thunderbird Stadium at UBC at 3pm on the 22nd of April.