By:Aaron Campbell (Twitter:@AaCamp81)
Match Report Courtesy of Whitecaps FC 2
Current USL Western Conference Standings
Returning home to face their Cascadia rivals, Whitecaps FC 2 drew 1-1 versus Seattle Sounders FC 2 with Daniel Haber recording the second-half equalizer after Zach Mathers opened the scoring in the 36th minute at Thunderbird Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
WFC2 made a number of changes from Wednesday’s starting lineup against Arizona United SC, inserting six players who were involved in the first team’s opening 1-0 CONCACAF Champions League win in Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday night as Marco Carducci, Brett Levis, Sem de Wit, Ben McKendry, Marco Bustos and Kyle Greig all got the starting nod.
Having caused Seattle some trouble early on with some tricky one-touch passing up front, the ‘Caps brought the crowd to life in the 10th minute as Bustos rocketed a shot from just inside the visitors’ box, hitting the inside of the left post, before ricocheting out to the six-yard box. The rebound found the foot of Giuliano Frano, who sent the ball soaring into the back of the S2 net. Unfortunately for the ‘Caps, the play was called offside, and the match stayed scoreless.
Though WFC2 had most of the promising chances early, Seattle was the first to break the scoring drought in the 36th minute. Centre back Jordy Delem sent a through ball up to central midfielder Zach Mathers, who breezed through the ‘Caps defensive line and lofted the ball over Carducci. His shot rippled the back netting, putting the visiting side ahead late in the first half, giving his team the 1-0 lead heading into the break.
It didn’t take the home side long to even it up though. As the second half got underway, Haber got the ‘Caps on the scoreboard with a beautiful low shot finding its way through the feet of Seattle’s defence and past goalkeeper Charlie Lyon. The Ontario native has now scored or assisted in each of the last four matches, while Bustos was credited for his second assist on the year.
Sounders FC 2 had the fans holding their breath into added time, as striker Myron Samuel latched on to a through ball and managed to get a step ahead of the ‘Caps backline. His shot rocketed over the net, and WFC2 narrowly escaped a last-minute heartbreaker.
With the final whistle, the second meeting between the two Cascadia rivals ended in a 1-1 draw. Whitecaps FC 2 improve to 37 points with a 10W-5L-7D record, while Sounders FC 2 extend their undefeated match streak to five and now are at 7W-9L-6D.
WFC2 are back at it on Wednesday, August 10 when they host Orange County Blues FC at Thunderbird Stadium for Catching Fire Night with fans being treated to an amazing fire performance by AcroFire Entertainment. Tickets are available here.
Attendance: 2,284
Scoring Summary
36’ – SEA – Zach Mathers (Jordy Delem)
54’ – VAN – Daniel Haber (Marco Bustos)
Stats
Shots: VAN 14 – SEA 11
Shots on Goal: VAN 2 – SEA 5
Saves: VAN 4 – SEA 1
Corners: VAN 3 – SEA 9
Cautions
8’ – VAN – Fatawu Safiu
30’ – VAN – Daniel Haber
63’ – SEA – Devon Fisher
69’ – VAN – Giuliano Frano
Whitecaps FC 2
24.Marco Carducci; 45.Giuliano Frano, 51.Sem de Wit, 54.Elliot Green, 46.Brett Levis (62.Deklan Wynne 64‘); 58.Will Seymore, 30.Ben McKendry (57.Thomas Sanner 79‘); 56.Daniel Haber, 32.Marco Bustos (65.Matthew Baldisimo 71‘), 49.Fatawu Safiu; 47.Kyle Greig ©
Substitutes not used
39.Spencer Richey, 41.Jackson Farmer, 42.Jordan Haynes, 50.Sahil Sandhu
Seattle Sounders FC 2
22.Charlie Lyon ©; 81.Devon Fisher, 77.Jordy Delem, 25.Tony Alfaro, 35.Nouhou Tolo; 34.Jordan Schweitzer, 90.Mark O’Ojong (41.Lorenzo Ramos 88‘), 32.Zach Mathers (92.Willy Kapawa 90‘+4’); 17.Darwin Jones, 95.Carlos Patino (88.Emir Alihodzic 69‘), 97.Myron Samuel
Substitutes not used
98.Matt Bersano, 36.Michael Nelson, 53.Kei Tomozowa, 70.Brandon John
