MARBELLA, SPAIN – Playing a mixed lineup, Vancouver Whitecaps FC threatened in the first half before falling to Puskás Akadémia on two late goals in their second preseason match on Monday.
Defender LuÃs Martins and forward Fafà Picault made their first appearances of preseason, playing the first 34 minutes before planned substitutions. Striker Brian White is expected to join Whitecaps FC for preseason this week after making his debut with the United States men's national team, while midfielder Pedro Vite continues with Ecuador's U-23 national team in Conmebol Olympic qualifying after captaining the side with a two-assist man of the match performance in a 3-0 opening with over Colombia on Saturday.
The 'Caps looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.
In the first 10 minutes, Ryan Raposo earned a free kick before Sebastian Berhalter had his strike blocked.
Late in the half, two more quality opportunities arose for the blue-clad 'Caps. First, a Berhalter corner kick was met with a diving header from Damir Kreilach that was saved on the line. Then, just before the break, a great one-touch play from Ryan Gauld ended with a strike from Berhalter off the post.
At halftime, the nine remaining starting players were subbed out.
In the 51st minute, Lowell Wright had a left footed shot from outside the box, but it was saved by the keeper.
On 65 minutes, Levonte Johnson earned a free kick. SuperDraft selection Eliot Goldthorp took the ensuing free kick, just hitting the outside side netting.
Goldthorp then had one more chance on 74 minutes, breaking down the left and having his shot saved from a tight angle.
With 10 minutes remaining, Puskas found a pair of quick goals in the 81st and 83rd minutes to take the victory.
Whitecaps FC will be back in preseason action this coming Saturday, January 27 against FK TSC of the Serbian SuperLiga, with kickoff time at 5 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. local time. The ‘Caps will wrap-up the camp against Norwegian side FK Haugesund on January 30, with kickoff set for 5 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. local time.
**MATCH DETAILS
Scoring Summary**
81’ – PAFC
83’ – PAFC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
First Half
18.Yohei Takaoka; 23.Javain Brown, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 14.LuÃs Martins (48.Belal Halbouni 34'), 27.Ryan Raposo; 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 59.Jeevan Badwal^, 26.J.C. Ngando; 19.Damir Kreilach; 92.Fafà Picault (52.Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau+ 34'), 25.Ryan Gauld ©
Second Half
32.Isaac Boehmer ©; 2.MathÃas Laborda, 48.Belal Halbouni+ (53.Buster Sjöberg+ 62'), 6.Tristan Blackmon, 46.Darko Ilić^ (51.Dembo Saidykhan^ 76'); 41.Eliot Goldthorp+, 20.Andrés Cubas, 8.Alessandro Schöpf; 42.Lowell Wright^; 52.Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau+ (49.Malek Mehri^ 62'), 28.Levonte Johnson
^ WFC2 & Academy camp invitee
+ Unsigned SuperDraft selection or trialist
