VANCOUVER, BC – The League1 BC men's division tightened once again on Saturday, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC MLS Academy fell to a late 2-1 defeat against Harbourside FC at Thunderbird Stadium.
Three minutes from second half stoppage time, Harbourside substitute Charlie Purcell broke the home side’s hearts when he smashed home a rebound past Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Alex Milosevic for the game-winner.
With this result, the young ’Caps (4W-2L-4D) sit third in the table – two points behind TSS Rovers and Altitude FC. Meanwhile, Harbourside FC (4W-4L2D) is now only two points behind Whitecaps FC, in fourth.
Other than the late drama, Milosevic had a strong overall performance in net for Whitecaps FC. Time and again, he sprinted all over the box to smother loose balls, or to challenge shooters to hurriedly take a crack over the crossbar, and out of danger.
Early on, he charged out to cover Harbourside FC forward Tristan Cornwell’s looping header on target.
Four minutes before the half, it was the 'Caps who would open the scoring. Edwin Espinal put his team up one goal to the good, as he booted home a deflection off captain Matteo Samori’s cross for a 1-0 lead.
After play restarted, Harbourside FC’s Billy Bagiopoulos steered home the equalizer from in close.
But the ’Caps were undeterred. Slick speedster Cristiano Da Silva juked his way and put on the jets for a powerful 30-yard drive snagged by Harbourside FC ’keeper Callum Weir.
At the other end, Milosevic came way off his line to deal with a dangerous through ball with Bagiopoulous in hot pursuit – but the ’keeper won the duel.
However, it was not to be for the 'Caps, as Purcell’s late heroics gave the visitors the victory.
Next up, Whitecaps FC will host Burnaby FC on Sunday, July 14 at 3 p.m. PT at Thunderbird Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Amer Ramic
Scoring Summary
41’ – VAN – Edwin Espinal (Matteo Samori)
52’ – HAR – Billy Bagiopoulos (Ashton Bryant)
87’ – HAR – Charlie Purcell (Ben Creswick)
Cautions
90’+1 – VAN – Elijah Bean
90’+4 – HAR – Fergus Hall
Whitecaps FC MLS Academy
80.Alex Milosevic; 77.Joshue Ndakala, 87.Sahai Williams (78.Colby Renton 76’), 72.Nikos Clarke-Tosczak; 84.Amoni Thomas (89.Elijah Bean 67’), 68.Cristiano Da Silva, 65.Mario Lefevre (95.Markus Rukavina 72’), 88.Angelo Zhu (74.Aidan Fong 59’), 85.Sydney Wathuta; 79.Matteo Samori (34.Riley Ferraro 59’), 94.Edwin Espinal (98.David Ajagbe 77’)
Substitute not used
20.Hayden Franks
