VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC's Boy MLS Academy side played to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against visiting Unity FC at Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday afternoon as they began their League1 BC title defence.
It was a match with a dramatic start and a dramatic ending. Both the goals came in an end-to-end first half, with both teams cancelling each other out in a second half that saw neither defence give their opponents much.
Unity came out all guns blazing and former 'Caps striker Patrick Izett fired them ahead with just 52 seconds on the clock.
The 'Caps settled and after the teams exchanged a couple of half chances, they got themselves back on level terms in the 29th minute.
Angelo Zhu powered forward and played a nice give and go with David Ajagbe, collecting the return pass to fire the equalizer past David Hicks in the Unity goal with a wonderful left-footed finish.
Amir Ghasemi had a chance to put the ‘Caps ahead in the 35th minute, firing wide, but the teams headed into the half level.
Izett nearly put Unity back in the lead in the 54th minute, running onto a through ball, which he was able to knock past Alexander but the ball carried away from between the posts and the danger was cleared.
As the game headed deep into stoppage time, Unity pushed forward. A scramble in the box saw bodies flying and the ball break to Unity forward Xander Roxburgh. His shot hit the outstretched arm of Aidan Fong and the referee pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Jordan Low but his penalty was superbly saved by 'Caps goalkeeper Ben Alexander, who dived to his right to turn the ball away.
There was still time for Vancouver to launch a last ditch attack of their own as Benjamin Lee powered forward. He played the ball out to Markus Rukavina, whose shot was saved by Hicks at the near post while Lee’s shot from the rebound deflected wide.
Both teams would have to settle for a point in their opening match of the season.
The Boys return to action next Sunday, May 5, as they take on TSS Rovers at Thunderbird Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Amer Radic
Scoring Summary
1’ – UNI – Patrick Izett
29’ – VAN – Angelo Zhu (David Ajagbe)
Cautions
35' – VAN – Benjamin Lee
64' – UNI – Adam Hadjecki
81' – VAN – Cristiano Da Silva
88' – VAN – Amoni Thomas
90+4' – VAN – Aidan Fong
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Boys MLS Academy
90.Ben Alexander; 84.Amoni Thomas (91.Felix Masson 90+2'), 87.Sahai Williams, 51.Dembo Saidykhan (65.Mario Lefevre HT), 88.Angelo Zhu; 68.Cristiano Da Silva, 23.Amir Ghasemi (95.Markus Rukavina 66’), 73.Benjamin Lee; 89.Elijah Bean (34.Riley Ferraro HT), 98.David Ajagbe (82.Rayan Elloumi 66’), 79.Matteo Samori (74.Aidan Fong 59')
Substitutes not used
99.Matheus da Souza
