CLOVIS, CALIFORNIA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency remain undefeated in the 2013-14 United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) season after a pair of shutout wins over Cal Odyssey Saturday in California.
Whitecaps FC’s U-18 side won 3-0, before the U-16s followed suit with a big 5-0 win to cap off the afternoon. Both sides now have a 2W-0L-0D record this young season.
U-18
Clovis East High School played host to a completely dominant effort from Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency (2W-0L-0D).
Fresh off a 3-1 victory in their USSDA opener on Thursday, Whitecaps FC U-18 cruised to a 3-0 victory over Cal Odyssey (0W-1L-0D) in a hot and humid contest on Saturday.
Striker Matthew Chow led the way for the Blue and White with a goal and an assist and goalkeeper Marco Carducci posted a clean sheet in his first appearance this season. Chow and Canadian U-17 teammate Marco Bustos now each have a pair of goals in Vancouver’s first two USSDA contests.
“It was another hot day, another challenge,” assistant coach Steve Meadley told whitecapsfc.com. “We worked our way into the game and they came out really strong, physical, and looked to press us really high. So once we found our legs and put our passing and our quick transition game together, which is an important part of what we do, then the chances and the game started to open up for us.”
The match started off slow for the ‘Caps, but they broke through on a penalty kick after fullback Sam Adekugbe was tripped up from behind in the box. Bustos converted the penalty in the 18th minute to give the ‘Caps the 1-0 early advantage.
The visiting ‘Caps then got some insurance late in the second half when Chow sent midfielder Kianz Froese on a brilliant run down the middle to score off a shot from 20 yards out.
Chow then capped off a fine outing with a goal of his own in the 89th minute. The Vancouver-born striker put the nail in the coffin by firing home a blast after a great run down the left side in which he cut in and curled the ball inside the far right post.
All but one available player on the roster made an appearance in the match, including newcomer Nike Azuma.
“We were happy with our performance, and it’s always about the performance, the results will come after that,” said Meadley. “This is a trying little trip for the boys, and we’re not looking to moan about it obviously, we are working hard and because of that the results are coming. It’s early in the season, new players are now finding their way to the team. It is just great to get everybody involved and keep the squad rotating.”
Scoring Summary:
18' - VAN – Marco Bustos (PK)
72' - VAN – Kianz Froese (Matthew Chow)
89' - VAN – Matthew Chow
Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency
Marco Carducci; Andre Baires (Vaggeli Boucas 68’), Jackson Farmer, Nicholas Prasad, Sam Adekugbe; Jordan Haynes (Mark Baldisimo 80’), Mitch Piraux (Kianz Froese 60’), Marco Bustos; Matthew Chow, Nike Azuma (Kyle Jones 75’), Titouan Chopin (Mason James 50’)
U-16
In the back half of Saturday’s doubleheader, Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-16 Residency (2W-0L-0D) easily earned a 5-0 road victory against Cal Odyssey (0W-1L-0D) in their second match of the 2013-14 season.
Former FC Edmonton Reserves striker Aymar Sigue potted home two goals to bring his early season total up to three, and Delta native Patrick Izett had one goal and two assists in a dominant effort from the ‘Caps.
Goalkeeper Luciano Trasolini also posted a clean sheet in his season debut to keep the Blue and White’s season starting shutout streak intact.
“Considering the temperature, the boys really worked hard,” Whitecaps FC U-16 head coach Rich Fagan told whitecapsfc.com. “They did not let the conditions affect their performance one bit.”
“I am very pleased with everyone’s effort thus far,” he added.
Playing a 4-3-3 formation, the ‘Caps got off to a rocking start off a slick strike from Sigue, who intercepted a pass in the attacking third, ran the ball forward and slotted it in with his left foot in the 13th minute.
The young ‘Caps continued their dominant first half when Dario Zanatta potted home his first goal of the season off a perfect pass from Izett in the 24th minute.
Sigue put home his third goal of the young season in the 31st minute, when Izett corralled a long ball and sent it through to Sigue for one of his two assists on the day. Sigue then rounded the goalkeeper to score his second tally of the match and give Vancouver a 3-0 lead.
Izett then joined in on the first-half scoring barrage when he took the Erik Morden cross and coolly put the ball away to extend the ‘Caps lead to four goals.
By the time the second half had rolled around, there was no doubt of the result, but Francesco Saporito scored his first tally of the season on a penalty kick for good measure to seal a 5-0 victory for the Blue and White.
The squad will not get much time to celebrate, however, as Vancouver’s U-16 and U-18 sides are back on the road to battle San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday.
Scoring Summary:
13’ – VAN – Aymar Sigue
24’ – VAN – Dario Zanatta (Patrick Izett)
31’ – VAN – Aymar Sigue (Patrick Izett)
33’ – VAN – Patrick Izett (Erik Morden)
65’ – VAN – Francesco Saporito (PK)
Whitecaps FC U-16 Residency
Luciano Trasolini; Erik Morden, Eric de Graaf, Manraj Bains, John Kasper; Matthew Baldisimo (Thomas Gardner 41’), Jeevin Kang (David Norman 41’), Francesco Saporito (Cole Morokhovich 63’); Patrick Izett, Dario Zanatta (Rahid Rahiem 55’), Aymar Sigue (Terran Campbell 63’)
