WFC2 earn all three points in return to Swangard

BURNABY, BC – It was a lively, overcast Sunday afternoon at Swangard Stadium as Whitecaps FC 2 crowned their return to Swangard Stadium with a 1-0 victory over Ventura County FC.

The match began in measured fashion, with both teams settling into the game in the opening stages. Ventura County FC came close to opening the scoring inside 15 minutes, with a whipped cross in the box bypassing everyone until the back post, where Immanuel Mathe made a big block to deny the opener.

Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau got the first shot on target for WFC2 as he brushed past two markers in the box and punted a shot towards goal, but into the waiting hands of Brady Scott. Cyprian Kachwele tried for audacious just a little while later, attempting to chip Scott with a lob from long range, but it sailed over the bar.

Fleuriau Chateau tested Scott once again, in a great opportunity in the 30th minute. Mihail Gherasimencov drove into the box from the left and laid it off for Fleuriau Chateau to shoot from the middle, having his shot tipped over by a diving Scott.

Whitecaps FC 2 came close right at the half, when Fleuriau Chateau laced another shot from just inside the box, forcing Scott to parry wide. That would be the last action of the half, with both sides going into the half on level terms.

The second half continued where the first half left off, with Whitecaps FC 2 searching for that opening goal. Fleuriau Chateau was at the heart of it again, with a great move in the 60th minute. Slipped in by Jay Herdman, Fleuriau Chateau got his feet sorted and tried to place a shot near post, but his effort was blocked before it could hit the back of the net.

Dembo Saidykhan did well to block a dangerous pass across goal in the 70th minute, sliding in to intercept it before it could reach a Ventura County player at the back post. But in the end, it was Fleuriau Chateau finally getting his goal after threatening all night with less than 15 minutes to go. Fleuriau Chateau capitalized on a poor clearence inside the box, and pounced on the loose ball before firing a shot into the roof of the net.

That would prove to be the winner as the Caps’ held on until the final whistle to record a win in their first match of the season at Swangard Stadium.

Whitecaps FC 2 are back in action against The Town FC at Swangard Stadium on Sunday, June 2 at 4 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.

MATCH DETAILS

Referee: Niko Jecanski

Scoring Summary
84’ – VAN – Nicholas Fleuriau-Chateau

Statistics
Possession: VAN 39% - VCFC 61%
Shots: VAN 18 - VCFC 10
Shots on Goal: VAN 6 - VCFC 2
Saves: VAN 2 - VCFC 5
Fouls: VAN 14 - VCFC 9
Offsides: VAN 0 - VCFC 4
Corners: VAN 8 - VCFC 8

Cautions
52’ – VAN – Ralph Priso
80’ – VAN – Jeevan Badwal
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
50.Max Anchor; 56.Immanuel Mathe, 53.Buster Sjöberg, 51.c, 54.Mihail Gherasimencov; 41.Eliot Goldthorpe, 13.Ralph Priso (59.Jeevan Badwal 58’), 48.Malcom Simmons, 92.Jay Herdman; 55.Cyprian Kachwele (44.Myles Morgan 39’), 52.Nicolas Fleuriau-Chateau (97.Liam Mackenzie 90’+1)

Substitutes not used
99.Matheus De Souza, 46.Darko Ilić, 49.Malek Mehri, 95.Joshué Ndakala

Ventura County FC
31.Brady Scott; 75.Harbor Miller, 47.Carson Klein, 67.Christian Tchouante, 50.Riley Dalgado; 52.Isaiah Parente (53.David Díaz 89’), 21.Tucker Lepley; 71.Erik Hernandez (29.Aaron Bibout HT), 84.Ruben Ramos Jr, 30.Gino Vivi; 61.Sean Karani (74.Sergio Villalpando 81’)

Substitutes not used
81.Lucca Adams, 48.Diego López, 68.Max Middleby, 90.Emiliano Garcia