LANGFORD, BC – Whitecaps FC 2 continued their preseason in Langford, BC on Friday, falling 3-2 against Canadian Premier League side Valour FC.
The 'Caps put on the pressure early, with right wingback Eric White forcing a low save, and left wingback Ali Ahmed just missing the left hand corner, before Simon Becher was stopped twice as he got in on goal.
With three minutes remaining in the first half, WFC2 took the lead. Cristian Campagna cleared a ball which Becher took down under pressure, turning and deftly feeding Jay Herdman who finished calmly past the keeper.
Valour equalized on 56 minutes, as Matthew Catavolo slotted into the bottom corner.
After a series of substitutions, the Winnipeg side scored twice more on good finishes from Moses Dyer and Federico Peña to go up 3-1.
But the 'Caps would not give up. With eight minutes remaining, Ahmed slopped in Filip Rakic, who stayed onside and drove a shot off the post and in to make it 3-2.
Another goal was not to be as the final whistle blew.
WFC2 now get set to kick off their inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season next Saturday, March 26 on the road in Houston at Dynamo Dos. The live stream will be available at mlsnextpro.com and whitecapsfc.com. Two weeks later, the Blue and White will host their home opener on Sunday, April 10 versus Timbers 2 at Swangard Stadium.
Whitecaps FC 2
60.Isaac Boehmer; 53.Simone Masi, 64.Cristian Campagna (83.Finn Linder 78'), 61.Matteo Campagna (95.Joshué Ndakala 78'); 58.Eric White (57.Elage Bah 68'), 66.Giovanni Aguilar, 52.Vasco Fry, 68.Owen Antoniuk (47.Luis Felipe Fernandez Salvador 68'), 51.Ali Ahmed (44.Chris Lee 83'); 92.Jay Herdman (46.Filip Rakic 60'), 29.Simon Becher (76.Joe Hanson 60')