VANCOUVER, BC – Whitecaps FC 2 suffered a 4-0 defeat to an experienced and in-form Phoenix Rising FC side on Sunday afternoon at UBC Thunderbird Stadium.
On an afternoon when WFC2 head coach Rich Fagan fielded a young starting lineup featuring five teenagers and seven Canadians, it was the experience of Rising FC that prevailed. Montreal native Alessandro Riggi led the way for Phoenix with a goal and two assists, helping the high-flying Arizona outfit extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches.
Phoenix opened the scoring just four minutes into the match, when Jason Johnson flicked a Riggi cross into the far corner with a looping header from about 12 yards.
Riggi then doubled Phoenix’s lead just two minutes later, finishing a quick counter with a chipped effort from the right side of the box, before Chris Cortez and Gladson Awako added insurance markers in the 50th and 76th minutes, respectively.
WFC2 controlled 60 per cent of possession on the afternoon and oustshot Phoenix 14-12. They also created some decent opportunities for Terran Campbell, who once again looked dangerous on the left wing, but ultimately proved unable to claw back from the early deficit.
Next up for WFC2 is their final Cascadia derby of the season next Saturday against Timbers 2. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. PT at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley. WFC2 will then visit Real Monarchs SLC on October 7 before concluding the season against Orange County SC on October 13 at UBC Thunderbird Stadium. Visit whitecapsfc2.com for ticket information.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Alain Ruch
Attendance: 827
Scoring Summary
4’ – PHX – Jason Johnson (Alessandro Riggi)
6’ – PHX – Alessandro Riggi (Gladson Awako)
50’ – PHX – Chris Cortez (Alessandro Riggi)
76’ – PHX – Gladson Awako (Jason Johnson)
Statistics
Possession: Vancouver 59.5% – Phoenix 40.4%
Shots: Vancouver 14 – Phoenix 12
Shots on Goal: Vancouver 7 – Phoenix 6
Saves: Vancouver 2 – Phoenix 7
Fouls: Vancouver 13 – Phoenix 8
Offsides: Vancouver 3 – Phoenix 0
Corners: Vancouver 8 – Phoenix 4
Cautions
None
Whitecaps FC 2
40.Sean Melvin; 14.Cole Seiler, 33.Francis de Vries, 51.Danny Barbir; 55.Chris Serban (63.Kadin Chung 59’), 66.Michael Baldisimo, 42.David Norman Jr., 61.Terran Campbell; 48.Patrick Metcalfe (54.Gloire Amanda 59’), 45.Myer Bevan (57.Thomas Sanner 77’), 32.Marco Bustos ©
Substitutes not used
53.Mark Village, 41.Dominick Zator, 58.Will Seymore, 65.Matthew Baldisimo
Phoenix Rising FC
18.Josh Cohen; 15.Jordan Gibbons, 33.Jordan Stewart ©, 2.Doueugui Mala, 19.Amadou Dia; 16.Sam Hamilton, 27.Kevon Lambert; 17.Alessandro Riggi (8.Matt Watson 74’), 28.Gladson Awako, 14.Jason Johnson (24.AJ Gray 88’); 7.Chris Cortez
Substitutes not used
12.John Berner, 3.Kody Wakasa 4.Blair Gavin, 5.Peter Ramage, 29.Shaun Wright-Phillips
