BURNABY, BC– Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency continued their hot starts to the 2014-15 United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) season Sunday on a scorching hot day at Simon Fraser University,
Both the U-18 (4W-0L-0D) and U-16 sides (3W-0L-1d) kept their undefeated campaigns intact with come-from-behind wins over San Diego Surf.
U-18
In the day’s early match, the U-18s overcame an early deficit to put up a convincing 3-1 win over San Diego Surf U-18.
Whitecaps FC’s newest first-team signees, Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese, provided the scoring punch in the win, as Bustos posted a brace and Froese added one of his own.
The ‘Caps got off to a rocky start, as only 15 minutes in, a deep throw in their end found its way to the feet of a San Diego forward, who turned and fired a rocket past goalkeeper Marco Carducci from a difficult angle.
However, the ‘Caps didn’t take long to respond, as only three minutes later, Bustos danced his way to the top of the box and let go of a shot that curled past the outstretched fingers of the Surf goalkeeper.
Carducci, who has allowed just one goal in three appearances this season, left his mark on the match in the 30th minute. The first-team goalkeeper making a great stop on a Surf free kick, diving to his right to keep the game tied up.
Froese got in on the scoring at the 35-minute mark, beating the keeper clean with a rising shot from inside the area.
Bustos got his second goal of the day, and team-leading seventh of the season, 12 minutes into the second half. A San Diego turnover at midfield left the Surf keeper out of position, and the skipper took full advantage, lofting a shot from midfield that fell just behind the keeper and into the net.
The Blue and White were tight defensively the rest of the way, and they cruised to their second win in as many days, and fourth overall this season.
“I’m happy with the result, of course,” said head coach Niall Thompson. “Especially with the temperature and the fact that it’s our second game in two days, I’m happy with the result. There were some good performances in there and we got to play guys that haven’t seen as much time.”
ScoringSummary
15' – SDS
18' – VAN – Marco Bustos
35' – VAN – Kianz Froese
57' – VAN – Marco Bustos
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-18
1.Marco Carducci; 39.Josh Cuthbert (7.Hayden Simmonds-O’Grady 46’), 2.Andre Baires, 5.Evangelos Boucas, 17.Jeevin Kang (16.Manraj Bains 70’); 15.Drake Rendle, 19.Kianz Froese; 23.Francesco Saporito (20.Kyle Jones 76’), 10.Marco Bustos, 11.Jordan Haynes; 9.Dario Zanatta (12.William Grayson 67’)
U-16
The U-16 ‘Caps didn’t have it easy against a physical San Diego Surf U-16 side, but they battled to come back from two one-goal deficits to win a 3-2 thriller on Sunday afternoon.
Two newcomers did the scoring for Whitecaps FC, as midfielder Munir Saleh notched the ‘Caps first goal of the day and forward Duwaye Ewart picked up a brace in the win.
The Blue and White held the lion’s share of possession in the early going, and got their first quality chance in the 24th minute, as winger Daniel Sagno worked his way into the box and ripped a shot hard off the crossbar.
Five minutes later and against the run of play, the ‘Caps found themselves down 1-0 after a cross into their box was picked out of a scramble by San Diego and put behind goalkeeper Aidan Aylward.
After going into the break down by one, the ‘Caps stormed out of the gate in the second stanza.
Saleh and Michael Baldisimo combined to open the scoring for Vancouver in the 49th minute. With a crowded San Diego area in front of him, Baldisimo lofted a cross into the middle of the area. Saleh made a fantastic run, picked out the ball, and headed it past the keeper to even up the score.
Just five minutes later, San Diego got it back. A quick counterattack gave the Surf an open man in the middle of the park. A cross came in from the right flank, and their attacker made no mistake, restoring the lead.
The ‘Caps had several chances over the next few minutes, but couldn’t break through until Sagno and Terran Campbell combined to seek out Ewart inside the box. The Scarborough, Ont. native finished with no problems and tied the game up for the second time, at the 68-minute mark.
The ‘Caps earned a free kick around 75 minutes in after Nick Apostol was taken down in the box. Skipper David Norman struck it well to the lower left-hand corner, but San Diego’s keeper made a fantastic stop, knocking the ball out of bounds past the post.
On the ensuing corner kick, the ball eventually found its way through a crowded box to Ewart, who absolutely smashed a shot into the top part of the mesh, putting the ‘Caps up for good in the 77th minute.
“I’m really pleased,” said head coach Rich Fagan after the contest. “They were a completely different style of opponent than we faced yesterday and the boys found a different way to get the result. Ultimately, it came down to effort and performance, both of which were there, and I believe they got the reward they deserved.”
Scoring Summary
20' – SDS
49' – VAN – Munir Saleh (Michael Baldisimo)
54' – SDS
68' – VAN – Duwayne Ewart
77’ – VAN – Duwayne Ewart
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-16
30.Aidan Aylward; 32.Kadin Chung, 13.David Norman, 4.Matthew Baldisimo, 33.Michael Baldisimo; 45.Munir Saleh (34.Georges Mukumbilwa 72’), 37.Nicholas Apostol; 27.Daniel Sagno, 49.Gloire Amanda, (36.Cole Morokhovich 60’), 14.Terran Campbell; 41.Duwayne Ewart
