BURNABY, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency still haven’t lost a match in the 2014-15 United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) season, as both the U-18s and U-16s rolled to convincing wins over their counterparts from Nomads SC.
U-18
The U-18s kicked off the day with a highlight-ridden affair, as they dominated Nomads SC U-18 to the tune of an 8-0 romp.
Victoria’s Dario Zanatta bagged his second hat-trick in as many games, while Kianz Froese and Ali Musse each notched a brace. Francesco Saporito also had one for the home side, and goalkeeper Marco Carducci was perfect in the win.
After Carducci and the defence thwarted some early Nomads SC set pieces, Zanatta got the ‘Caps on the board in the 12th minute, as he took a great ball from Terran Campbell and broke in alone on the Nomads SC keeper. Zanatta was stopped on his original attempt, but stayed with the ball and tucked in the rebound.
Nomads SC had a great chance to even the score as a forward picked up a loose ball and found himself with only Carducci to beat. However, the Calgarian keeper made a fantastic stop diving to his left and kept the ‘Caps in front.
Zanatta got his second of the day just as the first half was winding down. In first half stoppage time, Hayden Simmonds-O’Grady delivered a great cross in from the right flank and the striker made no mistake, finishing from inside the Nomads SC box.
At halftime, head coach Niall Thompson had a simple message for the club: “Finish this off.”
Message received.
The ‘Caps stormed out of the gate in the second half, scoring four goals in the first 15 minutes.
The first, in the 49th, minute was started by a beautiful passing play between Froese and defender Jeevin Kang. Froese ended up against a single defender in the box. Froese beat him, then beat the goalie for a 3-0 lead.
A minute later, skipper Marco Bustos danced around defenders at the top of the box before letting go of a low, hard shot that the Nomads SC keeper stopped. However, Zanatta was in the right place to pick up the rebound and his third goal of the contest.
Francesco Saporito got one in the 54th minute, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box, before Ali Musse tore down the left flank four minutes later to make it 6-0 only five minutes later.
Froese added another in the 68th minute, taking a nice ball from Musse and firing a rocket from inside the 18.
Musse got another one right before the final whistle, after a cross from Saporito found him all aone in the box.
As pleased as he is with the result, Thompson is even more thrilled with the performance and what it means for the team moving forward.
“It was a good result, but I’m more happy with the performance because I think we’re coming together more as team,” said Thompson. “Result aside, we’re starting to hit the goals that we’ve put forth, and I’m happy.”
Scoring summary:
12' - VAN – Dario Zanatta
45' - VAN – Dario Zanatta (Hayden Simmonds-O’Grady)
49' - VAN – Kianz Froese (Jeevan Kang)
50' - VAN – Dario Zanatta
54' - VAN – Francesco Saporito
59' - VAN – Ali Musse
68' - VAN – Kianz Froese (Ali Musse)
89' - VAN – Ali Musse (Francesco Saporito)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-18
1.Marco Carducci; 17.Jeevin Kang, 5.Vaggeli Boucas, 6.Eric de Graaf, 11. Jordan Haynes (39.Josh Cuthbert 59’); 15.Drake Rendle (24.Vana Markarian 45'), 19.Kianz Froese; 7.Hayden Simmonds-O'Grady (23.Francesco Saporito 45’), 10.Marco Bustos (12.William Grayson 59’), 14.Terran Campbell (8.Ali Musse 45’), 9.Dario Zanatta
U-16
The U-16s went out looking for their third win of the season at SFU on Saturday afternoon, and they earned it with a hard-fought 3-0 win over Nomads SC U-18.
Daniel Sagno, Matthew Baldisimo, and captain David Norman potted goals for the Blue and White in the victory.
The match started off as a battle of defences. The ‘Caps pressured several times, but Nomads SC’s keeper came up big early, stopping Sagno on a breakaway and corralling a point blank chance created by some fantastic passing from the ‘Caps.
In the Whitecaps FC end, keeper Luciano Trasolini was no less, as he stopped a few Nomads SC chances off of set pieces, including a great reaction stop on a header from inside the 18.
The ‘Caps finally opened the scoring in the 35th minute, as Sagno picked up the rebound off a shot by Cole Morokhovich and outwaited the diving goalkeeper before putting the home side up 1-0.
In the second half, the ‘Caps came out flying.
Newcomer Gloire Amanda had a great chance to post his first goal as a ‘Cap in the 47th minute, but fired a shot off of the left post from just inside the 18.
The ‘Caps picked up some insurance at the 60 minute mark, as the second ball off of a free kick found its way to the feet of Baldisimo, who finished with ease from in close.
After second half substitute Nathan Graziano earned a penalty kick with some hard running through the 18 yard box, Norman capped off the scoring with a well-placed shot to the low left corner.
"I’m really pleased with the overall performance,” said head coach Rich Fagan. “Nomads are a tough team – they work hard, they press, and they’re relentless. For us to play through that pressure and keep our composure and persistence, I was really pleased.”
Scoring Summary
35' - VAN – Daniel Sagno
60' - VAN - Matthew Baldisimo
79' - VAN – David Norman (penalty kick)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-16
42.Luciano Trasolini; 32.Kadin Chung, 40.Brendan Skinner (47.Jonas Hakkinen 60’), 4.Matthew Baldisimo, 33.Michael Baldisimo; 13.David Norman, 45.Munir Saleh (34.Georges Mukumbilwa 55’); 36.Cole Morokhovich, 37.Nicholas Apostol (49.Gloire Amanda 45’), 41.Duwayne Ewart; 27.Daniel Sagno (44.Nathan Graziano 60’)
