SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency teams split their final matches in San Diego on Sunday against Nomads SC. The U-18s were dealt a 4-3 defeat while the U-16s came out on top 2-1.
U-18
Whitecaps U-18 Residency were bested 4-3 by Nomads SC, ending their six-match undefeated streak.
Mark Baldisimo opened the scoring for the 'Caps in the 11th minute with a great strike from 30 yards out, tucking the ball just underneath the bar to put the squad up 1-0. Just five minute later, teammate Kianz Froese would double the ‘Caps lead after finding the back of the net from a through ball from Ali Musse. The first half would finish with the ‘Caps up 2-0.
“We were very good in the first-half,” U-18 assistant coach Steve Meadley told whitecapsfc.com. “We passed the ball well and were creating chances. The Nomads were creating chances as well, trying to catch us on the break. We really showed our qualities in the first half going forward.”
The Blue and White were not able to continue their first-half performance as they would give up a penalty-kick in the 50th minute to cut the lead in half. The Nomads would then score three consecutive goals in nine minutes to put them up 4-2.
The U-18s rallied back and scored a late goal in extra time but were not able to complete the comeback.
“It was a tale of two halves,” Meadley told whitecapsfc.com. “It seemed after we gave that penalty away we lost our way a little bit and looked a little lethargic. We were a little sloppy on our play and we were punished. They were catching us on the break and we were giving up possession in the midfield. We're disappointed with that, but we’ll take the lessons we need to learn from this see and look forward to getting back on the field next week.”
Scoring Summary
11’ – VAN – Mark Baldisimo
16’ – VAN – 19.Kianz Froese (21.Ali Musse)
50’ – NMD – (Penalty kick)
76’ – NMD
79’ – NMD
85’ – NMD
90+’ – VAN
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-18
22.Marco Carducci; 27.Chris Serban, 15.Vaggeli Boucas, 5.Nicholas Prasad, 3.Sam Adekugbe; 17.Mitch Piraux, 4.Mark Baldisimo,10.Marco Bustos, 21.Ali Musse (8.Matthew Chow 62’); 19.Kianz Froese,11.Jordan Haynes(20.Kyle Jones 79’)
U-16
Whitecaps FC U-16 Residency bounced back from their draw on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Nomads SC. The squad’s leading scorer, Dario Zanatta, scored in each half for his 14th and 15th goals of the season.
The 'Caps looked to improve on their performance from the day before as they came out strong in the first half. Zanatta opened the scoring, burying home a cross from Joshua Cuthbert in the 30th minute. The ‘Caps defence would hold tight as the first half came to a close 1-0.
“The guys obviously responded to some of the things we talked about to improve on the day before,” Residency staff coach Carl Valentine told whitecapsfc.com. “The first half I felt we played a very intelligent game with and without the ball. We started to build our confidence and got stronger as the game went on.”
The ‘Caps would open the second half on the same note as the first, creating several scoring chances. Aymar Sigue struck a shot off the post before Dario Zanatta would score his second of the game in the 70th minute to put the Canadian side up 2-0.
The Nomads would score a late consolation goal, but the ‘Caps would still come away with the 2-1 victory.
“The second half we were by far the better team,” Carl Valentine told whitecapsfc.com. “We had probably four or five really good opportunities. Overall it was a really good performance, though we were disappointed to give up a goal in the last minute. I think the team’s performance deserved a shutout.”
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-16
30.Aidan Aylward; 39.Joshua Cuthbert, 51.Manraj Bains (24.Vana Markarian 50’), 2.Andre Baires, 35.John Kasper; 13.David Norman, 23.Francesco Saporito; 50.Partick Izett (14.Aymar Sigue 50’), 36.Cole Morokovich ( 43.Daniel Sagno 50’), 9.Dario Zanatta; 25.Hayden Simmonds-O'Grady (31.Erik Morden76’)
Scoring Summary
30’ – VAN – Dario Zanatta (Joshua Cuthbert)
70’ – VAN – Dario Zanatta
79’ – NMD
