RICHMOND, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency teams went unbeaten against San Jose Earthquakes Academy on Saturday at Minoru Park in Richmond. The U-18s fended off their MLS counterparts to earn a 4-3 win, while the U-16s played to a 0-0 draw.
U-18
The ‘Caps played a fierce back and forth match against San Jose Earthquakes Academy on Saturday, eventually besting the visitors 4-3.
Marco Bustos opened the scoring in the 21st minute, cutting into the box and lifting the ball over the keeper with style to his team up 1-0. Kianz Froese later followed with a goal of his own in the 39th minute to increase the lead to 2-0. San Jose would cut the lead in the 40th minute, ending the first half with the ‘Caps on top 2-1.
“With regards to our play in the first half, we had some great possession and some great movement with the ball and without the ball, ” U-18 staff coach Niall Thompson told whitecapsfc.com.
The seesaw match continued in the second half as San Jose would tie the game in the 51st minute. Whitecaps FC would answer back again three minutes later to take the lead as Ali Musse found the back of the net. But the Earthquakes would not go down easily and tied it again in the 57th minute.
As the 'Caps pushed again and pressed their attack, Froese would seal the game winner in the 70th to give his side a 4-3 lead it would not give up. With his goal, Froese is now the leading scorer for the squad with 10 goals for the season. Bustos comes in at a close second with nine.
“It was good to see Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese working together,” U-18 staff coach Steve Meadley told whitecapsfc.com. “They have spent time with the first team. They were connecting and creating chances all game long. Obviously our first game back playing again after a break, we were happy to get back at it and to come out with the performance and the result. We set the stage to move forward now as the games will come fast."
The 'Caps currently sit in a playoff spot, five points back of first place Seattle Sounders FC in the Northwest division but with two games in hand on their Cascadia rivals
Scoring Summary
21’ – VAN – Marco Bustos
39’ – VAN – Kianz Froese
40’ – SJ
50’ – SJ
53’ – VAN – Ali Musse
55’ – SJ
69’ – VAN – Kianz Froese
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-18
22.Marco Carducci; 27.Chris Serban, 5.Nicholas Prasad, 3.Sam Adekugbe, 11.Jordan Haynes; 4.Mark Baldisimo (12.Nike Azima 60’), 17.Mitch Piraux, 10.Marco Bustos; 8. Matthew Chow (7.Titouan Chopin 76’), 21.Ali Musse, 19.Kianz Froese (16.Mason James 85’)
U-16
With three straight wins in their back pocket, the 'Caps U-16s took to the field at Richmond's Minoru Park against their U-16 counterparts from fellow MLS club San Jose Earthquakes.
A physical match went scoreless into halftime.
In the end, a win was not to be as the two sides played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, extending the 'Caps unbeaten run to four matches. They now sit five points back of Seattle and San Jose for first place in the Northwest division, but with two games in hand on each team. The 'Caps are currently in a wildcard spot to the USSDA playoffs.
"I was pleased with the overall effort and performance," U-16 head coach Rich Fagan told whitecapsfc.com. "We created enough chances to win the game on a different day."
Scoring Summary
None
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-16
30.Aidan Aylward; 39.Joshua Cuthbert, 2.Andre Baires, 33.Matthew Baldisimo, 32.Kadin Chung; 24.Vana Markarian (13.David Norman 65'), 28.Thomas Gardner (14.Aymar Sigue 61'), 37.Jeevin Kang; 25.Hayden Simmonds-O'Grady (43.Daniel Sagno 68'), 9.Dario Zanatta, 41.Terran Campbell
