MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – A young Vancouver Whitecaps FC League1 BC women's team experienced a stiff test against one of Concacaf's elite professional teams on Wednesday, fighting hard in a 7-0 defeat against Club América Femenil at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes.
In a match where they played as heavy underdogs, the 'Caps saw their 28-match unbeaten run come to a close versus their much fancied opponents.
Whitecaps FC head coach Katie Collar made three changes from the Preliminary Round match in El Salvador last Thursday, including starting Mya Archibald who joined back up with the squad from the University of Illinois on her way to representing Canada at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia alongside Jaime Perrault and Jeneva Hernandez Gray. Club América coach Ángel Villacampa fielded an unchanged lineup from their weekend Liga MX match with Puebla.
Club América had the first big chance in the ninth minute as Sarah Luebbert broke into the box, but Morgan McAslan came out strong to get a touch on the shot and steer it just wide. Barely two minutes later Luebbert had two more chances, hitting the post and then shooting into the arms of McAslan.
In the 20th minute, Luebbert would finally break through, as she headed in a great cross from Nicolette Hernández to make it 1-0.
Immediately after the goal, Hernandez Gray nearly had a response for the 'Caps, weaving her way through space at the top of the box before firing a shot that deflected out for a corner kick.
But Los Aguilas would not be denied, and took control of the match shortly after. First it was Nicolette Hernández with a great strike to make it 2-0, then seconds after the restart Kiana Palacios stole the ball and darted in to make it 3-0.
On 30 minutes, a great build-up ended with Scarlett Camberos finishing off a low cross from Sabrina Enciso to extend the lead.
América would add two more in the second half, one from Spanish World Cup winner Irene Guerrero, and another from Aylín Aviléz.
Next up for the 'Caps in the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup is a match in Panama on Wednesday, September 4 against Santa Fe FC. Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. PT live on Concacaf YouTube and Concacaf Go.
They then return home for two marquee matches at BC Place against NWSL powerhouses. First, on Tuesday, October 1 they welcome San Diego Wave FC. Then on Tuesday, October 15, Portland Thorns come to town.
Whitecaps FC Season Members will receive exclusive access to presale tickets, while tickets will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, August 27. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Natalie Simon
Scoring Summary
20’ – AME – Sarah Luebbert (Nicolette Hernández)
25’ – AME – Nicolette Hernández (Sarah Luebbert
26’ – AME – Kiana Palacios
31’ – AME – Scarlett Camberos (Sabrina Enciso)
50’ – AME – Irene Guerrero (Sabrina Enciso)
73’ – AME – Aylín Aviléz (Scarlett Camberos)
85’ – AME – Miah Zuazua
Statistics
Possession: AME 57% - VAN 43%
Shots: AME 24 - VAN 1
Shots on Goal: AME 8 - VAN 1
Fouls: AME 8 - VAN 3
Offsides: AME 3 - VAN 1
Corners: AME 3 - VAN 3
Cautions
18’ – AME – Karen Luna
Club América Femenil
1.Sandra Paños; 26.Karen Luna, 29.Mariana Cadena, 15.Kimberly Rodríguez; 16.Sabrina Enciso, 18.Nancy Antonio, 20.Nicolette Hernández (27.Miah Zuazua 62'), 5.Irene Guerrero (8.Casandra Cuevas 61'); 7.Kiana Palacios (c) (17.Natalia Mauleón 61'); 22.Sarah Luebbert (11.Aylín Aviléz 62'), 10.Scarlett Camberos (44.Alondra Cabanillas 78')
Substitutes not used
51.Valentina Murrieta, 6.Noemí Granados, 41.Carol Acuña, 59.Ximena Viñolas
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
33.Morgan McAslan; 6.Mya Archibald, 16.Bridget Mutipula, 12.Keira Martin (c), 14.Téa Mayson; 20.Chloe Taylor (11.Kaylee Hunter 29'), 7.Jeneva Hernandez Gray, 4.Emily Wong (15.Jade Mitchell 77'); 24.Bianca Patik (13.Sammy Reimer 82'), 22.Jessica De Filippo (19.Josie Longhurst HT), 21.Jourdan Ziff (8.Jaime Perrault 30')
Substitutes not used
1.Sidney Venier, 30.Kylie Sandulak, 18.Zahra Bains, 25.Mia Guterres, 26.Abigail Anderson, 27.Quinn Johnson, 28.Brianne Reed
