LOS ANGELES, CA - Yordy Reyna and Anthony Blondell each registered a brace for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a 4-4 draw against expansion side Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) on Sunday afternoon on the UCLA campus.
There was scoring early and often in the preseason friendly, as LAFC took the driver seat in the opening minutes when Carlos Vela found the target off a direct free kick.
It did not take too long for Blondell to respond, however. The Venezuelan newcomer opened his 'Caps account with a beauty from the left side in the 10th minute, then completed his first-half brace 20 minutes later to give Vancouver the lead.
Reyna scored off a cross to extend the 'Caps advantage prior to halftime but LAFC forward Latif Blessing drew one back right after the break, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Reyna tallied his second on the afternoon on the counter-attack in the 52nd minute to pad the 'Caps lead, but LAFC would mount a comeback.
LAFC forward Diego Rossi drew a foul inside the box in the 77th minute, and Vela cashed in on the ensuing penalty kick. The home side then equalized in the 84th minute when Benny Feilhaber's cross redirected off a 'Caps defender and into the net for an own goal.
Former 'Caps players Steven Beitashour and Jordan Harvey each featured for LAFC.
The 'Caps are back in action on Wednesday, February 21 when they face a young LA Galaxy side on the StubHub Centre training pitch at 11 a.m. Stay tuned to whitecapsfc.com for more information throughout the preseason.
Whitecaps FC kick off the regular season when they host Montreal Impact at BC Place on Sunday, March 4. Visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets for ticket information.
INJURY UPDATE: Aly Ghazal (hamstring strain), Doneil Henry (hamstring strain), and Justin Fiddes (ankle sprain) were subbed out in the first half due to injury.
Scoring Summary
3' - LAFC - Carlos Vela
10' - VAN - Anthony Blondell (Yordy Reyna)
29' - VAN - Anthony Blondell (Bernie Ibini)
38' - VAN - Yordy Reyna (Anthony Blondell, Bernie Ibini)
46' - LAFC - Latif Blessing (Diego Rossi)
52' - VAN - Yordy Reyna (Anthony Blondell)
78' - LAFC - Carlos Vela (penalty kick)
84' - LAFC - Jake Nerwinski (own goal)
Cautions
36' - VAN - David Norman
40' - VAN - Anthony Blondell
LAFC
Tyler Miller; Steven Beitashour, Walker Zimmerman (Tristan Blackmon 66'), Dejan Jaković, Joao Moutinho (Jordan Harvey 63'); Benny Feilhaber, Mark-Anthony Kaye (Nico Czornomaz 70'); Latif Blessing, Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi; Marco Ureña
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
12.Brian Rowe; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 22.Aaron Maund, 2.Doneil Henry (32.Jake Ruby# 20'), 25.Justin Fiddes (27.Lucas Stauffer^ 15'); 16.Tony Tchani, 66.Aly Ghazal (62.Chance Carter# 7'), 42.David Norman Jr., 7.Bernie Ibini (19.Erik Hurtado 71'), 9.Anthony Blondell (38.Isaiah Hudson* 82'), 29.Yordy Reyna (54.Simon Colyn# 78')
* Training camp invitee
^ Unsigned MLS SuperDraft selection
# Whitecaps FC Residency
