COMMERCE CITY, CO – It was an eventful end to the match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Sunday night, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 dropped a narrow 3-2 result against Colorado Rapids 2 in Commerce City, Colorado.
The match began with Whitecaps FC 2 withstanding some early Rapids 2 pressure, as Jonathan Lewis hit the cross bar from a tight angle in the 7th minute. Max Anchor then made a flurry of saves in the 17th minute, denying Lewis, Marlon Vargas and Darren Yapi to from finding the back of the net for the home side.
Anchor stood on his head for a majority of the match, but was unable to stop Colorado’s opener in the 39th minute. After a cross into the WFC2 box caused chaos, Wayne Fredrick was able to poke the ball back to Yapi, who was able to wrap his foot around it and curl it into the top corner for Colorado’s first.
Whitecaps FC 2 would not back down however and snatched an equalizing goal right before the end of the half. Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau fought for the ball just outside the Colorado box, sliding to get the ball across to Jeevan Badwal in the middle. Badwal, just outside the box, hit the ball first time and slotted his effort into the bottom left corner to grab his first professional goal.
That was the last action of the match, allowing the young ‘Caps to go into the break level at the half.
The second half then began with both sides vying for the lead.
Rapids 2 winger Facundo Núñez, fresh off the bench, forced Anchor into an early save, with the midfielder lacing a shot inside the box only for Anchor to parry it wide.
Noah Strellnauer then got Colorado back into the lead with 25 minutes to go. Núñez was able to drill a pass across goal for Strellnauer to find at the edge of the box, and his first-time sidefoot finished had enough power to bypass an outstretched Anchor.
Fleuriau Chateau almost hit back with an audacious effort, going for a bicycle kick inside the box and nearly catching Adam Beaudry off-guard, but his effort was deflected wide.
However, Rapids 2 doubled their lead just moments later, with Núñez at the forefront once again. Núñez whipped another cross from the left into the box, with substitute Anthony García Rodríguez heading it past Anchor to make it 3-1 on the night.
WFC2 forward Myles Morgan then tested his luck in the 86th minute, firing a shot from just inside the box that narrowly missed the left post.
The young ‘Caps got one back right at the death, as Badwal sent a curling cross into the box for Darko Ilić to hammer home with a thumping header.
Despite a late surge from WFC2, there was not enough time for them to level the match and had to contend with the 3-2 loss come the final whistle.
Whitecaps FC 2 are back in action next Sunday, May 26th for their long-awaited first match at Swangard Stadium this season, as they face off against Western Conference side Ventura County FC. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Alejo Calume
Scoring Summary
39’ – COL – Darren Yapi (Wayne Frederick)
45’ – VAN – Jeevan Badwal (Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau)
65’ – COL – Noah Strellnauer (Facundo Núñez)
75’ – COL – Anthony García Rodríguez (Facundo Núñez)
90’+2 – VAN - Darko Ilić (Jeevan Badwal)
Statistics
Possession: COL 58% - VAN 42%
Shots: COL 20 - VAN 9
Shots on Goal: COL 7 - VAN 2
Saves: COL 0 – VAN 4
Fouls: COL 8 - VAN 10
Offsides: COL 1 - VAN 0
Corners: COL 7 - VAN 3
Cautions
5’ – VAN – Immanuel Mathe
31’ – COL – Darren Yapi
44’ – VAN – Eliot Goldthorpe
90’+2 – COL – Michael Edwards
Colorado Rapids 2
31.Adam Beaudry; 22.Sebastian Anderson, 34.Michael Edwards, 6.Lalas Abubakar (56.Nate Jones HT), 99.Jackson Travis; 45.Daouda Amadou; 24.Wayne Frederick, 39.Marlon Vargas (42.Ricardo Peña Gutiérrez 85’), 7.Jonathan Lewis (46.Facundo Núñez HT); 80.Noah Strellnauer (47.Alec Díaz 85’), 77.Darren Yapi (49.Anthony García Rodríguez 73’)
Substitutes not used
41. Ethan Bandré, 40.Robinson Aguirre Ortega, 44.Joshua Belluz
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
50.Max Anchor; 62.Luca Chen, 53.Buster Sjöberg, 56.Immanuel Mathe, 54.Mihail Gherasimencov; 46.Darko Ilić, 59.Jeevan Badwal, 48.Malcolm Simmons, 41.Eliot Goldthorp (44.Myles Morgan 76’); 52.Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau (49.Malek Mehri 80’), 55.Cyprian Kachwele (92.Jay Herdman HT)
Substitutes not used
99.Matheus De Souza, 73.Benjamin Lee, 97.Liam Mackenzie
