HOUSTON, TX – Whitecaps FC 2 earned a road point with a 0-0 regulation draw against Houston Dynamo 2 but fell 3-2 in a penalty shootout
WFC2's first big chance of the match came in the 24th minute, as Darko Ilić's in-swinging corner kick found Finn Linder in the box, narrowly putting his headed effort over the Dynamo 2 goal.
About 10 minutes later, the young 'Caps once again came close to opening the scoring. This time, Antoine Coupland played J.C. Ngando in behind the Houston backline, with the Cameroonian-born midfielder seeing his shot saved at the near post by Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell.
The Blue and White had one more chance before the halftime interval, with Ngando setting up Levonte Johnson in front of goal but the Canadian saw his left-footed effort parried away by Tarbell.
Fast forward to the 62nd minute, Houston had a great chance to go ahead, with Thorleifur Úlfarsson making a run to the top of the box and forcing 'Caps goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer off his line. The forward then unleashed a shot past Boehmer towards the bottom corner, but saw his effort cleared off the line by Linder to keep the match scoreless.
Shortly after, Úlfarsson had another chance after getting in behind the WFC2 backline, as he cut inside and fired a right-footed shot off the crossbar. The rebound fell to the feet of Diego Gonzalez, with Boehmer making a key save to his right to deny the forward's stinging drive.
Houston continued to put the pressure on the young 'Caps, as Boehmer came up with another diving save off of a close range shot from Dynamo 2 substitute Isaiah LeFlore.
In the final minutes of regulation, the two teams exchanged chances to score the winner, with Boehmer again denying Gonzalez from close range and Coupland firing a left-footed curler from distance just wide of the far post.
The winner of the match would be decided via penalty shootout. Boehmer made one save in the shootout but it wasn't enough, as Houston took the extra point with a 3-2 shootout win.
Next up, Whitecaps FC 2 return home for a doubleheader with the first team at BC Place on Sunday, August 20, taking on Austin FC II. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT. Tickets are complimentary for Whitecaps FC MLS season ticket members, or $10 online. All youth 18 and under get free access to the match.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Benjamin Meyer
Scoring Summary
None
ShootoutHOU – Scored – Jacob Evans
VAN – Missed – Giovanni Aguilar
HOU – Missed – Isaiah Reid
VAN – Scored – J.C. Ngando
HOU – Missed – Diego Gonzalez
VAN – Missed – Gloire Amanda
HOU – Scored – Papa Ndoye
VAN – Scored – Malcolm Simmons
HOU – Scored – Talen Maples
VAN – Missed – Levonte Johnson
Statistics
Possession: HOU 64.7% - VAN 35.3%
Shots: HOU 23 - VAN 11
Shots on Goal: HOU 7 - VAN 3
Saves: HOU 3 - VAN 7
Fouls: HOU 7 - VAN 14
Offsides: HOU 1 - VAN 1
Corners: HOU 9 - VAN 6
Cautions
69' – VAN – Darko Ilić
84' – VAN – Mihail Gherasimencov
86' – VAN – Malcolm Simmons
Houston Dynamo 2
30.Andrew Tarbell; 2.Mujeeb Murana, 42.Tate Lampman (19.Isaiah LeFlore HT), 4.Talen Maples, 38.Chase Gasper (5.Omar Grey HT); 7.Papa Ndoye, 41.Sebastian Rodriguez (6.Charles Auguste 62'), 21.Jacob Evans, 33.Brad Smith; 18.Diego Gonzalez, 34.Thorleifur Úlfarsson (11.Isaiah Reid 73')
Substitutes not used
31.Andrew Pannenberg, 24.Paolo Ríos, 39.Jesus Orejuela, 77.Ifeanyi Udanoh
Whitecaps FC 2
32.Isaac Boehmer; 46.Darko Ilić, 83.Finn Linder, 56.Lucas Dasovic, 57.Elage Bah (54.Mihail Gherasimencov 68'); 59.Jeevan Badwal (48.Malcolm Simmons 68'), 66.Giovanni Aguilar ©️, 26.J.C. Ngando; 43.Antoine Coupland, 42.Lowell Wright (44.Gloire Amanda 58'), 28.Levonte Johnson
Substitutes
90.Cohen Park, 53.Simone Masi, 84.Christian Greco-Taylor
