BURNABY, BC – Whitecaps FC 2 battled to a well-earned 1-0 victory against fellow Western Conference side Houston Dynamo 2 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC on Sunday evening.
In the 15th minute, WFC2 would get the first big chance of the match, as J.C. Ngando dribbled into the Dynamo 2 box and fired a deflected effort just over the top left corner of the goal.
Six minutes later, the home side once again threatened Houston's goal. This time Levonte Johnson squared the ball into the middle of the box for Antoine Coupland, but the winger put his half-volleyed attempt just wide of the goal.
Dynamo 2 had their first look at goal shortly after, as 'Caps first team goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer denied Houston's Diego Gonzalez from close range.
The away side had another opportunity five minutes later, with Jacob Evans receiving a cross from Papa Ndoye at the top of the box and unleashing a strike right at Boehmer. Ezekiel Soto put home the following rebound into the back of the net, but the goal was called back due to offside.
After the halftime interval, it was Ndoye's turn to try to open the scoring, but his shot from close range was parried away by Boehmer to keep the match level at 0-0.
Fast forward to the 58th minute, Malcolm Johnston found Coupland in the area, who went down after contact in the area. The ball bounced toward substitute Jay Herdman, with the New Zealand U-20 international unleashing in left-footed strike in the middle of the box and forcing a key save from Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Xavier Valdez.
Seconds later, Kamron Habibullah found himself in a one-v-one opportunity against Valdez but was unable to get a shot off towards goal as Dynamo 2 defender Talen Maples closed him down.
Herdman once again caused problems for Dynamo 2, as he dribbled past a pair of defenders and created an angle for him to get a shot off, putting it narrowly wide of the top right corner.
In the 77th minute, WFC2 continued to press for the winner, as Ngando put a low cross into the box for Habibullah, with Valdez savinf his effort at the near post.
A minute later, the young 'Caps would make their second half pressure pay off. Substitute Gloire Amanda forced Dynamo 2 into a turnover in their own box. The ball rolled towards 'Caps first team midfielder J.C. Ngando, who fired in his first professional goal into the top corner to give WFC2 a 1-0 lead.
WFC2 will now look ahead to their next match as they hit the road to face Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers2 on Sunday, May 14 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. PT.
The young 'Caps then return home for another Cascadia clash against Tacoma Defiance on Sunday, May 21 at Swangard Stadium. Tickets are complimentary for Whitecaps FC MLS season ticket members, or $10 at the gate. Youth aged 18 and under get free access to the all WFC2 matches at Swangard Stadium.
NOTES:
- J.C. Ngando scored his first professional goal
- Gloire Amanda recorded his second assist of the season
- With the win, WFC2 recorded their first clean sheet of the season
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Michael Venne
Scoring Summary
79’ – VAN – J.C. Ngando (Gloire Amanda)
Statistics
Possession: VAN 43.5% – HOU 56.5%
Shots: VAN 19 – HOU 12
Shots on Goal: VAN 5 – HOU 4
Saves: VAN 4 – HOU 4
Fouls: VAN 9 – HOU 12
Offsides: VAN 1 – HOU 3
Corners: VAN 6 – HOU 4
Cautions
37’ – VAN – Giovanni Aguilar
67’ – HOU – Jathan Juarez
70’ – HOU – Papa Ndoye
Whitecaps FC 2
32.Isaac Boehmer; 57.Elage Bah, 53.Simone Masi, 12.Karifa Yao, 54.Mihail Gherasimencov; 41.Malcolm Johnston (52.Vasco Fry 90+3'), 66.Giovanni Aguilar ©, 26.J.C. Ngando; 43.Antoine Coupland (44.Gloire Amanda 73'), 30.Kamron Habibullah (84.Christian Greco-Taylor 88'), 28.Levonte Johnson (92.Jay Herdman HT)
Substitute not used
90.Cohen Park, 56.Lucas Dasovic, 61.Matteo Campagna
Houston Dynamo 2
1.Xavier Valdez; 5.Omar Grey (19.Isaiah LeFlore 69'), 76.Ifeanyi Udanoh, 4.Talen Maples, 13.Jathan Juarez; 21.Jacob Evans, 24.Paolo Rios; 7.Papa Ndoye, 18.Diego Gonzalez (41.Sebastian Rodriguez HT), 10.Yair Gonzalez (11.Isaiah Reid 82'); 44.Ezekiel Soto (14.Roberto Avila 56')
Substitutes not used
31.Andrew Pannenburg, 32.Diego Rosas, 42.Tate Lampman, 49.Ryan Okerayi
