BURNABY, BC – It was a game of two halves at Swangard Stadium on Sunday as Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 came from behind to win 3-1 against The Town FC to make it back-to-back home victories.
The game began with plenty of energy. Jay Herdman had the first shot on target in the fourth minute, jumping onto a cross to direct a header straight into arms of Jacob Jackson.
The Town opened the scoreline early, taking the lead in the 10th minute. After winning the ball up high, Alex Chow slipped in Aaron Edwards to drill a shot into the bottom corner.
Eliot Goldthorp nearly got the young ‘Caps back on level terms, blasting a shot towards goal from a tight angle, forcing Jackson to tip it wide. Goldthorp was at the heart of it again a few minutes later, cutting inside from the left and curling a shot towards the top corner and getting denied by an outstretched Jackson.
Goldthorp would finally get his goal in the 40th minute, off a superb free-kick. Goldthorp stepped up from 25 yards out and curled his shot over the wall and into the top corner.
Goldthorp nearly got a quickfire second two minutes later, getting on the end of a cross with a diving header, but missing the far post by mere inches.
Whitecaps FC 2 would continue to put The Town under heavy pressure in the final minutes, but had to contend with going into the break on level terms.
The second half began with The Town trying to claw back the advantage. Julian Donnery broek through Whitecaps FC 2’s line and bore down on goal. Donnery tried to sidefoot it past Isaac Boehmer, but it struck the upright post and bounced out to be cleared by the defenders.
Whitecaps FC 2 relieved that early Town pressure by scoring in transition in the 63rd minute. Goldthorp fed a pass into the box for Jay Herdman to latch onto, placing a sidefooted effort on goal to give the young 'Caps the 2-1 lead.
Giuseppe Bovalina almost got Whitecaps FC 2’s third on the night with just over 15 minutes to go. Jeevan Badwal drove into the box and laid off a pass for Bovalina at the back post. Bovalina took a touch and tried to thrash it into the roof of the net, but sent his effort high and wide.
In the end, it was Herdman who got the third for Whitecaps FC 2 and his second of the night in the 77th minute. Substitute Liam Mackenzie forced Jackson to parry a shot into danger, allowing Herdman to pounce on a loose ball and tuck it away to make it 3-1.
Mackenzie nearly put the cherry on top for the young ‘Caps right at the end, flying onto a cross with a free header but directing it just wide of the far post.
Whitecaps FC 2 will look to make it three straight home wins next Sunday, June 9 as they host LAFC2 at Swangard Stadium. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Mazzen Black
Scoring Summary
10’ – TTFC – Aaron Edwards (Alex Chow)
40’ – VAN – Eliot Goldthorp
63’ – VAN – Jay Herdman (Eliot Goldthorp)
77’ – VAN – Jay Herdman
Statistics
Possession: VAN 44% - TTFC 56%
Shots: VAN 16 - TTFC 11
Shots on Goal: VAN 8 - TTFC 4
Saves: VAN 3 - TTFC 5
Fouls: VAN 14 - TTFC 9
Offsides: VAN 2 - TTFC 1
Corners: VAN 6 - TTFC 2
Cautions
31’ – VAN – Eliot Goldthorpe
49’ – VAN – Jay Herdman
69’ – VAN – Malcom Simmons
81’ – TTFC – Oscar Verhoeven
86’ – TTFC – Aaron Edwards
90’+4 – VAN – Isaac Boehmer
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
32.Isaac Boehmer; 56.Immanuel Mathe, 53.Buster Sjöberg, 83.Finn Linder; 27.Giuseppe Bovalina (54.Mihail Gherasimencov 80’), 49.Malek Mehri (97.Liam Mackenzie 55’), 48.Malcolm Simmons, 59.Jeevan Badwal, 41.Eliot Goldthorp (46.Darko Ilić 90’); 92.Jay Herdman ©, 52.Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau (44.Myles Morgan 77’)
Substitutes not used
99.Matheus De Souza, 95.Joshué Ndakala
The Town FC
98.Jacob Jackson; 33.Oscar Verhoeven, 64.Sean Bitler, 66.Alejandro Cano, 72.Ricardo Ibarra (62.Kevin Oseguera 87’); 60.Eduardo Blancas, 38.Edwyn Mendoza (78.Joel Garcia 74’), 75.Alex Chow (54.Jermaine Spivey 80’); 50.Aaron Edwards, 52.Julian Donnery (59.Daniel Fregoso 86’), 71.Riley Lynch
Substitutes not used
68.John Nicolson, 47.Christian Arseni Metelista, 61.Samuel Navarrete
