LAWRENCE, KS – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 shook off the heat on Friday night as they defeated Sporting Kansas City II in a penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 in regulation at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas.
MLS NEXT All-Star Liam Mackenzie was the hero, as he provided the shootout winner with a low strike past Sporting KC II goalkeeper Jacob Molinaro.
Ten minutes in, SKCII tested the ’Caps defensive line. A free kick by former 'Caps Academy product Kamron Habibullah dipped to Chris Rindov. His header cleanly beat Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Max Anchor but the ball glanced off the woodwork and out to keep the match scoreless.
After the quarter hour, Anchor was tested again. He slid to his left and denied Habibullah’s deflected shot from 10 yards out.
The home side drew a penalty kick in the 40th minute as Beto Avila went down in the area. Up stepped Maouloane Goumballe as he smashed the ball down the middle for the opener.
Just before the stroke of halftime, leading Whitecaps FC 2 goalscorer Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau put his teammates on his back. He sprinted ahead to collect a loose ball deep in the box and drew a penalty off a collision with Rindov.
Chateau calmly put away his effort from the spot to tie the match at 1-1 heading into the break. The forward scored his team-leading seventh goal of the campaign.
With half an hour left, Myles Morgan and Immanuel Mathe both subbed in for the young ’Caps, making their return from international duty with Canada’s U-20 squad at the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship.
Those subs provided a boost of energy for Mackenzie, who came mere inches from glory. The 17-year-old stripped a defender, juggled the ball, and spun to crack a breathtaking half volley that Molinaro had to climb the ladder to snag. A few minutes later, Mackenzie made no mistake for redemption. His cool kick from the spot in the shootout ensured that Whitecaps FC 2 ended the evening taking home the extra point.
Whitecaps FC 2 have only nine matches left in the 2024 regular season. Next up, they’ll come home for a clash against Colorado Rapids 2 at Swangard Stadium on Wednesday, August 7. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit www.whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: DeShun Beard
Scoring Summary
40’ – SKC – Maouloane Goumballe (penalty kick)
45+5’ – VAN – Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau (penalty kick)
Shootout
SKC - Scored - Ethan Bryant
VAN - Scored - Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau
SKC - Missed - Kamron Habibullah
VAN - Scored - Myles Morgan
SKC - Scored - Beto Avila
VAN - Missed - Malek Mehri
SKC - Scored - Maouloane Goumballe
VAN - Scored - Buster Sjöberg
SKC - Scored - Danny Flores
VAN - Scored - Malcolm Simmons
SKC - Missed - Mason Visconti
VAN - Scored - Liam Mackenzie
Statistics
Possession: SKC 59% – VAN 41%
Shots: SKC 20 – VAN 13
Shots on target: SKC 4 – VAN 4
Saves: SKC 3 – VAN 3
Fouls: SKC 12 – VAN 12
Offsides: SKC 2 – VAN 1
Corners: SKC 6 – VAN 3
Cautions
17’ – SKC – Kamron Habibullah
45+4' – SKC – Chris Rindov
62’ – SKC – Carson Klein
Sporting Kansas City II
91.Jacob Molinaro; 40.Mason Visconti, 89.Leo Christiano, 28.Chris Rindov, 42.Carson Klein; 98.Sebastian Cruz, 52.Macielo Tschantret (31.Danny Flores HT), 47.Kamron Habibullah; 88.Shane Donovan (39.Ethan Bryant 70’), 99.Beto Avila, 38.Maouloane Goumballe
Substitutes not used
35.Jonathan Robinson, 37.Jack Kortkamp, 74.Demarre Mantoute, 77.Haris Alisah, 90.Medgy Alexandre
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
50.Max Anchor; 95.Joshué Ndakala, 53.Buster Sjöberg ©, 51.Dembo Saidykhan (56.Immanuel Mathe 69’); 91.Elijah Bean, 49.Malek Mehri, 62.Luca Chen, 96.Mateo Clark (48.Malcolm Simmons 69’), 54.Mihail Gherasimencov (44.Myles Morgan 62’); 97.Liam Mackenzie, 52.Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau
Substitutes not used
90.Alexander Milošević, 71.Yuma Tsuji, 72.Sahil Deo
