BLAINE, MN – Whitecaps FC 2 fell by a score of 2-0 to Western Conference rivals Minnesota United FC 2 on Sunday at the National Sports Centre in Blaine, Minnesota.
The first chance of the match fell the way of Minnesota in the 11th minute. After playing a one-two with forward Kameron Lacey in midfield, winger Cameron Dunbar made his way into the box and hit his left-footed attempt off the post, narrowly scoring the opening goal of the match.
Five minutes later, WFC2 were awarded a penalty kick as MNUFC2 defender C.C. Uche brought down Levonte Johnson in the box. Johnson himself stepped up to take the penalty and saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Alec Smir, keeping the match scoreless.
The young 'Caps continued to threaten Minnesota's backline following the spot kick, with Antoine Coupland and Johnson putting in a number of dangerous crosses into the box but neither Kamron Habibullah or Joe Hanson were able to find the back of the net.
At the other end of the pitch, WFC2 defender Matteo Campagna came up big as he prevented Minnesota winger Emmanuel Iwe from putting the ball into an empty net by clearing a cross into the box from Dunbar.
Fast forward to the 31st minute, Lacey found himself in behind the WFC2 backline and sent a shot to the far post. 'Caps first team goalkeeper Thomas Hasal reached out with his left hand and parried the shot off the bar to keep his side in the match.
Dunbar once again came close to opening the scoring for the home side three minutes later, as he hit a strike from the right side of the box off the near post.
The eventful first half of the match saw another chance for the young 'Caps shortly after, with Coupland finding Johnson at the back stick but the Canadian winger saw his effort go over the bar.
Right before the halftime interval, MNUFC2 midfielder Rory O'Driscoll sent a right-footed curling shot towards the back post, which Hasal again saved with a diving left palm. The Homegrown product made one more save off the ensuing corner from Lacey's shot right in front of the goal, meaning both teams would go into the break scoreless.
In the 66th minute, Minnesota came close to grabbing the go-ahead goal but WFC2 defender Elage Bah stopped a low cross from reaching Lacey at the back stick for a tap-in.
The home side would finally open the scoring as Lacey sent Iwe on a breakaway, thundering a strike past Hasal to give Minnesota the 1-0 advantage.
Lacey himself would get on the scoresheet six minutes later as he converted a penalty kick to make it 2-0 for MNUFC2, who held on to their lead until the final whistle.
Next up, WFC2 return home to Swangard Stadium to face Los Angeles FC II on Thursday, June 22, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. PT. Tickets are complimentary for Whitecaps FC MLS season ticket members, or $10 at the gate. All youth 18 and under get free access to the match.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Patricia McCracken
Scoring Summary
71’ – MIN – Emmanuel Iwe (Kameron Lacey)
77’ – MIN – Kameron Lacey (penalty kick)
Statistics
Possession: MIN 51.2% – VAN 48.8%
Shots: MIN 23 – VAN 11
Shots on Goal: MIN 13 – VAN 3
Saves: MIN 3 – VAN 11
Fouls: MIN 11 – VAN 16
Offsides: MIN 2 – VAN 1
Corners: MIN 11 – VAN 5
Cautions
16’ – MIN – C.C. Uche
34’ – VAN – Elage Bah
42’ – MIN – Carlos Leatherman
75’ – VAN – Thomas Hasal
Ejection
90' – VAN – Christian Greco-Taylor
Minnesota United FC 2
35.Alec Smir; 54.Carlos Leatherman, 30.C.C. Uche, 44.Geremy Rodas, 46.Juan Mosquera; 40.Cedrik Gbo, 43.Rory O'Driscoll; 23.Cameron Dunbar, 34.Zaydan Bello (32.Molik Khan 82'), 42.Emmanuel Iwe; 45.Kameron Lacey (64.Cooper Lijewski 89')
Substitutes not used
36.Will Pulisic, 37.Britton Fischer, 61.Leo Conneh, 65.Kage Romanshyn Jr., 68.Merrick Schaefer, 89.Nick Richardson
Whitecaps FC 2
1.Thomas Hasal ©; 46.Darko Ilić (84.Christian Greco-Taylor 62'), 61.Matteo Campagna, 56.Lucas Dasovic, 57.Elage Bah (78.Edwin Espinal 85'); 52.Vasco Fry, 41.Malcolm Johnston (66.Giovanni Aguilar 62'); 43.Antoine Coupland, 30.Kamron Habibullah, 28.Levonte Johnson; 76.Joe Hanson (44.Gloire Amanda 73')
Substitutes not used
90.Cohen Park, 82.Brennan Fuerst, 95.Joshué Ndakala
