CARSON, CA – It was a tough evening for Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, as they were defeated 2-1 in a highly-contested match by a defiant Ventura County FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Ventura County started the game with purpose, immediately hitting Max Anchor’s goalpost inside thirty seconds through Ruben Ramos Jr.
Mauricio Cuevas also came close to opening the scoring for the home side, thumping a volley from a corner that just rolled wide.
However, it was Whitecaps FC 2 that struck first in the 16th minute through Cyprian Kachwele. Eliot Goldthorpe swung in a dangerous corner and Kachwele rose highest amongst the crowd and sent a bullet-header into the back of the net for this third goal of the season.
Ventura County nearly equalized a few minutes later, as Max Anchor managed to hold on to a stretched header by Aaron Bibout.
Anchor was called into action once again, this time denying Gino Vivi at his near post.
Vivi did end up scoring in the 23rd minute to level the match, after cutting inside just outside the box and curling a looping shot into the top corner of Anchor’s goal.
Bibout had the opportunity to put Ventura ahead in the 37th minute, but saw his effort towards an empty net come off the post.
Ventura kept pushing to gain the lead, but the young ‘Caps were resolute in their defending and managed to keep it level going into the half-time break.
Ventura kept that pressure on in the early stages of the second half and finally broke through that ‘Caps defence with a free-kick in the 60th minute. Mauricio Cuevas curled a driven free-kick around the goal, and got a stroke of luck as it took a wicked deflection off the post and into the goal.
WFC2 pushed to find that equalizer in the closing stages, forcing Ventura County into their own half. Malek Mehri had one last chance as his cross dropped in the perfect position for Jeevan Badwal to get on the end of, but the young midfielder was just unable to get on the end of it. And despite a late resurgence for the young ‘Caps, Ventura County held on for all three points.
Whitecaps FC 2 continue their six-game away stretch on Sunday, April 21 as they face Cascadia rivals Tacoma Defiance at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington. The young 'Caps next home match is set for May 26 against Ventura Country FC at Swangard Stadium. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Brandon Stevis
Scoring Summary
16’ - VAN - Cyprian Kachwele (Eliot Goldthorp)
23’ - VCFC - Gino Vivi (Riley Delgado)
60’ - VCFC - Max Anchor (own goal)
Statistics
Possession: VCFC 69% - VAN 31%
Shots: VCFC 15 - VAN 5
Shots on Goal: VCFC 6 - VAN 3
Saves: VCFC 2 - VAN 4
Fouls: VCFC 4 - VAN 12
Offsides: VCFC 1 - VAN 0
Corners: VCFC 9 - VAN 5
Cautions
41’ - VAN - Antoine Coupland
68’ - VAN - Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau
Ventura County FC
31.Brady Scott; 19.Mauricio Cuevas (61.Sean Karani 64’), 47.Carson Klein, 51.Ascel Essengue, 50.Riley Dalgado; 21.Tucker Lepley, 52.Isaiah Parente; 18.Jonathan Pérez (97.Victor Casillas Martin 64’), 84.Ruben Ramos Jr., 30.Gino Vivi (74.Sergio Villalpando 84’); 29.Aaron Bibout
Substitutes not used
81.Lucca Adams, 48.Diego Lopez, 55.Carlos Diaz, 67.Christian Tchouante, 72.Nicolas Schelotto, 95.Javier Corona Garcia
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
50.Max Anchor; 56.Immanuel Mathe, 53.Buster Sjöberg, 83.Finn Linder; 41.Eliot Goldthorp, 59.Jeevan Badwal, 49.Malek Mehri, 54.Mihail Gherasimencov; 92.Jay Herdman ©; 43.Antoine Coupland (52.Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau 45’), 55.Cyprian Kachwele (46.Darko Ilić 65’)
Substitutes not used
99.Matheus De Souza, 51.Dembo Saidykhan, 73.Ben Lee, 95.Joshué Ndakala
