BURNABY, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 fell to a 3-1 defeat against Houston Dynamo 2 at Swangard Stadium on Wednesday night.
At the quarter-hour, a Dynamo 2 through ball sprung Joshua Bolma loose down the left wing. In full flight, Bolma looked clear for a breakaway, but WFC2 defender Mark O’Neill won the race. He safely tapped the ball back to first team goalkeeper Adrían Zendejas, who made his second start for WFC2 this season.
The home goalkeeper confidently parried Bolma’s first shot on target – a deflected 15-yard shot in the danger area.
WFC2's offence started to warm up. A high cross took two deflections before fullback Nikola Djordjevic had a split-second look from just beyond the penalty spot. The 22-year-old’s attempt went over the bar.
For the home side, their golden opportunity came from a Mateo Clark sprint to the goal line. His peripheral pass dipped down to Nelson Pierre, whose half-volley almost trickled over the line before Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Pedro Cruz dove to keep the ball out from glory.
After Sebastian Rodriguez was booked for a careless clattering, WFC2 midfielder Jackson Castro made the art of taking free kicks look easy. His 22-yard screamer, and second of the season, flashed into the top corner for a 1-0 lead.
However, in stoppage time, Dynamo 2 was assessed a penalty. Diego Gonzalez stepped up and saw his shot from the spot pinwheeled saved by Zendejas’s left glove, off the crossbar, and back into play. Zendejas did superbly to recover a deny the rebound, but on a third try inside the box, striker Stephen Annor Gyamfi finished to carry a 1-1 scoreline into the halftime interval.
After play resumed, WFC2 looked the far more energized of the two teams. Nelson Pierre had another look at goal, unleashing a 25-yard crack that Cruz barely punched aside.
Another rush saw Deylen Vellios adeptly slide a short cross to Cyprian Kachwele. The 20-year-old Tanzanian international accelerated to adeptly avoid close markers for a low strike on Castro.
Cyprian Kachwele had a golden chance to give the young 'Caps the lead. After a pinpoint Pierre cross, Kachwele's chip inside the six-yard box had too much mustard and flew over goal.
Dynamo 2 substitute Jordy Burbano took control of the match as he corralled a loose ball at the top of the box to smash home a brilliant strike for the eventual gamewinner.
Exon Arzu converted a late penalty for the Dynamo to give his side the 3-1 victory on the night.
Whitecaps FC 2 continue their Swangard Stadium homestand this Sunday, April 27 against Ventura County FC at 3 p.m. PT. Then, the Blue and White moves to BC Place on Saturday, May 3 for a match against Real Monarchs SLC at 1 p.m. PT.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Alain Ruch
Scoring Summary
44’ – VAN – Jackson Castro
45+3' – HOU – Stephen Annor Gyamfi
85’ – HOU – Jordy Burbano
90’ + 2 – HOU – Exon Arzu (P)
Cautions
43’ – HOU – Sebastian Rodriguez
90+1' – VAN – Adrían Zendejas
Statistics
Shots: VAN 15 – HOU 16
Shots on goal: VAN 4 – HOU 10
Saves: VAN 1 – HOU 9
Fouls: VAN 19 – HOU 18
Offsides: VAN 2 – HOU 0
Corners: VAN 5 – HOU 5
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
30.Adrían Zendejas ©; 41.Nikola Djordjevic, 53.Mark O’Neill, 51.Dembo Saidykhan, 46.Deylen Vellios; 62.Luca Chen, 44.Jackson Castro; 42.Nelson Pierre, 63.Johnny Selemani (43.Antoine Coupland 60’); 64.Mateo Clark (75.Rayan Elloumi 85’), 55.Cyprian Kachwele
Substitutes not used
60.Alexander Milošević, 54.Daniel Russo, 61.Kyler Vojvodic
Houston Dynamo 2
1.Pedro Cruz; 23.Daniel Omar Barrett, 34.Micah Harris, 28.Isaac Mwakutuya, 36.Noah Betancourt (45.Jayden Puna 87’); 32.Lukas Breugmann (70.Jordy Burbano 62’), 19.Sebastian Rodriguez; 7.Exon Arzu, 18.Diego Gonzalez, 14.Joshua Bolma (Mattheo Dimareli 77’) 9.Stephen Annor Gyamfi (29.David Garcia 62’)
Substitutes not used
42.Gianmarco Alvarez, 25.David Nguema
