VANCOUVER, BC – Whitecaps FC 2 continued their preparations for the MLS NEXT Pro season with a preseason friendly against Canadian Premier League side York United FC at the National Soccer Development Centre (NSDC) on Friday.
York, led by head coach and former Whitecaps FC captain Martin Nash, came out with a strong lineup and looked the part in the first half.
Their best opportunity came on a penalty kick from a handball called in the box. But Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy product Ben Alexander stepped up to make the save on York’s Michael Petrasso.
WFC2 began to find their feet in the second half, putting pressure on the York backline. Owen Antoniuk was stopped on a long range shot, Emiliano Brienza narrowly missed from inside the box, and Jay Herdman was saved from a tight angle close to goal.
After a 0-0 draw at the final whistle, the two sides went to penalty kicks. York scored on all four of their kicks to take the match 4-3 in the shootout.
WFC2 kick off their inaugural season on Saturday, March 26 on the road in Houston at Dynamo Dos. Their first home match at Swangard Stadium will be on Sunday, April 10 against Timbers 2. Find the full schedule for the season at mlsnextpro.com.
Whitecaps FC 2
Ben Alexander; Matteo Campagna, Joshué Ndakala, Finn Linder (Simone Masi 60’); Elage Bah, trialist (Jay Herdman 60’), Owen Antoniuk ©, Luis Fernandez-Salvador (Vasco Fry 60’), Chris Lee (Ali Ahmed 60’); Filip Rakic (Emiliano Brienza 60’), Joe Hanson (Simon Becher 60’)
