BURNABY, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 secured their fourth straight victory on Thursday night thanks to a resounding thoroughly 4-1 win over Minnesota United FC 2 at Swangard Stadium. The win marked the second time the team wins four straight matches in their MLS NEXT Pro era, no less on a night that saw them score their 100th MLS NEXT Pro goal.
The young ’Caps now have a record of 6W-4L-3D, jumping up to fourth place in the Western Conference.
Vancouver first came to life when a through ball deflected to a sprinting Myles Morgan. Unfortunately, his touch wavered and was snatched away by onrushing MNUFC2 goalkeeper Oliver Kelly. However, Kelly’s poor clearance left him far out of position. WFC2 wingback Mihail Gherasimencov had a chance for glory from 40 yards out, but his attempt went wide.
The Loons were rewarded with the opening goal of the match when Justin Arias cut wide and put a pinpoint cross into the box for Julian Banks, with his headed effort finding the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
WFC2 would find their equalizer 10 minutes later, as captain Jay Herdman’s perfect cross to the back post found Gherasimencov, who wisely spun away from pressure and smashed in a left-footed effort to tie the match 1-1. With his assist on the goal, Herdman now sits as WFC2's all-time assist leader in the MLS NEXT Pro era.
In the second half, Whitecaps FC 2 connected for a historic goal. Gherasimencov played a low cross along the ground for Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau and he thundered home his team-leading fifth goal of the season. His strike was also the 100th goal for the club in the MLS NEXT Pro era.
Vancouver would grab their third and fourth goals of the match thanks to back-to-back MNUFC2 own goals from Tamer Ibsais and Finn McRobb. The fourth goal saw Liam Mackenzie dribble past several Minnesota defenders in the box before reaching the byline and cutting back a strong cross into the box that was deflected in by McRobb.
In the end, the young 'Caps played out the rest of the match to claim the victory.
“The result shows the real consistency of this group,” said WFC2 head coach Ricardo Clark. He praised Gherasimencov, who played with “intensity and grit” and notched a goal and assist.
“He’s playing to his potential,” Clark added.
Whitecaps FC 2 will next head to California for a clash with Ventura County FC on Sunday, June 23 at Dignity Health Sports Park, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. PT.
Meanwhile, MLS NEXT Pro action returns home to Swangard Stadium when the young ’Caps host St. Louis CITY 2 on Sunday, June 30. Kickoff us at 4 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit www.whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Alain Ruch
Scoring Summary
31’ – MIN – Julian Banks (Justin Arias)
41’ – VAN – Mihail Gherasimencov (Jay Herdman)
54’ – VAN – Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau (Mihail Gherasimencov)
67’ – VAN – Tamer Ibsais (own goal)
85’ – VAN – Finn McRobb (own goal)
Cautions
9’ – VAN – Immanuel Mathe
63’ – VAN – Finn Linder
Statistics
Shots: VAN 15 – MIN 11
Shots on target: VAN 6 – MIN 4
Saves: VAN 3 – MIN 4
Fouls: VAN 10 – MIN 11
Offsides: VAN 2 – MIN 2
Corners: VAN 7 – MIN 7
Whitecaps FC 2
50.Max Anchor; 56.Immanuel Mathe, 53.Buster Sjöberg, 83.Finn Linder; 46.Darko Ilić (63.Rayan Elloumi 88’), 92.Jay Herdman © (41.Eliot Goldthorp 64’), 48.Malcolm Simmons (93.Anyole Peter 64’), 97.Liam Mackenzie, 54.Mihail Gherasimencov; 44.Myles Morgan (96.Mateo Clark 88’), 52.Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau (61.Johnny Selemani 82’)
Substitutes not used
99.Matheus De Souza, 49.Malek Mehri, 62.Luca Chen, 95.Joshué Ndakala,
Minnesota United FC 2
61.Oliver Kelly; 35.Britton Fischer, 39.Finn McRobb ©, 45.Giovanni Cruz, 48.Tamer Ibsais (58.Jack Grossman 82’); 36.Molik Jesse Khan, 42.Justin Arias (59.John Farris 82’), 50.Aidan Martinez (49.William Schmidt 59’); 43.Julian Banks (52.Nathan Moua 74’), 57.Alisa Randell (47.Andrew Neckenlaible 59’), 90.Ekoue Mesanvi
Substitutes not used
32.Fred Emmings, 60.Kai Zerhun
