VANCOUVER, BC – In front of a loud crowd at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves (2W-0L-1D) earned a 1-1 draw against Portland Timbers Reserves (3W-1L-1D).
Tommy Heinemann had the lone goal for the 'Caps and Sal Zizzo scored for the Timbers in a hard fought, fiesty match.
Just four minutes in, the ‘Caps had their first chance of the match when Greg Klazura made a simple cross into the box, where Corey Hertzog headed the ball towards the goal, however the chance was stopped by Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.
On 20 minutes, the Timbers had their first chance of the match when a cross found the head of Anthony Machonnie, whose header was scooped up by ‘Caps goalkeeper Simon Thomas.
In the 26th minute, the home side took the lead when Klazura played a nice cross to Hertzog. The striker’s original shot was blocked and Heinemann tapped in the loose ball in the box to put the score at 1-0 for the ‘Caps.
Four minutes later, on 30 minutes, the ‘Caps carried momentum and nearly took the lead when Matt Watson sent in a nice ball over the top of the Portland defenders to an open Hertzog, whose shot rang off the post.
Despite a few chances for the away side, the ‘Caps ended the first half with the lead and hoped to carry their momentum into the second half.
On 58 minutes, the Timbers nearly equalized when a short pass from Machonnie found its way into the box but the ball was cleared by Sam Adekugbe.
Just two minutes later, on 61 minutes, Hertzog made a couple nice moves around the Timbers defenders down the left side of the field and slid a short pass to Ethen Sampson, but his shot sailed well over the top of the crossbar.
With just under 20 minutes to play, the Timbers put on the pressure. In the 72nd minute, Portland nearly scored as Timbers striker Jose Valencia headed a ball from a cross by Sal Zizzo, but the ball bounced off the crossbar.
Just three minutes later, on 75 minutes, the away side had another opportunity as another cross from Zizzo found Ben Zemanski for a chance, but his shot was caught by Thomas to keep his side up by one going into the final 15 minutes of the match.
Following a handball by Hertzog just outside the 18-yard box, Zizzo’s efforts finally paid off as he converted a free kick that found the inside of the post on the right side, equalizing the match.
Despite a few more chances from the away side, the match finished in a 1-1 draw.
Next up, the Whitecaps FC Reserves face Chivas USA Reserves on Wednesday, June 5, at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium.
Scoring Summary
26' - VAN - Tommy Heinemann
82' - POR - Sal Zizzo
Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 9 - Portland 10
Shots on Goal: Vancouver 3 - Portland 4
Saves: Vancouver 2 - Portland 2
Fouls: Vancouver 11 - Portland 11
Offsides: Vancouver 3 - Portland 2
Corners: Vancouver 1 - Portland 5
Cautions
56' - VAN - Carlyle Mitchell
81' - VAN - Tommy Heinemann
81' - POR - Ben Zemanski
90'+1 - POR - Ben Zemanski
Ejection
90'+1 - POR - Ben Zemanski
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
39.Simon Thomas; 32.Greg Klazura, 33.Adam Clement, 24.Carlyle Mitchell, 25.Sam Adekugbe; 43.Ethan Sampson, 8.Matt Watson, 20.Aminu Abdallah, 22.Kang-Jo Park (38.Kevin Cobby 71'); 26.Corey Hertzog, 29.Tommy Heinemann
Substitutes not used: 1.Joe Cannon, 36.Cam Hundal
Portland Timbers FC
90.Jake Gleeson; 2.Ryan Miller, 25.Dylan Tucker-Gangnes, 44.Pa Modou Kah (18.Ryan Kawulok 45'), 43.Rauwshan Mackenzie; 14.Ben Zemanski, 23.Mobi Fehr, 43.Anthony Machonnie, 7.Sal Zizzo; 15.Steven Evans, 20.Jose Valencia (40.Anthony Hobbs 73')
Substitutes not used: 30.Milos Kocic, 41.Marc Torkel
