Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency began their two-game USL Premier Development League road trip to Washington State with an important 4-1 win over Yakima Reds on Friday evening.

First-half goals by Gagandeep Dosanjh and Alex Semenets canceled out Andrew O'Brien's early strike for Yakima in what was a pivotal PDL Western Conference Northwest Division encounter at Marquette Stadium. Second half goals by Philippe Davies and Randy Edwini-Bonsu ensured that Thomas Niendorf's side moved three points clear at the top of the division standings.

After falling 1-0 at home to the Reds on June 29, the young Whitecaps were keen to make up for that defeat at Simon Fraser University by boosting their PDL playoff chances in the reverse fixture on Friday. Included in the Whitecaps starting line-up were first-team members Mason Trafford in the backline and forward Nick Webb, who partnered Edwini-Bonsu in attack.

Things did not start so well for the Residency squad, as Yakima took the lead when O'Brien converted Luis Galvan's pass after just six minutes of play.

Undeterred, the Whitecaps took just five minutes to restore parity with a fine header from Dosanjh after Semenets found the midfielder with a cross to the near post.

On 39 minutes, Semenets himself found the scoresheet with an unstoppable 25-yard strike that flew into the top corner of the Reds goal to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead at halftime.

After making changes and re-organizing for the start of the second half, Whitecaps Residency extended their lead on 51 minutes. Semenets recorded his second assist by playing a through ball into the path of Davies, who then side-footed his finish into the top corner of Yakima's goal for 3-1.

Any hopes of a Reds comeback ended on 63 minutes, as another fine through ball by Ethan Gage allowed Edwini-Bonsu to finish with aplomb for a convincing three-goal victory.


Where the first half proved more of an even contest, the Residency team's fitness eventually wore their hosts down, with the result dealing a blow to Yakima's hopes of claiming a playoff place.

Whitecaps Residency will look to further cement their spot in the PDL postseason when they visit the struggling Spokane Spiders on Saturday evening. Yakima, meanwhile, must turn things around in their final home game of the season, as another British Columbia club in Abbotsford Mariners visit Marquette Stadium on Saturday.

Goal Summaries:
YAK – 6' – Andrew O'Brien (Luis Galvan)
VAN – 11' - Gagandeep Dosanjh (Alex Semenets)
VAN – 39' - Alex Semenets
VAN – 51' – Philippe Davies (Alex Semenets)
VAN – 63' – Randy Edwini-Bonsu (Ethan Gage)

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 6 – Yakima 8
Saves: Vancouver 4 – Yakima 3
Fouls: Vancouver 12 – Yakima 9
Offsides: Vancouver 2 – Yakima 2
Corners: Vancouver 2 – Yakima 6

Cautions:
Vancouver: Alex Semenets 38'
Yakima: German Hernandes 39'

Ejections:
Vancouver: none
Yakima: none

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
1.Simon Thomas; 3.Navid Mashinchi, 32.Mason Trafford, 5.Anthony DiNicolo, 15.Antonio Rago; 6.Ethan Gage, 8.Philippe Davies (34.Mason Webb 66'), 14.Gagandeep Dosanjh (35.Sahil Sandhu 78'), 17.Alex Semenets, 9.Randy Edwini-Bonsu (16.Marcus Johnstone 64'), 33.Nick Webb (18.Drew Russell 70')

Subs not used: 12.Karm Shergill

Yakima Reds
1.Robert McCurdy; 2.Nicholas Malmstrom (22.Jose Rivera 68') 4.Juan Viveros (3.Dennis Stevenson 77') 6.Joshua Hacker, 8.Andrew O'Brien, 11.Alvaro Valencia; 10.Humberto Lopez, 13.Luis Galvan (12.Justn Merrell 84'), 23.German Hernandez; 17.Junior Garcia (9.Hector Vega 84'), 20.Jacob Sagare