NORTH VANCOUVER, BC – A second half double from Michael Hennessey gave Vancouver Whitecaps FC Boys MLS Academy a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Altitude FC at Kinsmen Field in North Vancouver on Sunday afternoon, bolstering their push for a League1 BC playoff place and moving them up to third in the men’s division standings.
It was a first half devoid of much goalmouth action, with the game being broken up by a series of cheap fouls.
Nikos Clarke-Tosczak forced a save out of Altitude keeper, and Whitecaps FC BMO Academy alumni, Evan Ince with a seventh minute header, while Benedict Florent narrowly missed with a low 25-yard effort four minutes later, as the ‘Caps pushed for an early opener.
Wednesday’s goalscoring hero Patrick Izett was denied by a combination of Ince and the post in the 33rd minutes, before the home side took the lead with three minutes of the half remaining from a fantastic Yigal Bruk free kick from just outside the box.
The second half started at a much faster pace and the young ‘Caps drew themselves level seven minutes after the restart when Hennessey fired home from the spot after a foul in the box.
That was how things stayed until 10 minutes from time when Hennessey gave the ‘Caps the lead and grabbed his second of the game.
The ‘Caps leading scorer took his tally for the season to six after some nice interplay with Florent in the box ended with a sublime finish at the near post from the tightest of angles.
Substitute Lowell Wright came close to giving Whitecaps FC some breathing space four minutes later, but his long range effort just missed wide left.
The ‘Caps held on fairly comfortable in the closing minutes to secure what could be a big three points come the end of season standings.
The result comes ahead of a huge match with Nautsa'mawt FC on Canada Day this coming Saturday, July 1 at Thunderbird Stadium. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. PT.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Mo Mohseni
Scoring summary
41' – ALT – Yigal Bruk
52' – VAN – Michael Hennessy (penalty kick)
80' – VAN – Michael Hennessy (Benedict Florent)
Cautions
17' – VAN – Benedict Florent
38' – ALT – Sairoob Sairoob
64' – ALT – Yigal Bruk
77' – VAN – Nikos Clarke-Tosczak
Altitude FC
30.Evan Ince; 3.Wiz Chavula, 5.Sacko Konate, 5.Matthew Marshall (31.Guilherme De Oliveira Mont’Alegre Jorge 87'), 11.Rafael Elias De Oliveira Mont’Alegre Jorge; 7.Sairoob Sairoob (8.Connor Hildebrant 52'), 10.Stazi Ahayo (19.Caleb Vallance 70'), 23.Lucas Booth, 24.Bernardo Illoz (20.David Rodriguez Zegarra 68'), 17.Oliver Herbert; 16.Yigal Bruk
Substitutes
1.Trevor Schneider, 15.Declan Fremont, 22.Nathan Walters
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Boys MLS Academy
80.Cohen Park; 87.Rohin Kapila (85.Sydney Wathuta HT) 68.Nikolas White, 81.Nikos Clarke-Tosczak; 93.Deylen Vellios, 82.Brennen Fuerst ©, 79.Benedict Florent (77.Joven Mann 65'), 73.Jaden Manetta (88.Joel Demian HT); 96.Luke Norman (95.Lowell Wright 59'), 23.Amir Ghasemi (94.Yayo Mutombo 65'); 55.Patrick Izett (89.Michael Hennessy HT)
Substitutes
99.Matheus De Souza
