DENVER, CO – Whitecaps FC 2 valiantly battled through sweltering 34 celsius heat, plus the mile-high altitude, in a tight 1-0 loss to Colorado Rapids 2.
Rapids 2 striker Mamadou Diop scored the game-winner from outside the box in the 69th minute.
Early on, the WFC2 back line was on their toes in front of goalkeeper Adrián Zendejas. Centre back Trevor Wright bravely blocked a 15-yard volley attempt from Rapids 2 defender Jabari De Coteau.
Zendejas, a first team ’keeper, last started in MLS NEXT Pro in May.
Later in the half, Whitecaps FC 2 midfielder Carson Rassak cracked a looping free kick towards the back post. Centre back Prince Amponsah expertly timed his jump – but nodded barely wide to put Rapids 2 goalkeeper Kendall Starks on notice.
After a hydration break, the harsh heat forced both sides to plod down the pitch.
WFC2 left winger Daniel Ittycheria kept pushing, sliding past a defender and cutting inside the danger area. His low strike stung Starks’s palms, before the ’keeper held on.
In the second half, Amponsah cannily used the sun’s powerful rays to his advantage. Down the wing, he showed off his on-field IQ by flashing a ball across the Colorado goal on a severe angle. Looking towards the glare, Starks misjudged the oncoming cross that skipped off his gloves. He recovered before an own goal.
Amponsah kept the Rapids on their toes. He flexed his muscles to unleash a 30-yard thunderbolt that Starks parried aside.
However, it Rapids 2 who went ahead from a Diop scorcher. Zendejas leapt to punch the attempt over the bar, but the ball swerved to roll in for 1-0 Colorado.
Whitecaps FC 2 head coach Rich Fagan sent in Manav Badwal to spark his club. The 15-year-old talented midfielder was recently selected to the annual MLS NEXT All-Star game later in July.
Unfortunately, Badwal and his teammates ran out of time to equalize.
Up next, WFC2 returns home to Swangard Stadium to take on Ventura County FC on Tuesday, July 7 at 6 p.m. PT.
Tickets for every WFC2 home match are only $10 for adults and can be purchased online at whitecapsfc.com/wfc2. Whitecaps FC season ticket members can access complimentary tickets by using their account number as their access key, while youth (18 years and younger) can watch WFC2 matches for free.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee:Â Matthew Thompson
Scoring Summary
69’ – COL – Mamadou Diop (Jabari De Coteau)
Cautions
39’ – COL – Sebastian Siegler
66’ – VAN – Sahil Deo
83’ – VAN – Prince Amponsah
89’ – COL – Rogelio Garcia
Statistics
Possession: COL 47% – VAN 53%
Shots: COL 9 – VAN 10
Shots on goal: COL 2 – VAN 2
Saves: COL 2 – VAN 1
Fouls: COL 21 – VAN 15
Offsides: COL 0 – VAN 0
Corners: COL 2 – VAN 4
Colorado Rapids 2
71.Kendall Starks; 45.Jabari De Coteau, 55.Grant Gilmore, 37.Charlie Harper, 56.Jaden Chan Tack (87.Sebastian Siegler 28’); 66.Jonathan De La Fuente, 39.Luis GarcÃa (15.Ali Fadal 69’), 49.Nathan Tchoumba (40.Kai Thomas 80’); 11.Bryce Jamison, 26.Mamadou Diop (44.Chris Aquino 73’), 58.Landon Strohmeyer (57.Rogelio Garcia 70’)
Substitutes not used
51.Zack Campagnolo, 79.Kamal Sawadogo
Whitecaps FC 2
30.Adrián Zendejas ©; 53.Immanuel Mathe, 54.Prince Amponsah (57.Jayden Kim 90+2’), 43.Trevor Wright, 48.Micaah Garnette; 61.Carson Rassak (71.Manav Badwal 72’), 46.Cristiano Bruletti; 66.Sahil Deo, 68.Yuma Tsuji, 44.Daniel Ittycheria (51.Kevin Podgorni 69’); 47.Marko Popović (64.Tyler Brown 80’)
Substitutes not used
70.Timothy Lodder, 58.Jesse Peace