COMMERCE CITY, CO – It was a chess-like match in Commerce City, as Whitecaps FC 2 earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Colorado Rapids 2, just missing out on the extra point in a wild shootout.
The match began with both sides testing the waters in the opening moments. Rapids 2 pressed ‘Caps goalkeeper Adrián Zendejas into an early save inside five minutes, with Antony GarcÃa firing from distance. After a lengthy period of parity, Zendejas was called back into action in the 37th minute, rushing out to deny Ali Fadal from poking one past him after being sent in behind.
Zendejas continued his strong showing into the second half, closing the door on GarcÃa once again from close range inside the first five minutes of the second half. Sahil Deo tried to get the young ‘Caps on the board with a shot from just outside the box, but his shot was blocked by a defender before it could go all the way through. Later, Mateo Clark set-up Rayan Elloumi with a brilliant cross towards the back post, but the forward’s header went wide of the post.
Whitecaps FC 2 were millimetres away from taking the lead off a corner a few minutes later, as Rapids 2 made two consecutive goal-line clearances to keep the match level. Clark then had a chance after bypassing his marker on the right, charging into the box and firing from close range, but his shot was blocked by a Rapids 2 defender.
Zendejas then made yet another big save with less than 15 minutes to go, parrying a blasted effort from Josh Copeland.
Both sides would give it their all to try to find a break in the deadlock in the closing stages, but the match went into a shootout in the end after the 0-0 draw in regulation.
What ensued was a thrilling penalty shootout that had to go into the eighth round, where Rapids 2 snatched the extra point through Malik Pinto's final strike.
Whitecaps FC 2 are back in action on Thursday, July 17 as they travel to Texas to face Houston Dynamo 2. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. PT. The young ‘Caps then come back home to Swangard Stadium to host Sporting KC II on Thursday, July 31. Kickoff for that one is at 6pm PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/wfc2.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Katja Koroleva
Statistics
Possession: COL 64% - VAN 36%
Shots: COL 12 - VAN 7
Shots on Goal: COL 3 - VAN 2
Saves: COL 1 - VAN 3
Fouls: COL 14 - VAN 8
Offsides: COL 1 - VAN 0
Corners: COL 4 - VAN 2
Cautions
25’ – VAN – Jackson Castro
57’ – VAN – Cyprian Kachwele
64’ – COL – James Cameron
90’+4 – VAN – Adrián Pelayo
Colorado Rapids 2
31.Adam Beaudry; 35.James Cameron (53.Stevie Flores 69’), 48.Matthew Senanou, 37.Charlie Harper (54.Vincent Rinaldi 82’), 99.Jackson Travis (36.Anderson Rosa HT); 47.Sydney Wathuta, 45.Daouda Amadou, 15.Ali Fadal (38.Malik Pinto HT’); 57.Rogelio Garcia (42.Josh Copeland 69’), 40.Billo Diop (80.Noah Strellnauer 87’), 49.Antony GarcÃa
Substitutes not used
51.Zack Campagnolo, 44.Joshua Belluz, 56.Jaden Chan Tack
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
30.Adrián Zendejas; 66.Sahil Deo (41.Nikola Djordjevic 63’), 53.Mark O’Neill, 48.Adrián Pelayo, 36.Deylen Vellios, 62.Luca Chen (71.Carson Rassak 75’); 55.Cyprian Kachwele (64.Mateo Clark 63’), 68.Yuma Tsuji (73.Ryder Sewell 90’+3), 44.Jackson Castro, 63.Johnny Selemani; 75.Rayan Elloumi
Substitutes not used
80.Isaac Francoeur
