BURNABY, BC – Whitecaps FC 2 staged a thrilling 4-1 comeback over visiting Los Angeles FC 2 to send the Blue and White faithful at Swangard Stadium home happy.
Midfielder Liam Mackenzie struck for a first-half brace, while Daniel Ittycheria and Johnny Selemani each scored in the second half.
At the quarter-hour, Canada U-20 national team striker Marius Aiyenero booted home a rebound for the opener to LAFC 2.
Two minutes later, goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer came up big for the home side. After referee Amer Ramic pointed to the spot, Boehmer perfectly read the LAFC 2 penalty kick. The first team ’keeper slid with an outstretched palm to the far post – his glove punched out the low DeCarlo Guerra dribbler. A moment later, Boehmer recovered to parry aside a second chance.
With renewed confidence, Whitecaps FC 2 found the equalizer via Liam Mackenzie, who timed his header to nod home a Johnny Selemani cross from 10 yards out.
Mackenzie was recently teammates with LAFC 2's Aiyenero on national team duty with Canada at the Concacaf U-20 championship. The native of Comox, B.C. started four of his five appearances at the tournament, scoring three goals.
On the cusp of halftime, the Blue and White went ahead 2-1 via a Mackenzie brace. The attacking midfielder collected a loose ball at the top of the box. In open space, he blasted a 17-yard scorcher inside the far post.
For the second half, Whitecaps FC 2 head coach Rich Fagan sent in newly signed pro Valter Sedin. Now a 19-year-old, Sedin grew up in the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy.
Ten minutes later, Daniel Ittycheria made it 3-1. Off a short corner kick, the former Ivy Leaguer leapt to head home the insurance marker past Failla.
It was Ittycheria’s ninth goal of the season.
In the 58th minute, referee Ramic later ejected LAFC 2 centre back Érick DÃaz for a late challenge on WFC2 iron man Micaah Garnette.
The Blue and White sealed all three points late on thanks to Selemani’s wonderous strike. Off a clearance, Selemani cracked a 20-yard half-volley home.
Up next, Whitecaps FC 2 stay at home. The young ’Caps host Sporting Kansas City II on Sunday, August 30, at 4 p.m. PT.
WFC2 tickets are only $10 and can be purchased at whitecapsfc.com/wfc2. Season ticket members can use their account number as the access key at checkout for complimentary tickets. Youth who are 18 and under get in free.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Amer Ramic
Scoring Summary
14’ – LAFC – Marius Aiyenero
26’ – VAN – Liam Mackenzie (Johnny Selemani)
45’ – VAN – Liam Mackenzie
55’ – VAN – Daniel Ittycheria (Carson Rassak)
82’ – VAN – Johnny Selemani
Cautions
26’ – LAFC – Benjamin Failla
45+1’ – VAN – Daniel Ittycheria
58’ – VAN – Carson Rassak
80’ – LAFC – Marius Aiyenero
Ejection
58’ – LAFC – Érick DÃaz
Statistics
Possession: VAN 53% – LAFC 47%
Shots: VAN 13 – LAFC 14
Shots on goal: VAN 5 – LAFC 7
Saves: VAN 6 – LAFC 1
Fouls: VAN 11 – LAFC 9
Offsides: VAN 2 – LAFC 4
Corners: VAN 8 – LAFC 5
Whitecaps FC 2
32.Isaac Boehmer ©; 66.Sahil Deo (49.Valter Sedin HT), 53.Immanuel Mathe, 43.Trevor Wright, 48.Micaah Garnette; 46.Cristiano Bruletti, 61.Carson Rassak; 63.Johnny Selemani, 97.Liam Mackenzie, 44.Daniel Ittycheria (68.Yuma Tsuji 82’); 45.Yeider Zuluaga
Substitutes not used
60.Sam Rogers, 51.Kevin Podgorni, 56.Liam Campagna, 57.Jayden Kim, 58.Jesse Peace, 62.Ryder Sewell, 64.Tyler Brown
LAFC 2
61.Benjamin Failla; 32.Travis Babineau (42.Miles Ozar 64’), 75.Adrian Sanders (55.Érick DÃaz HT), 34.Giuliano Whitchurch, 92.Emir Ponciano (83.Sylar Kaplan 42’); 78.Lisandro Torres (68.Liam Lambert HT), 36.DeCarlo Guerra, 40.Sebastian Nava; 90.Tommy Mihalić (39.Nathan Mardaresco 64’), 47.Marius Aiyenero, 81.Ernesto Rodriguez
Substitutes not used
87.Andres Sanchez, 56.Eduardo Villeda, 71.Alan Padilla