WFC2 suffer late loss in Utah

SANDY, UT – Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) fell to Real Monarchs on a late goal at America First Field on Saturday.

In the 89th minute, a corner kick deflected to oncoming Monarchs striker Jesus Barea, who fired in the winner.

The match started on a down note for the Blue and White. Sahil Deo was clipped on a chaotic play. The 18-year-old was stretchered off.

Whitecaps FC 2 manager Rich Fagan tapped Charlie Rogers to sub in for his professional debut. Rogers, from Delta, BC, is a product of the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy.

On the eve of the half-hour, WFC2 lit up the scoreboard. In the attacking third, forward Kevin Podgorni made the most of a turnover, as he spotted striker Daniel Ittycheria with a diagonal cross.

Ittycheria – who scored a brace earlier this week – drew the back line to him before a through ball to Yeider Zuluaga. The 2026 MLS SuperDraft pick then drilled low to the far post past Monarchs ’keeper Max Kerkvliet for 1-0.

Moments later, attacking midfielder Yuma Tsuji continued to show his danger from distance, after scoring a Goal of the Year contender on Tuesday. The Canadian youth international found open space to boot a 30-yard laser that Kerkvliet barely steered over the crossbar.

Real Monarchs drew level off a Luis Rivera corner kick – a Ewald header from in close deadlocked the match at the half.

WFC2 came two feet from glory in the second half – a trio of passes led sub Marko Popović to lay off for a wide open Ittycheria. Near the penalty spot, the striker beat Kerkvliet – but the powerful drive hit the woodwork.

Then, late on, Barea struck to break the young Caps' hearts.

Next up, Whitecaps FC 2 come home to Swangard Stadium to lace up against Austin FC II on Wednesday, July 22 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: Robert Vincze

Scoring Summary
28’ – VAN – Yeider Zuluaga (Daniel Ittycheria, Kevin Podgorni)
39’ – SLC – Felix Ewald (Luis Rivera)
89’ – SLC – Jesus Barea (Ruben Mesalles)

Cautions
23’ – SLC – Liam O’Gara
45’ – VAN – Carson Rassak
71’ – SLC – Ruben Mesalles

Statistics
Possession: SLC 55% – VAN 45%
Shots: SLC 19 – VAN 12
Shots on goal: SLC 4 – VAN 4
Saves: SLC 3 – VAN 2
Fouls: SLC 15 – VAN 8
Offsides: SLC 4 – VAN 1
Corners: SLC 2 – VAN 3

Real Monarchs
24.Max Kerkvliet; 44.Chance Cowell (88.Linkon Ream HT), 76.Liam O’Gara, 55.Gio Calderón, 37.Luis Rivera (77.Ruben Mesalles 59’), 47.Felix Ewald; 38. Antonio Riquelme (50.Lionel Djiro 78’), 61.Izahi Amparo (64.Dylan Kropp 90+5’), 40.Omar Marquez (34.Luca Moisa 59’), 30.Owen Anderson; 36.Jesus Barea

Substitute not used
99.Robert Alphin

Whitecaps FC 2
60.Sam Rogers; 66.Sahil Deo (74.Charlie Rogers 22’), 53.Immanuel Mathe, 43.Trevor Wright ©, 48.Micaah Garnette; 61.Carson Rassak, 71.Manav Badwal (62.Ryder Sewell 61’); 51.Kevin Podgorni (64.Tyler Brown 82’), 68.Yuma Tsuji, 45.Yeider Zuluaga (47.Marko Popović HT); 44.Daniel Ittycheria

Substitutes not used
70.Timothy Lodder, 73.Hunter MacGowan