WFC2 take two points from North Texas SC

BURNABY, BC – On the eve of the World Cup, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) thrilled the Swangard Stadium faithful with an impressive comeback 1-1 draw deep in added time against North Texas SC (NTSC), before the young ’Caps collected the extra point in the shootout.

WFC2 substitute Connor Munn scored to equalize, before 16-year-old goalkeeper Sam Rogers stepped up during the shootout. He leapt twice to provide consecutive denials on North Texas’ Ian Charles and Edouard Nys for the extra point.

Early on, WFC2 put NTSC goalkeeper Eryk Dymora on notice. After two chances from crosses, striker Tyler Brown juked his way to the very edge of the end line before he rolled a dangerous ball across the box but no one was around to put it home.

WFC2 gained confidence through long stretches of possession. Before the half-hour, hard-charging forward Daniel Ittycheria sprinted down the right wing to get free behind the line. The former Ivy Leaguer kept his head up to loft a cross to oncoming Brown, who arrived a heartbeat late and found his header in the palms of Dymora.

At the end of the first half, WFC2 had another glorious chance off a Carson Rassak corner, which eventually came back to him at the top of the box that forced an acrobatic save from Dymora.

North Texas would open the second half by scoring the first goal of the match from substitute Jaidyn Contreras in the 48th minute. However, WFC2 was not going into the night quietly and maintained late pressure against the Texas’ side which eventually paid off in added time.

WFC2’s Cristiano Bruletti delivered a free kick that pinwheeled around the box until substitute Munn booted the ball home at the far post for an electrifying 1-1 equalizer. The goal was the first of the season for the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy product.

In the final minute of added time, Rogers made a game-saving punch to clear an attempted from Charles to preserve a point and head into the shootout. 

From the penalty spot, Rogers showed nerves of steel. On consecutive kicks, the 16-year-old ’keeper correctly guessed. First, he dove to his right to roar ‘No’ again to Charles before an impressive skyward leap to tip a Nys ball two yards over the crossbar.

To break the deadlock, WFC2’s Bruletti slipped in a cheeky roller to snatch the extra point for the home side.

WFC2 continue their home stand at Swangard Stadium on Wednesday, June 17 facing San Jose Earthquakes II at 6 p.m. PT. Tickets for every WFC2 home match are only $10 for adults and can be purchased online at https://www.whitecapsfc.com/wfc2/tickets/. Vancouver Whitecaps FC season ticket members and youth 18-years and younger can watch WFC2 matches for free. 

MATCH DETAILS

Referee: Cody Baldauf

Scoring Summary
48’ – NTX – Jaidyn Contreras (Daniel Baran)
90+2’ – VAN – Connor Munn

Shootout
NTX – Scored – Christopher Salazar
VAN – Scored – Daniel Ittycheria
NTX – Scored – Umberto Pelà
VAN – Scored – Prince Amponsah
NTX – Scored – Jaidyn Contreras
VAN – Scored – Marko Popović
NTX – Missed – Ian Charles
VAN – Missed – Carson Rassak
NTX – Missed – Edouard Nys
VAN – Scored – Cristiano Bruletti

Cautions
33’ – VAN – Immanuel Mathe
38’ – NTX – Timothy Ospina
58’ – NTX – Jaidyn Contreras
67’ – VAN – Manav Badwal
76’ – VAN – Aiden Bejaoui
82’ – VAN – Cristiano Bruletti
88’ – NTX – Ian Charles
90+4’ – VAN – Micaah Garnette

Statistics
Possession: VAN 48% – NTX 52%
Shots: VAN 12 – NTX 8
Shots on goal: VAN 4 – NTX 3
Saves: VAN 2 – NTX 3
Fouls: VAN 19 – NTX 15
Offsides: VAN 0 – NTX 2
Corners: VAN 5 – NTX 5

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
60.Sam Rogers; 53.Immanuel Mathe (52.Connor Munn 64’), 54.Prince Amponsah, 43.Trevor Wright ©, 48.Micaah Garnette; 71.Manav Badwal (57.Jayden Kim 83’), 46.Cristiano Bruletti; 44.Daniel Ittycheria, 61.Carson Rassak, 51.Kevin Podgorni (72.Aiden Bejaoui 54’); 64.Tyler Brown (47.Marko Popović 83’)

Substitutes not used

50.Isaac Francouer, 58.Jesse Peace

North Texas SC

13.Eryk Dymora; 25.Jonah Gibson, 4.Ian Charles, 14.Leandro Gonçalves, 24.Joshua Torquato; 15.Ricky Louis (20.Jaidyn Contreras HT), 18.Timothy Ospina (6.Umberto Pelà HT), 27.Caleb Swann, 36.Daniel Baran (23.Samuel Sedeh 89’); 10.Edouard Nys, 11.Nathaniel James (59.Christopher Salazar 82’)

Substitutes not used

57.Nicolás Arango Montoya, 12.Jonah Biggar, 19.Marlon Luccin