AUSTIN, TX – Whitecaps FC 2 fell to MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference leaders won 4-1 on the road on Saturday.
Before the quarter-hour, the ’Caps put Lauta on notice. WFC2 captain Trevor Wright sprinted deep into the box for a looping header that zipped over the crossbar.
Later in the first half, Austin midfielder Christian Ayala went in on goal with 16-year-old WFC2 ’keeper Sam Rogers. At the top of the box, Rogers’s steely nerves allowed him to bravely parry Ayala’s low drive clear.
Austin FC II solved Rogers 10 minutes later. Right winger Diego Abarca’s diagonal cross found striker Stefan Dobrijevic, who hit a high strike for 1-0.
WFC2 fullback Micah Garnette came two feet shy of a decisive reply. He juked past a defender, but missed equalizing at the near post.
Garnette has been the ironman for WFC2. Before play kicked off, the St. Kitts and Nevis international was tied for the MLS NEXT Pro league lead for minutes played – 1,980 minutes over 22 matches.
In first-half added time, Abarca tapped home at the near post to make it 2-0.
After play resumed, Austin's Dobrijevic collected a brace via a header, and midfielder Djaka Barro tacked on for 4-0.Â
In the 67th minute, referee Killian Anderson pointed to the spot for a WFC2 penalty kick. Midfielder Cristiano Bruletti slotted home to put the Blue and White on the board.
Up next, WFC2 will return home to Swangard to take on LAFC 2 on Wednesday, August 26 at 6 p.m. PT.Â
WFC2 tickets are only $10 each. Tickets can be purchased at whitecapsfc.com/wfc2. Whitecaps FC MLS season ticket members can receive complimentary WFC2 tickets by using their account number as the access key at checkout. Youth who are 18 and under get in free.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Killian Richardson
Scoring Summary
23’ – ATX – Stefan Dobrijevic (Diego Abarca)
45+1’ – ATX – Diego Abarca (Patrick Cayelli)
55’ – ATX – Stefan Dobrijevic (Marcel Ruszel)
64’ – ATX – Djaka Barro
67’ – VAN – Cristiano Bruletti (penalty kick)
Cautions
44’ – VAN – Cristiano Bruletti|
52’ – VAN – Ryder Sewell
84’ – VAN – Yuma Tsuji
90+2’ – ATX – Diego Abarca
Statistics
Possession: ATX 52% – VAN 48%
Shots: ATX 19 – VAN 17
Shots on Goal: ATX 8 – VAN 4
Saves: ATX 3 – VAN 4
Fouls: ATX 14 – VAN 11
Offsides: ATX 5 – VAN 1
Corners: ATX 5 – VAN 6
Austin FC II
13.Erik Lauta; 3.Dren Dobruna, 14.Daniel Cieśla, 5.Jules Bery, 18.Patrick Cayelli (45.Ryan Klinger 85’); 48.Christian Ayala, 6.Djaka Barro (41.Luke Chamberlain 78’), 16.Marcel Ruszel (24.Kenan Hot 63’); 7.Diego Abarca, 21.Stefan Dobrijevic (22.Ibrahima Sall 63’), 37.Erick Lisboa Feliciano (11.Patrick Gryczewski 78’)
Substitutes not used
1.Charlie Farrar, 8.Adrián González, 9.Vlad Dănciuțiu, 46.Vona Dievbiere
Whitecaps FC 2
60.Sam Rogers; 66.Sahil Deo (51.Kevin Podgorni HT), 57.Jayden Kim (68.Yuma Tsuji 74’), 43.Trevor Wright ©, 48.Micaah Garnette; 62.Ryder Sewell, 46.Cristiano Bruletti, 61.Carson Rassak; 63.Johnny Selemani (64.Tyler Brown HT), 44.Daniel Ittycheria, 45.Yeider Zuluaga
Substitutes not used
80.Isaiah Chahal, 56.Liam Campagna, 58.Jesse Peace