BURNABY, BC – In their lone July home match, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 started well but eventually fell to Sporting Kansas City II by a score of 3-2 at Swangard Stadium on Thursday night.
Underneath a cloudy sky, WFC2 began with a bang in the seventh minute. After an Antoine Coupland corner kick, Rayan Elloumi's header sent the ball skyward to the back post. Midfielder Daniel Russo made space and cooly slotted home past SKC II goalkeeper Jacob Molinaro to put the young ’Caps up a goal.
At the other end, WFC2 goalkeeper Isaac Francoeur was put to the test. SKC II forward Maouloane Goumballe smashed a bouncing 15-yard strike on target, with Francoeur saving with ease.
WFC2 came close when Jackson Castro put his head down and flexed his muscles for a cracking attempt from far out
The home side capitalized before halftime as Elloumi recorded his second assist with a sublime through ball that found forward Antoine Coupland. The speedster turned on the afterburners to blow by defenders and culminated his with an impressive deke around Molinaro. Coupland then finished with a cheeky chip for his second goal of the MLS NEXT Pro season to double the 'Caps lead to 2-0.
In the 59th minute, Goumballe’s hard work paid off. He alertly picked off a loose ball outside of the WFC2 box and steered in a low shot to put SKC II on the scoreboard.
Five minutes later, SKC II tied the match off a Johann Ortiz corner kick, as Medgy Alexandre headed the ball home.
The goals kept coming, as Alexandre collected a brace off a penalty kick for a 3-2 lead.
Another SKC II penalty kick opportunity came in the 83rd minute, after Goumballe was dragged down. Alexandre stepped up again, but this time Francoeur won the duel, punching away the low attempt.
Coupland came close to equalizing with a strike in stoppage time, but Sporting Kansas City II held on to collect their the victory.
Next up, WFC2 hosts St. Louis CITY2 on Wednesday, August 6 at 6 p.m. PT at Swangard Stadium. Tickets are available at www.whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Nivin Raizada
Scoring Summary
7’ – VAN – Daniel Russo (Rayan Elloumi)
41’ – VAN – Antoine Coupland (Rayan Elloumi)
59’ – SKC – Maouloane Goumballe
64’ – SKC – Medgy Alexandre (Johann Ortiz)
73’ – SKC – Medgy Alexandre (penalty kick)
Cautions
29’ – SKC – Nati Clarke
50’ – VAN – Rayan Elloumi
58’ – SKC – Shane Donovan
76’ – SKC – Beckham Uderitz
82’ – VAN – Mark O’Neill
85’ – SKC – Maouloane Goumballe
Statistics
Possession: VAN 52% – SKC 48%
Shots: VAN 18 – SKC 10
Shots on Goal: VAN 10 – SKC 5
Saves: VAN 2 – SKC 8
Fouls: VAN 14 – SKC 23
Offsides: VAN 1 – SKC 1
Corners: VAN 9 – SKC 4
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
80.Isaac Francoeur; 27.Giuseppe Bovalina (55.Cyprian Kachwele HT), 46.Deylen Vellios (63.Johnny Selemani 40’), 48.Adrián Pelayo, 53.Mark O’Neill ©, 54.Daniel Russo (66.Sahil Deo 84’); 41.Nikola Djordjevic, 68.Yuma Tsuji (71.Carson Rassak 85’), 44.Jackson Castro, 43.Antoine Coupland (64.Mateo Clark 62’); 75.Rayan Elloumi
Substitutes not used
70.Trystan Read
Sporting Kansas City II
91.Jacob Molinaro; 45.Anthony Samways, 85.Pierre Lurot, 33.Nati Clarke, 99.Beckham Uderitz (49.Zane Wantland 90’+6); 52.Cielo Tschantret, 84.Luis Cruz-Ayala (48.Blaine Mabie HT), 97.Carter Derksen (76.Johann Ortiz HT), 38.Maouloane Goumballe, 90.Medgy Alexandre (35.Bryan Arellano 90’+4), 88.Shane Donovan
Substitutes not used
12.Jack Kortkamp, 35.Bryan Arellano, 57.Kashan Hines
