- Liam Mackenzie scored his first professional goal
- Nicolas Fleurieau Chateau, who recently signed an MLS contract with Whitecaps FC, set a new record for the most WFC2 goals in an MLS NEXT Pro season with nine, breaking the previous record set by Simon Becher in 2022
BURNABY, BC – It was a lovely afternoon for Whitecaps FC 2 in their final regular season home game at Swangard Stadium, as the team treated fans to a 3-1 victory over bitter rivals Tacoma Defiance.
The match began exactly how WFC2 would have wanted, with an early goal courtesy of Liam Mackenzie. The product of Comox, BC created some space by dribbling past two markers on the edge of the box, and struck a low, driven shot inside the far post to get his first professional goal.
Christopher Aquino nearly got the Defiance right back into the game when he smacked the bar after curling an effort from just outside the young ‘Caps’ box. Cody Baker then put a delicious ball into the box for Yu Tsukanome, who pulled away from his marker but looped his shot right in front of the goal.
Tsukanome kept the pressure up and was once again found in space, this time directing his shot on target but was denied by an outstanding save by Alexander Milošević.
Eliot Goldthorp found some space out wide just shy of the 25th minute mark, and whipped a cross into he box for Cyprian Kachwele to get a head on, but his effort went a whisker wide of the near post. Nicolas Fleuriau-Chateau came even closer a few minutes later, latching onto a free header in the box and hammering it against the frame of the goal.
Both sides would have some chances at either side of the pitch, but ultimately, Mackenzie’s goal remained the difference at the break.
Whitecaps FC would start the second half just as they did the first half, scoring early on to make it 2-0. Fleuriau Chateau drove into the box from the right and cut back a pass to put it on a plate for Goldthorp, who slotted it into the net to double the young ‘Caps’ advantage.
Fleuriau Chateau almost made it 3-0 shortly before the hour mark, finding space on the right hand side and firing a thunderous shot the wrong side of the post.
Mihail Ghersimencov nearly scored an absolute screamer with 20 minutes left to play, taking a chance from some 40 yards out and blasting an effort off the crossbar. Fleuriau Chateau then made Mohammad Shour work for a save after firing a vicious shot from inside the box.
Milošević then returned the favour with another big save of his own, denying a diving header from Braudílio Rodrigues.
Buster Sjöberg almost added an acrobatic third for the ‘Caps with barely 10 minutes to go, trying to backheel the ball in the second phase of a corner.
Tacoma did manage to halve the deficit right at the end, scoring through Synder Brunell in the 89th minute. The Defiance man picked up a loose ball at the edge of the box and fired hard and low to beat Milošević for 2-1.
However, Whitecaps FC 2 did not take long to regain their two-goal lead, breaking quickly on a counter. Gherasimencov played Fleuriau Chateau into the box and the Canadian striker fired home his ninth goal of the season to secure all three points for the young ‘Caps.
WFC2 are back in action on Friday, September 27 as they travel to Texas to face Austin FC II at 6 p.m. PT. The young ‘Caps then cap off the regular season with another match in Texas, squaring off against fellow playoff rival Houston Dynamo 2 on Sunday, October 6 at 1 p.m. PT.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Servando Berna
Scoring Summary
4’ – VAN – Liam Mackenzie
48’ – VAN – Eliot Goldthorp (Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau)
89’ – TAC – Snyder Brunell
90’ – VAN - Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau (Mihail Ghersimencov)
Statistics
Shots: VAN 19 - TAC 14
Shots on Goal: VAN 7 - TAC 5
Saves: VAN 4 - TAC 4
Fouls: VAN 11 - TAC 9
Offsides: VAN 1 - TAC 4
Corners: VAN 3 - TAC 12
Cautions
38’ – VAN – Mihail Gherasimencov
Whitecaps FC 2
90.Alexander Milošević; 83.Finn Linder, 53.Buster Sjöberg, 51.Dembo Saidykhan, 54.Mihail Ghersimencov; 43.Antoine Coupland (46.Darko Ilić 64’), 59.Jeevan Badwal (49.Malek Mehri 81’), 97.Liam Mackenzie, 41.Eliot Goldthorp; 52.Nicolas Fleuriau-Chateau, 55.Cyprian Kachwele (44.Myles Morgan 64’)
Substitutes not used
80.Trystan Read, 48.Malcom Simmons, 95.Joshué Ndakala
Tacoma Defiance
41.Mohammad Shour; 33.Cody Baker, 35.Antino López, 39.Stuart Hawkins, 85.Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (97.Burke Fahling 73’); 37.Snyder Brunell, 80.Christopher Aquino (27.Braudílio Rodrigues 45’), 77.Sota Kitahara; 99.Dylan Teves (96.Blake Bowen 73’), 36.Yu Tsukanome (81.Raul Miglietti 73’), 90.Sebastian Gómez (83.Elias Katsaros 77’)
Substitutes not used
30.Lars Helleren, 4.Nathan, 21.Reed Baker-Whiting, 32.Owen O’Malley
