BURNABY, BC – Whitecaps FC 2 saw their home record fall to one win and one loss, with a 3-2 loss to visiting Los Angeles FC 2 in their first home match of the season at Swangard Stadium.
With three minutes left in regulation, LAFC2’s Nathan Mardaresco scored the game-winner to deny the young ’Caps.
WFC2’s Liam Mackenzie led his club on the scoresheet. He scored his fourth goal of the season, adding an assist, to continue his goal-scoring streak for the third match in a row.
Isaac Boehmer came down from the first team. Early on, the 24-year-old steadied the ship as he denied LAFC2’s Tommy Mihalić.
Midfielder Anyole Peter made his first career start for WFC2. In the eighth minute, he gained possession in midfield before quickly slipping a pass over to the oncoming Daniel Ittycheria, who bolted into the box.
The Ivy Leaguer’s shot deflected across goal to Mackenzie at the back post. The Comox native calmly volleyed home for the opener.
Just as the sun poked out from behind the clouds, Boehmer bravely denied Mihalić again on a 10-yard smash. The ’keeper scrambled and alertly reached back to stop the ball from trundling over the goal line.
On his next rush, Mihalić collected a rebound from an Eduardo Villeda attempt and lashed a screamer into the top left corner for the equalizer.
The draw was short-lived. Only two minutes later, Mackenzie returned the favour, as he turned from scorer to set-up man.
After a Yeider Zuluaga long ball, Mackenzie collected deep in the danger area. With his head up, he tapped a soft roller over for a 15-yard Ittycheria poke that tucked under an outstretched Carter for 2-1.
In the 56th minute, LAFC2 equalized.
The Black and Gold broke through for their first lead late. A Gavin Zambrano cross near the goal line swerved in front for Nathan Mardaresco, who slid forward to tip home his first of the season to break the Swangard faithful’s hearts.
Next up, the young ’Caps continue their Swangard homestand versus Tacoma Defiance on Sunday, April 12 at 4 p.m. PT.
For home matches, WFC2 tickets are only $10 each, and can be purchased through Universe. Season ticket members can receive complimentary WFC2 tickets by using their account number as their access key at checkout. Youth who are 18 and under get in free.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Robert D’Alesio
Scoring Summary
8’ – VAN – Liam Mackenzie
23’ – LAFC – Tommy Mihalić
25’ – VAN – Daniel Ittycheria (Liam Mackenzie, Yeider Zuluaga)
56’ – LAFC – Jacob Machuca
87’ – LAFC – Nathan Mardaresco (Gavin Zambrano, Joshua Santiago)
Cautions
18’ – VAN – Ryder Sewell
31’ – LAFC – Eduardo Villeda
63’ – VAN – Sahil Deo
70’ – VAN – Cristiano Bruletti
Statistics
Possession: VAN 36% – LAFC 64%
Shots: VAN 16 – LAFC 16
Shots on Goal: VAN 6 – LAFC 7
Saves: VAN 3 – LAFC 5
Fouls: VAN 12 – LAFC 11
Offsides: VAN 2 – LAFC 4
Corners: VAN 4 – LAFC 6
Whitecaps FC 2
32.Isaac Boehmer ©; 41.Nikola Djordjevic (61.Carson Rassak 90’+3), 53.Immanuel Mathe, 54.Prince Amponsah, 48.Micaah Garnette; 62.Ryder Sewell, 65.Anyole Peter (Marko Popović 88’); 64.Tyler Brown (66.Sahil Deo 59’), 97.Liam Mackenzie, 45.Yeider Zuluaga (46.Cristiano Bruletti HT); 44.Daniel Ittycheria
Substitutes not used
50.Isaac Francoeur, 43.Trevor Wright, 58.Jesse Peace
LAFC2
31.Cabral Carter; 32.Travis Babineau (62.Josh Santiago 69’), 34.Giuliano Whitchurch, 45.Kenneth Nielsen, 56.Eduardo Villeda (55.Érick DÃaz 63’); 40.Sebastian Nava, 48.Gavin Zambrano, 66.Bryan Moyado (36.Decarlo Guerra 63’); 49.Charlie Kosakoff (39.Nathan Mardaresco 80’), 90.Tommy Mihalić ©, 67.Jacob Machuca (77.Adrian Wibowo 69’)
Substitutes not used
51.Shaoziyang Liu, 35.Luke Goodman, 68.Liam Lambert