USL Game Report

Friday, July 31, 2015

TULSA, Okla. - Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (7-10-5, 26pts) began their month-long road trip on a high note on Friday night with a 3-1 victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC (7-9-4, 25pts) at ONEOK Field. WFC2 took all three points behind two goals by Marco Bustos and one from Victor Blasco.

The Roughnecks looked to be the livelier team to start as midfielder Brady Ballew had two golden opportunities from the right side of the penalty area in the first four minutes. WFC2 goalkeeper Marco Carducci deflected the first attempt, while the next sailed over the crossbar.

On the other end, the 'Caps capitalized on their first chance. In the 14th minute, Andre Lewis dispossessed a Roughnecks defender inside the Tulsa area and the Jamaican midfielder found a wide-open Bustos with a low cross from the left for an easy finish at the far post to open the scoring.

Lewis continued to appear in fine form with brilliant ball control and vision to get the Vancouver side more looks in the first half. In the 29th minute, his well-placed corner kick found Craig Nitti, but the towering defender's header was off target. Moments after, a Lewis through-ball created a shot for Caleb Clarke that was parried away by Tulsa goalkeeper Jake Feener.

In the 32nd minute, Lewis played the ball inside to Billy Schuler and the former San Jose Earthquakes striker was fouled by a Tulsa defender to earn a penalty kick. Bustos converted on the ensuing penalty kick, sending Feener the wrong way as he slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner.

Tulsa had chances to cut down the lead before the half but Cristian Mata's goal was called back as he was offside. Iarfhlaith Davoren attempted a direct shot off a free kick from just outside the box but it failed to find the target.

The Roughnecks got on the board early in the second half when WFC2 defender Jackson Farmer was called for a foul on Mata inside the box. Lucas Cordeiro converted the ensuing penalty kick to halve the host's deficit.

The celebration at ONEOK Field would be short-lived, however, as Blasco broke away on the counter-attack barely a minute later, eluding Tulsa defenders and blasting a finish into the top of the net to make the score 3-1 for Vancouver.

It was an impressive bounce-back performance for the Whitecaps FC 2 backline, denying repeated attempts by the home side in the second half to preserve the win for the Blue and White.

With the crucial three points, WFC2 find themselves in seventh place and just a point outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference.