VANCOUVER, B.C. – Fighting for pride to close their seasons Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 welcomes Orange County SC in the final match of the season for both clubs at Thunderbird Stadium on Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.
Matchcenter: Click Here | Tickets: Click Here
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 news and notes
Current record: 5-17-9, 24pts
WFC2 earned a 1-1 draw against the USL Regular Season Champions, Real Monarchs SLC, last Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium in its most recent outing.
After going behind the the first half, Vancouver equalized in the 48th minute when Marco Bustos' cross from the right was turned home by Monarchs defender James Moberg for an own goal.
Vancouver gained a man-advantage with 14 minutes to go when Real's Demar Phillips was sent off, but WFC2 couldn’t get control of the match, managing only 48.3 percent of possession as it finished the game with four shots on target.
The draw with the Monarchs ended a run of three straight losses for WFC2, but continued a winless run of six matches that will have the side looking to end its season on a positive note.
WFC2 should have both Deklan Wynne and Myer Bevan available for selection on Friday night after the duo were absent for the game with the Monarchs after being called into New Zealand's national team for an international exhibition against Japan.
Orange County SC news and notes
Current record: 10-11-10, 40pts
Orange County was eliminated from postseason contention last Saturday night as it fell 4-1 to Reno 1868 FC at Champions Soccer Stadium.
Orange County faced a two-goal deficit when Irvin Parra’s goal in the 71st minute halved Reno's lead, but 1868 FC pulled away in the final 15 minutes to complete a comprehensive victory.
Orange County had reached the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals on both occasions.
Orange County has recorded the most crosses from open play in the USL this season with 472, but has failed to convert on enough of them as it has managed just a 22.46 percent crossing accuracy rate, good for only 13th in the league.
Series Notes
Squads
Vancouver – GK: Spencer Richey, Sean Melvin, Mark Village; D: Cole Seiler, Francis DeVries, Dominick Zator, Andy Thoma, Brett Levis, Danny Barbir, Chris Serban, Deklan Wynne; M: Nazeem Bartman, Marco Bustos, David Norman Jr., Patrick Metcalfe, William Seymore, Terran Campbell, Thomas Gardner, Matthew Baldisimo, Michael Baldisimo, Noah Verhoeven; F: Myer Bevan, Thomas Sanner, Gloire Amanda, Theo Bair
Orange County – GK: Charlie Lyon, Casey Beyers, Michael Suchy; D: Oscar Sorto, Joe Franco, Alberto Navarro, Sola Abolaji, Juan Pablo Ocegueda, Roy Meeus, Jeannot Esua, Walker Hume; M: Victor Pineda, Richard Chaplow, Gustavo Villalobos, Carlos Alvarez, Jerry van Ewijk, Dusan Stevanovic, Amirgy Pineda, Kevin Jeon, Zachary Kobayashi, Frank Olijve, James Baxendale; F: Rodrigo Pacheco, Monday Etim, Duke Lacroix, Wuiilito Tavares Fernandes, Irvin Parra
Discipline
Vancouver – Accumulation warning: David Norman, Ben McKendry
Orange County – None
Officials
REF: DARNELL SMITH
AR1: Jasmain Parr
AR2: Erina Cho
4TH: Juan Marquez
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – @WFC2
Orange County SC – @OrangeCountySC