Late Goals Doom Whitecaps Women

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 1 – LOS ANGELES LEGENDS 3
CHINO HILLS, CA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC women lost their first game of the USL W-League season, surrendering two late goals away to Los Angeles Legends, to finish on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline.

Striker Jodi-Ann Robinson gave Vancouver a well-deserved but short-lived second half lead, before mistakes in the closing stages allowed Los Angeles to take maximum points. Egyptian international Salma Tarik had the winning goal for the home side, as well as an assist on the equalizer.

Whitecaps head coach Alan Koch made two changes from the side that tied LA 0-0 on June 12. Kate Qually played up front in a 4-3-3 formation, for her first start of the season, while Monica-Lam Feist returned to central midfield, as Sophie Schmidt was unavailable for this game due to university commitments. The switch to a 4-3-3 meant midfielder Rachael Pelat was consigned to a substitute’s role.

Vancouver came out guns-a-blazing, and took the game to home side from the opening whistle. Amy Vermeulen whistled two good shots wide inside the first three minutes. Robinson fired a hard shot high on four minutes, then Qually did the same a few moments later, beating the keeper from in close but sending it just over the bar.

The Whitecaps held the upper hand throughout the early stages, and it was not until midway through the opening half that LA was able to apply any serious pressure. The best chance still went to Vancouver though, as a free kick from Vermeulen on 35′ produced a good diving save from Legends goalkeeper Alicia Lugo.

It was scoreless at half-time.

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