WFC2 v OKC Energy – The Dramatic Semi-Final Story In Pictures

WFC2 v OKC Energy – The Dramatic Semi-Final Story In Pictures

What a match! Everything you could want from a semi-final, including your team winning at the end of it all, as WFC2 came away with a last gasp 3-2 victory over OKC Energy at Thunderbird Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It was a game that saw momentum swing dramatically.

Kianz Froese had put the ‘Caps one up at the half, and when Kyle Greig added a second three minutes after the restart, you’d be forgiven for thinking WFC2 had one foot in next week’s Western Conference final. But full credit to OKC Energy, who bombarded the Vancouver box with wave after wave of aerial threat and attacks. They paid off as two goals tied things up with ten minutes remaining and looked to be clearly the team in the ascendency.

But step up Canadian international Daniel Haber, who showed tremendous composure in the box to fire home the last minute winner, sending the players and fans into ecstasy and leaving WFC2 just two games from USL Championship glory.

Can they do it? Turn up or tune in next week to find out!

AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk was there to capture all the action before, during and after the game and here’s our “Story In Pictures”, with a full Flickr slideshow at the end.

[Also check out Tom’s website www.residualimagephotography.com for more of his photos and work].


wfc2-okc-1701

A soggy Southsiders brunch tailgate draws a good crowd

wfc2-okc-1729

Thank heavens for plastic pitches as the game is on

wfc2-okc-1751

The most Vancouver anthem ever just makes Arielle more awesome

wfc2-okc-1823

Will Seymore pick up an early yellow that I was worried may have been a red

wfc2-okc-1834

But Michael Thomas’ lunge on Kyle Greig definitely should have been, but also wasn’t

wfc2-okc-1859

Kianz Froese’s 27th minute free kick deceives everyone (including Tom) and settles in the back of the OKC net

wfc2-okc-1871

1-0 ‘Caps!

wfc2-okc-1952

A disappointing crowd of only 1,308. It was a semi-final people and there’s a roof!

wfc2-okc-2027

Three minutes into the second half, great work by Kadin Chung as he tears into the box

wfc2-okc-2029

Setting up Kyle Greig

wfc2-okc-2032

Who strokes it home for his second in two games to make it 2-0 ‘Caps

wfc2-okc-2047

Ya Dancer!

wfc2-okc-2102

Danny Konig thinks he’s pulled one back soon after but it’s offside. Phew!

wfc2-okc-2133

Spencer Richey with one of a number of big stops in the game

wfc2-okc-2141

But when the ball comes to Danny Konig at the back of the six yard box on the hour mark, there’s nothing he can do to keep it out

wfc2-okc-2145

And OKC are back in the match at 2-1. Squeaky bum time!

wfc2-okc-2177

Spencer Richey continues his excellent game

wfc2-okc-2203

The coolest man in the stadium as Christopher Diaz clears a goalbound deflection of the line at the last possible moment

wfc2-okc-2232

Before Spencer Richey comes up with another cracking save

wfc2-okc-2264

But with ten minutes remaining, the ball comes out to OKC’s Timo Pitter at the edge of the box

wfc2-okc-2265

He lets rip, beating Richey all ends up

wfc2-okc-2266

And making it 2-2 with the goal of the game (and one of the season)

wfc2-okc-2275

Causing sheer, unbridled joy on the Energy bench

wfc2-okc-2382

But there’s still time… and in the last minute the ball breaks to Daniel Haber in the box after some great work out wide by Thomas Sanner

wfc2-okc-2386

And the Canadian international shows great composure to find his footing in the wet conditions and make room for himself in the box, before firing through the legs of two OKC defenders and into the net for the game winning goal

wfc2-okc-2395

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

wfc2-okc-2399

Pile on! But don’t injure him, we need him for two finals

wfc2-okc-2409

And the supporters go wild!

wfc2-okc-2413

The most beautiful looking scoreboard ever seen at UBC?

wfc2-okc-2457

It’s over!!! The ‘Caps are going to a Western Conference final. Get it done boys!

You can see all of Tom’s photos from the game HERE and in our full Flickr slideshow below:

Authored by: Michael McColl

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.