WFC2 v Seattle Sounders 2 – The Home Season Opener Story In Pictures

We’ve said this on countless previous occasions over the last two seasons – WFC2 play better when it’s their core squad and without a lot of first teams dropping down and disrupting the chemistry.

It was evident again on Saturday afternoon at McLeod Stadium in Langley as a very young WFC2 side confidently disposed of a more experienced Seattle Sounders 2 team in the first USL Cascadian derby of the season.

The Whitecaps fielded a side containing five Residency alumni, four of them teenagers, and handed a pro debut to centre back Dominick Zator, as they set out in a very different looking 3-1-4-2 formation.

It was an all round team effort, and although it was starting to feel late on that a Seattle goal was imminent, the defence held firm to record their first clean sheet of the new season in a 3-0 win.

Deklan Wynne opened the scoring 13th minute, with a nice low finish for his first ever professional goal. Andy Thoma headed home a Gloire Amanda cross four minutes from time and Ben McKendry fired in at the near post four minutes into stoppage time to secure the ‘Caps first win of the season.

AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk was there to capture all the action before, during and after the game. Here’s his “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].

We’re not meant to have favourites, but Arielle Tuliao is one of them!

The ‘Caps get on the board early when Kiwi Deklan Wynne fires home in the 13th minute

The joy of your first professional goal

Despite our rallying call, just 738 fans turned out in Langley for this one – it looked and felt less. Although to be fair it is in middle of nowhere and it was absolutely Baltic

Gloire Amanda played the whole game and played well, coming close with this late first half header

Only to be denied his first pro goal by the Seattle keeper

‘Caps captain Spencer Richey and the WFC2 defend had to deal with a lot of Seattle pressure in the second half but held firm

Centre back Francis de Vries was particularly impressive throughout this match

Was also good to see the tough tackling Will Seymore back after a little injury, coming on as a second half sub

And with four minutes remaining, Andy Thoma gets on the end of a Gloire Amanda cross to head home the killer second

His first competitive goal as a Whitecap

Ben McKendry wrapped things up four minutes into stoppage time, firing home at the near post to give WFC2 a well deserved 3-0 win

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