WFC2 v Tulsa Roughnecks – The Story In Pictures

It was a rough night in front of goal for Vancouver Whitecaps 2, as the young ‘Caps created chance after chance against Tulsa Roughnecks, firing off 22 shots, but only having one solitary goal and two rattled posts to show for all their efforts, on a hot and hazy night in Langley.

Full credit to Tulsa Roughnecks though, who came and played an excellent road game, looking dangerous in attack, soaking up pressure when it came in waves, and then doing what the ‘Caps have struggled to do all season long – be clinical in front of the net when it mattered.

Juan Caffa fired the visitors into the lead six minutes before half time, after some great work by Christian Thierjung to not give up on a play. It was against the run of play and you felt Vancouver could pull themselves back in it after the restart.

And they did just that five minutes in when a handball in the box saw referee Alain Ruch point to the spot. Marco Bustos stepped up and fired home his seventh of the season, and his sixth penalty.

The ‘Caps were in the ascendency and looked the team likely to add a second, but as they pressed, poor defending allowing Tulsa’s leading scorer, Ian Svantesson to ghost in at the back post and put away a Joey Calistri cross just past the hour mark. And it was two, seconds later, when Calistri caught the ‘Caps short at the back again and fired home a 20 yarder to secure the win.

It was a loss that pretty much extinguishes WFC2’s already very faint playoff aspirations. A tough season isn’t going to get any easier with six games left. It’s all about pride, performance, and impressing from now in.

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].

Your WFC2 starting XI

The Couch Ultras were in the house

The ‘Caps had some good early chances, the best being when Terran Campbell sent a great cross into the box

But the bounce and the strength took it just past Glorie Amanda, who couldn’t bring it down and fired over

It was a miss to be punished in the 39th minute when Juan Caffa expertly fired home the opener for Tulsa after some great work by Christian Thierjung to keep the move alive

It was against the run of the play but the Roughnecks didn’t care about that

But the ‘Caps nearly levelled it just before the break as Brett Levis powered into the box

But could only look on in anguish as his fierce strike cannoned off the right post

The ‘Caps were given the opportunity to draw level five minutes into the second half when Francisco Ugarte was called for a handball in the box

Marco Bustos stepped up

And drilled home his seventh of the season, and sixth from the spot

Celebrating in front of family and friends with the help of a very personal tattoo

With the ‘Caps in the ascendancy, Terran Campbell came within inches of adding a second, getting his outstretched leg onto a cross that was directed goalwards but cleared off the line

And again, a close call for the ‘Caps was punished when Tulsa launched another smash and grab and leading scorer Ian Svantesson ghosted into at the back host to make it 11 for the year so far

Tulsa celebrated

But there was even more to come seconds later when Joey Calistra fired home a long ranger over Sean Melvin to make it 3-1

Game put to bed? Sadly, yes

Cole Seiler nearly pulled one back late on, getting on the end of a David Norman cross

But his header crashed off the left post

And that was all she wrote. A solid display but a defeat none the less in the end

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