WFC2 v Sacramento Republic – The Story In Pictures

WFC2’s USL playoff hopes were officially ended with a 2-1 loss to Sacramento Republic in front of 1,294 fans at Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The win sealed a postseason berth for the defending champions and leaves the ‘Caps with two remaining regular season games which are likely to be used to get some developmental minutes for the younger members of the squad, with an eye on next season.

Justin Braun opened the scoring for Sacramento in the 29th minute and gave the visitors a lead at the half.

Marco Bustos made it five goals in five games, linking up once again with Victor Blasco before slipping past the Sacramento goalkeeper and firing home the equaliser in the 66th minute.

The parity wasn’t to last long and Braun added his second of the game, and what proved to be the match winner, five minutes later, burying a cross to the near post.

The ‘Caps had their chances but Sacramento were worthy of their victory, much to the disappointment of WFC2 coach Alan Koch.

“I don’t think we were very good in the first half,” Koch told reporters after the match. “In the second half we played more of our game. We possessed the ball, we went at them and we created some chances. I would like to have gotten something out of it, but if we played like we did in the second half for the entire 90 minutes, then maybe that would be the case today.”

AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk was at WFC2’s draw with Colorado Springs to capture all the action from before, during and after the game. 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].

The ‘Caps come out

WFC2 Starting XI

Justin Braun is played in and slots home the opening goal for 1-0 Sacramento

All hail the Republic

Victor Blasco links up with Marco Bustos once again and plays in the homegrown star

Bustos slots home his fifth goal in as many games to tie things up at 1-1

The dynamic duo

“We’re going to celebrate a goal tonight, singing ay-o, let’s go Marco”

But the joy doesn’t last long as Braun grabs his second of the game and the match winner

Not sure about the celebration though

A momentous day for Thomas Gardner, who makes his professional debut

The game is over

And so are WFC2’s playoff hopes for this season

You can see more photos from the match in the Flickr slideshow below: