PDL Game Report
Sunday, May 4, 2014
VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria Highlanders kicked off their 2014 PDL season with a dramatic 3-2 victory against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 on Sunday afternoon at Royal Athletic Park. In a nail-biter that saw both sides hold the lead, veteran Riley O’Neill posted the winning goal off a penalty kick in stoppage time to give the defending Western Conference champions victory.
Cody Cook and Ali Musse netted goals for the Whitecaps, while Carlo Basso, Wesley Barrett and O’Neill answered for Victoria.
Victoria’s scoring chances came early, as O’Neill fed a long ball to former Whitecap Cam Hundal, who then passed off to teammate Andrew Ravenhill. Ravenhill’s shot on net slipped behind ‘keeper Nolan Wirth before being cleared out of danger.
Vancouver's first good chance came in the 25th minute, when Victoria’s Ryan Ashlee made a sliding challenge on the Whitecaps' Yassin Essa, who avoided the tackle and looked to be breaking in on goal before Highlanders captain Tyler Hughes cleared the ball out of danger. Four minutes later, however, Vancouver silenced the Highlanders' raucous home crowd after a Reynold Stewart corner found Cook to put Vancouver up 1-0.
Victoria looked ready to even the match when O’Neill broke into the attacking zone, but a hard tackle by opponent Mark Baldisimo put O’Neill to the ground for several minutes while Baldisimo was issued a yellow card. The Highlanders continued to press on offence, and midfielder Cameron Stokes worked the ball inside the penalty area before he split two Whitecaps defenders and sent a cross-pass to newcomer Basso, who headed it into the net to even the match at 1-1 heading into the break.
The Highlanders continued to press on offense in the second half, and Basso almost grabbed a second as he knocked a Tyler Hughes free kick just wide right off a header early in the second half. The Simon Fraser senior had a second opportunity to notch a brace after collecting a Sam Prette rebound in front of the net before firing it just over the crossbar.
Head coach Steve Simonson made a change in his personnel following a beautiful goal in the 72nd minute by Vancouver's Ali Musse, as he inserted Wesley Barrett. The move immediately paid dividends as Barrett fired a screamer into the back of the net, leveling the game at 2-2 after subbing on just one minute prior.
As the game entered stoppage time, an over-the-top through-ball to Basso ended with Wirth challenging the 6-foot-4 forward inside the penalty area. After the goalkeeper spilled, Basso was quick to the loose ball and was taken down by Wirth, resulting in a penalty kick for the Highlanders. O’Neill calmly stepped up to take the kick, slotting it in the bottom-left corner to seal the 3-2 victory.
The Highlanders next face off in PDL action on May 17 against the Kitsap Pumas at Royal Athletic Park. For more information please visit www.highlandersfc.ca.