PDL Game Report
Friday, May 30, 2014
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – The Sounders FC U-23 earned their first victory of the 2014 PDL season as they defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 3-0 on Friday night at Curtis High School. An energetic and sharp attack from the Sounders U-23 coupled with gutsy play at the back led to the Sounders success in taking down their Cascadia rival. Sounders U-23 forward Moh Dumbuya was often too much for the Whitecaps U-23 defenders to handle as he collected a goal and two assists.
The Sounders U-23 opened the match on the attack and nearly scored in just the second minute. Christopher Wehan picked up a loose ball in the middle of the field on the Whitecaps U-23 side of the field and charged unmarked toward the top of the penalty area. Still with plenty of time, Wehan sent a left-footed shot toward the far post that had the Whitecaps goalkeeper beat, but it struck the post and was cleared from danger.
The Sounders U-23 broke through in the 18th minute with the match’s first goal scored by Dumbuya. The determined Dumbuya battled his defender for the ball as it bounded toward the Whitecaps’ goal. Beating the defender with his speed and grit, Dumbuya finished the opportunity as he calmly put the Sounders U-23 up 1-0.
After nearly 20 minutes of mostly Sounders U-23 possession, the men in green were on the board again for a second goal. In the 36th minute the Sounders defenders cleared away a Whitecaps corner kick where Dumbuya took possession near midfield. Holding the ball up and his marker off nicely, he waited for midfielder Luis Esteves to make his run. Dumbuya turned and played a perfectly weighted ball through to Esteves who had everyone beat. Esteves broke toward goal and beat the Whitecaps goalkeeper to put the Sounders up 2-0.
The Whitecaps U-23 nearly got one back in the 43rd minute, but Sounders U-23 defender Austin Dunker had other plans in mind. Whitecaps U-23 forward Niall Cousens received the ball deep in the Sounders box with his back to the goal. With a swift turn Cousens sent the ball toward the back post past the diving Sounders U-23 goalkeeper Jefferson Caldwell, who was off his line slightly to try and cut down the angle. The ball appeared to be headed to the back of the net when Dunker came flying in to clear the would-be-goal from the line as he tumbled into the back of the goal. The ball again settled to Cousens who had a second bite at the apple, but his shot hit into the side netting and the danger was averted.
The Sounders U-23 opened the second half eager to continue their assault on the Whitecaps goal. In the 54th minute Dumbuya was at it again deep in the Whitecaps U-23 defensive third. With the ball just outside the left side of the penalty area, Dumbuya sent a crisp ball across the face of the goal where he had forward Nikolaj Hansen picked out perfectly. Hansen drove the ball decisively to the back of the net with a diving header to increase the margin to 3-0.
For the remainder of the match the two sides battled for opportunities to score, with the Sounders U-23 defenders remaining stingy at the back. Sounders U-23 goalkeeper Caldwell was rarely tested and the match came to a close with the Sounders on top 3-0.
Next up for the Sounders U-23 is a road meeting with their other Cascadia rival, the Portland Timbers U-23s on Sunday. The Sounders will look to continue their goal-scoring tear against a Timbers U-23 side that has allowed six goals in their first four matches. For more information visit SoundersU23.com.