PDL Game Report
Sunday, July 13, 2014
SUMNER, Wash. – The Victoria Highlanders FC (8-3-3, 27pts) claimed a 2-1 victory against the Sounders FC U-23 (5-6-2, 17 pts) on Sunday afternoon at Sunset Stadium. A stoppage-time own goal by Sounders U-23 defender Austin Dunker was the difference in an otherwise evenly played match.
The Highlanders got on the board first in the 32nd minute after threatening with some earlier good looks. Victoria forward Cam Hundal picked up a loose ball at the top of the Sounders U-23 penalty area, took a touch around his marker and lined up a shot as he moved to his left across the top of the area. Hundal fired a low left-footed shot back across goal and buried it into the side netting for the 1-0 lead.
The Sounders U-23 nearly had the equalizer in the closing moments of the half. Sounders U-23 midfielder Michael Bajza played a pass into the penalty area where Mo Dumbuya was running on. With a defender on his hip, Dumbuya got a touch on the ball just as the Highlanders keeper Elliot Mitrou was closing him down. Mitrou was able to keep the Sounders off the scoreboard as he slid in to deflect the best look for the Sounders U-23 away to keep the Highlanders in front 1-0 at halftime.
The Sounders U-23 quickly leveled the score coming out of the halftime break. Sounders U-23 left midfielder, Luis Esteves found himself alone in front of the goal on the receiving end of a Dumbuya pass. Esteves was able to turn and beat Mitrou with a clinical low shot into the corner to level the score.
For the remainder of the half, both sides struggled to put any meaningful chances on target. The most exciting play of the second half came in stoppage time as both sides pushed for a game-winning goal. Highlanders forward and first half goal scorer, Hundal, picked up the ball on the left side of the Sounders box and ran toward goal. He sent a low driving ball toward the back post past a diving Sounders U-23 keeper, Jefferson Caldwell. In an effort to clear the danger, Dunker slid in to intercept the ball, but instead redirected it straight into the Sounders U-23 net, sealing the game for the Highlanders at 2-1.
The win moved the Highlanders into second place in the Northwest Division, and they will now host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 on Wednesday night in a divisional playoff for a place in the Western Conference Championship alongside division winner the Kitsap Pumas. Kickoff at Royal Athletic Park is set for 7 p.m. PT.