Vancouver streaks to third straight victory 3-1 over Wenatchee

VANCOUVER, WA — (V2FC club release) Vancouver Victory FC (3-1-0) won their 2nd straight game at home and third in a row overall with a convincing 3-1 victory over Wenatchee United FC (0-3-0). V2FC used dominant ball possession and pressure to keep the visitors off-balance for much of the afternoon under sunny skies at McKenzie Stadium.

The Victory outshot Wenatchee 21-7 and could have had more goals if not for two spectacular saves by visiting goalkeeper Daniel Romero. Shots came at Wenatchee early and often as the Victory strung together some nice possession that led to offensive opportunities. Enrique Esparza looked to have the first goal of the game with a blistering shot off of a through ball by Mirza Ramic in the 12th minute, but Romero made a lunging save to his left to get a hand on the ball. In the 25th minute V2FC forward Bobby Hutchin looked to have a goal off of a nice outside shot but Romero was up to the task again as he the tipped the ball away after laying out for a backwards dive toward goal.

The home side got on the board in the 31st minute when Hutchin volleyed a hard shot into the net from 18 yards out off of a nice flick-on by midfielder Nick Palodichuk. The score looked like it was going to be tied up in the 35th minute when a Wenatchee forward went to the turf while passing the sliding Victory keeper Sean Ervin to draw a penalty kick. But Ervin stood tall and smothered the kick by diving to his right. The momentum from the blocked penalty kick gave life to the Victory boys as they finished out the half strong.

With the Victory playing tomorrow, Head Coach Biniam Afenegus made several substitutions at half to get some fresh legs on the field, but the level of play did not drop off. Bryan Gonzalez came in and was very disruptive to the visitors penetrating and distributing almost at will in the midfield.

Gonzalez looked to tally a goal in the 65th minute when he took a ball 20 yards up the middle on a run deep into the Wenatchee box and hit his shot off of the cross-bar. The ball fell to Palodichuk who slammed a low shot home from 15 yards out. Four minutes later Gonzalez scored an upper corner shot to the near post. The angle was so tight and the shot so perfect it took a second to register to the crowd and players that he had scored. Victory midfielder Jamoy Stevens ran over and picked up Gonzalez high into the air to celebrate the great shot and goal.

Wenatchee United FC pushed with more possession and attacking for the last 20 minutes of the match as the Victory made a substitution at goalie. Ervin came out in the 80th minute. He has not given up a goal in over three matches and the last 290 minutes he has played. The visitors got on the board in the 93rd minute with a flick off of a free kick that got past Vancouver keeper McKay Owsley. Eduardo Perez notched the Wenatchee score on an assist from Adrian Espinoza.

Assistant Coach Sean Janson was pleased with the win, “This was important for us to get three points and manage our players for our match tomorrow against Yakima. We were able to use our full roster and get a strong result. We are taking things one game at a time. Now we can focus on getting three points tomorrow against a good Yakima side.”

The game was enjoyed by 385 in attendance. Team owner and General Manager Barrett Goddard was happy with the turnout, “We originally scheduled this game for another date, but unfortunately had to play it at the same time as the Timbers are playing at home and the Sounders are playing at home. We drew a great crowd and they were treated with a very good performance by our players. We had a lot of favorable comments today from fans who came out and enjoyed the match.”

The win puts Vancouver Victory FC in a first place tie with Bellingham United FC and South Sound FC. V2FC takes the field May 18 against Yakima United FC at 4 PM at McKenzie Stadium. The ticket booth opens at 3 PM.

Wenatchee United will try for their first league win May 24 when they host Spokane Shadow.

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