CARSON, Calif. – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 overcame a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against the LA Galaxy II on Friday at StubHub Center. Fatawu Safiu scored for Vancouver midway through the second half and then assisted second-half sub Kyle Greig’s equalizer in the 76th minute.

For the fourth consecutive game, LA’s match ended in a draw. Jose Villarreal scored a first-half goal and Jack McBean tallied his league-leading fifth goal for the Western Conference-leading Galaxy II.

LA is now 2-0-4 (10 points) for the season while Vancouver moves to 2-0-2 (8 points).

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LA and Vancouver went back and forth in the early going as both sides found moments to work the ball up-field. WFC2 had the game’s first shot on goal when Daniel Haber cracked from long distance in the 18th minute. Vancouver worked the ball well up the left side on several occasions, including this sequence, and Haber converged when the ball was crossed in above the 18-yard box. Haber put some mustard on his shot, but the strike went directly to Galaxy II goalkeeper Clement Diop who fell over the ball and did not allow a rebound.

LA’s offense created a couple close chances in the 36th minute. Vancouver goalkeeper Spencer Richey batted away a corner kick from the left side. Then the Galaxy II’s Jaime Villarreal set up Adonis Amaya, whose shot was deflected by Richey’s leg and then smothered to prevent another wave of attacks.

In first-half stoppage time, Jose Villarreal broke through with a perfectly placed left-footed strike for the 1-0 lead. Villarreal avoided Vancouver’s six-man wall, finding the left edge of the frame to go into halftime with the advantage.

LA pushed its lead to 2-0 in the 57th minute when McBean scored his league-leading fifth goal of the season. Jaime Villarreal drew a penalty kick as he was fouled at what the referee ruled was the top of the 18-yard area by Sem de Wit. McBean took the penalty kick, hesitated to get Richey to lean in one direction and then fired the opposite way into the right of the frame for a two-goal cushion.

Vancouver made things interesting with a strong counter attack in the 70th minute. Erik Hurtado pushed up the right side and crossed the ball in, high enough to elude Diop trying to intercept. Safiu ran in toward the left post and on the short hop kept his volley just low enough to make it 2-1.

WFC2 completed its comeback in the 76th minute with Safiu’s through ball timed perfectly with Greig’s run to get behind the Galaxy II defense. Greig chipped his left-footed shot over a lunging Diop and into the back of the net to tie the score at 2-2.

In the 83rd minute, Bryam Rebellon was sent off during a skirmish down the stretch.

Upcoming Games:

• April 27: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at Swope Park Rangers; Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village, 8 p.m. ET

• April 30: LA Galaxy II at Rio Grande Valley FC; UTRGV Soccer and Track Complex, 8:30 p.m. ET

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