LANGLEY, B.C. – Gloire Amanda scored a late winner as Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 took a 2-1 victory against the LA Galaxy II on Sunday afternoon at MacLeod Athletic Park. Vancouver took the lead in just the fourth minute as Terran Campbell fired home a half-volley from the edge of the penalty area after the Galaxy II failed to clear a free kick into the penalty area. Marco Bustos also went close to adding a second in the 15th minute, only for LA goalkeeper Eric Lopez to get down well to save. The Galaxy II began to carry more play, and leveled in the 24th minute as Ethan Zubak got in behind the WFC2 defense and finished calmly into the left side of the net. Los Dos almost took the lead seven minutes later as Zubak’s header was cleared off the line by Deklan Wynne, while Jack McBean had a free kick turned away by WFC2 goalkeeper Spencer Richey. WFC2’s Bustos again forced a big save from Lopez on a counterattack moments later, and the young Canadian again went close just past the hour-mark as the Galaxy II goalkeeper continued to look sharp. Halftime substitute Amanda was the next to go close for the hosts as his near-post chance was snuffed out by Lopez, and the Galaxy II goalkeeper again denied Bustos with 13 minutes to go to keep the game level. The pressure finally told with seven minutes to go, however, as Amanda tucked home a finish just inside the left post to break Vancouver’s 13-game winless streak.

Scoring:
4’ – VAN – Terran Campbell (David Norman Jr.)
24’ – LA – Ethan Zubak (Adrian Vera)
83’ – VAN – Gloire Amanda

• #VANvLA: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. After a relatively even first half, Vancouver took control of the game in the second half as it recorded chance after chance to take the lead, with young playmaker Marco Bustos coming to the fore. That the hosts were unable to take the lead for much of the half was down to an outstanding performance by Galaxy II goalkeeper Eric Lopez, as the 18-year-old pulled off a string of saves to keep his side in with a chance of stealing all three points. Vancouver was finally rewarded for its play by Gloire Amanda’s low finish with seven minutes to go, but Lopez performance certainly put him in the conversation for Man of the Match.  

• 2. The promise Ethan Zubak has shown since signing with the LA Galaxy II saw him named as the No. 3 player in the 2017 USL 20 Under 20, and on Sunday he put in a great all-around performance that highlighted why he’s regarded so highly in the club’s structure. The speedy forward consistently tested the WFC2 defense both with his finishing ability, but also with his technical ability that saw him record four key passes in addition to the first-half equalizer for Los Dos. Zubak’s progression this season has been marked, and could see a big offseason ahead.

• 3. The chances for both WFC2 and the Galaxy II to make the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs were long to start with going into Sunday’s game, and even though WFC2 emerged victorious to end a 13-game winless streak, they remain that way as the season enters its home stretch. Vancouver is now 11 points back of eighth place with seven games to go, and while the Galaxy II have two additional games remaining, it will remain an uphill struggle for Los Dos to earn their fourth consecutive playoff berth.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Gloire Amanda, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – Amanda’s introduction at halftime helped tilt the game in Vancouver’s favor after an even first half, and his game-winning goal lifted the hosts to victory.

Upcoming Games:
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC – September 6, 10 p.m. ET, MacLeod Athletic Park
LA Galaxy II vs. Rio Grande Valley FC – September 3, 6:30 p.m. ET, StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium