VANCOUVER, WA—A monumental second half of the season slide was finally halted at McKenzie Stadium on July 26 as the Vancouver Victory (8-5-1, 25 points) got their first win in seven matches, 3-2 over Yakima United FC (4-7-3, 15 points) before 228 fans.
In the 8th minute Victory defender Tim Kagey was called for a foul in the penalty box. Cesar Rodriguez converted to give the Hoppers a 1-0 lead.
Timur Zhividze was a threatening force for the home side all match long. He was the man who stepped up to the spot after a hand ball call against Yakima in the 17th minute. Zhividze converted the penalty kick (his 7th goal of the year) to level the match at 1-1.
Vancouver took the lead just a minute later. A shot by Timur was saved by Yakima, then the loose ball was challenged by Zak Naylor who hit it off of the sprawling keeper with the ball squirting out to midfielder Tracy Hasson who scored in the 18th minute from 12 yards out. 2-1 Vancouver.
The Victory increased their advantage as V2FC forward Bobby Hutchin scored off of a pass across the goal mouth by Zhividze, who was slotted through on a beautiful ball by Carter Johnson at the 31 minute mark.
Yakima crept back into the match with a goal from Hector Valdovinos (his 8th of the year) in the 53rd minute.
