YAKIMA, WA—Vancouver Victory FC got off on the right foot in Evergreen Premier League play on Sunday afternoon April 26 with a 3-1 win over Yakima United FC under sunny skies at Marquette Stadium. (See a gallery of photos from Tracie Fowler here.)
Timur Zhividze scored in the 27th minute converting a penalty after he was taken down in the box. Hector Valdovinos scored one minute later from Yakima off of a bad bounce in the box. He pounced on it and scored from 14 yards out. The match was even 1-1 at halftime though the Victory would eventually outshoot Yakima 16-2.
Aaron Kinnes skies for the header. (Tracie Fowler)
Vancouver regained the lead for good early in the second half, and again it was Zhividze with the marker. Timur scored in the 51st minute half off the flick header from Nathaniel Cheney. Timur took the ball into the box on the left side, cut the defender, and slotted a ball to the back post underneath the goalkeeper.
Zach Naylor scored in the 81st minute to seal the game with a nice left-footed volley from 18 yards out to the left of the goal of a flick from Zhividze.
V2FC had number of chances to score in both halves. Ian Schimandle hit the crossbar off of a diving header in the first half and Timur hit the post on a shot later in the first half.
Ian Schimandle on the ball. (Tracie Fowler)
“The field conditions today (deep grass, bumpy surface) forced our group to adjust our style of play by being more direct than we are accustomed to,” said V2FC head coach Aaron Lewis. “I was pleased that our team’s approach stayed focused on finding solutions to the challenges of the day. That mentality is going to serve us well heading into summer.”
Victory owner Barrett Goddard was pleased with the team’s performance. “We were a little shorthanded today some guys having obligations and not be able to make the trip and a couple of injuries. It was a very solid outing for our guys on tough field conditions against a spirited Home side, but we have three points in the standings. Aaron (Lewis, head coach) had an excellent game plan and the guys executed it very well.”
Next up for Vancouver is a trip to Bremerton to play the Olympic Force on May 2. The match kicks off at 7 PM at Gordon Field.
After the final whistle. 3-1 Vancouver! (Tracie Fowler)
