BELLINGHAM, WA—The Vancouver Victory (1-0-0, 3 points) arrived right where they left off last season – in first place in the Evergreen Premier League after an eye-opening 5-0 win over Bellingham United (0-1-0, 0 points) at a stunned Civic Stadium on Sunday April 30. Timur Zhividze scored four goals and dished out an assist to power the Victory.
This was the worst loss for the Hammers at home in four seasons of EPLWA play (5-goal margin.) The Victory matched their record of winning away by 5 goals which they set previously in a 6-1 win over Seattle Stars in June of 2015.
The defending Champions opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Jacob Young’s long throw-in was flicked on by Nic Farr to Zhividze who finished the job.
Timur Zhividze.
In the 33rd minute it was Farr again finding Zhividze on a through ball that beat the Hammers defense. Timur closed the deal and it was 2-0 to the visitors.
Zhividze got a hat trick before half time when he scored again in the 38th minute on a free kick from over 20 yards out.
In the second half Nic Farr was brought down in the box in the 72nd minute. The penalty kick call was a try for Zhividze again, and he made it 4-0 to Vancouver.
The scoring was complete in the 80th minute when Zhividze turned assist man on a goal from Nicholas Ballanger.
Jordan Farr got the shutout in goal for V2FC.
“When you have a talented and a hard working team like this, it makes it easy for everyone to play with each other,” Zhividze said after the match, “and when guys are working hard to get me in scoring positions like that, it makes my job very easy! Today was fun!”
It was the first EPLWA win for new V2FC Head Coach Troy Ready. “I am so proud of the team,” Ready said. “Individually players were good on both sides of the ball and collectively the group was fantastic. This was a great first result and we are excited about moving forward.”
Victory General Manager Barrett Goddard has seen the Bellingham – Vancouver fixtures gain importance over recent years. “Today was a great team performance from our guys,” Goddard said. “We were missing a few players due to finals and a little light on the bench, but everyone stepped up and played very well. Timur was lights out with four goals and an assist. Jordan and the defense got the clean sheet against a very experienced home side. I’m really happy for Troy and the guys.”
Bellingham United travels to Oly Town FC next Sunday May 7 while Vancouver Victory have next week off.
