It was heartbreak in Houston for Vancouver Whitecaps U18s as they narrowly went down 3-2 in a hard fought and thrilling USSDA Championship game this evening.
The Caps only fell behind in the closing minutes as a week of four games in seven days in hot and humid conditions finally took their toll.
Despite the result, the guys have done themselves, the Caps and the fans proud all season and even tonight showed what a wonderfully talented group of players we had playing for the side this season.
It’s been a wonderful year and they should all be very, very proud of what they have achieved for themselves and Vancouver Whitecaps.
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Vancouver always knew they would be in for a tough battle against a Dallas side that matched them well in most departments, and so it proved.
In a tense first half, Dallas outshot their Canadian counterparts, but it was Vancouver who went in with the 2-1 lead.
The Texans had the best of the opening stages but Vancouver came closest to opening the scoring when Ben Fisk rattled a shot off the post in the 16th minute with a screamer of a shot.
'Man of the Match' Callum Irving came up with his first of many important stops of the evening when he did well to keep out a Nicholas Rochowski effort midway through the half.
It was to prove a big save as Vancouver took the lead two minutes later when Fisk buried a pass from Caleb Clarke.
The goal spurred Dallas on and they were level in the 30th minute.
Irving brought down Danny Garcia in the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Garcia picked himself up to take the kick but Irving got down well to his right to save the penalty. Unfortunately for the Caps, Garcia was quickest to the rebound and tied the game up.
Dallas came close to taking their first lead of the game five minutes later when Kellyn Acosta crashed a fierce shot off the crossbar.
Just when it was looking that the teams would go into the half level, Vancouver grabbed the advantage once more.
Clarke hit the byeline and cut the ball back dangerously into the Dallas six yard box. Amid the ensuing scramble, Flavio Guzman turned the ball into his own net and Vancouver went into half time 2-1 up.
Dallas had the first chance of the second half but Irving produced a great save to deny Top in the 50th minute.
Three minutes later, Irving came up huge again three minutes later diving at full stretch to turn another Top effort around the post for a corner.
Most of the Dallas attack was coming from Jonathan Top and he came close again when his shot deflected wide in the 66th minute, as Vancouver started to come under more and more pressure.
That pressure finally paid off two minutes later after some poor defensive play allowed substitute Jose de la Tejera to run through on goal and he made no mistake in tying the game up once more, slotting the ball home under Irving.
Vancouver nearly regained the lead in the 70th minute when a Fisk cross to back post just eluded Clarke and Yassin Essa.
Substitute defender Jason van Blerk came up with a huge last ditch tackle in the 75th minute to deny Garcia, who looked set to give Dallas their first lead of the match.
Dallas were getting closer and Top shot inches wide of the left hand post with twelve minutes of the match remaining.
The young Caps were looking tired and Dallas were dominating possession.
Irving kept out Top once again, getting down at his near post to turn the ball around for a corner in the 84th minute.
As the corner came over, de la Tejera found himself in enough space to head home a Garcia cross, giving Irving no chance and Dallas a 3-2 lead.
It was a lead they didn’t give up and despite some late Vancouver pressure, Dallas made up for last year’s final loss and won the 2012 USSDA Championship.
Vancouver’s guys will have heavy hearts this evening but they shouldn’t. Every player, to a man, has performed exceptionally all season and advanced their personal and club reputations no end.
The Caps had the 'Man of the Match' in this Championship game in Callum Irving and the player of the whole 'Finals Week' in Ben Fisk.
Head Coach Craig Dalrymple is rightly proud of his team and what they have accomplished:
<i>"I don’t think words can describe some of positives we've seen this season. They’ve got to hold their heads high. This experience will be valuable to them as they move on to the next stages of their career."</i>
Getting to the playoffs, never mind the Finals Week and the Championship game was a huge achievement for the Residency program and next year, just like Dallas this time, we can go that one stage further and win the whole thing.
Well done lads. You gave it your all and we salute you.
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