"If you look at the schedule, we've got so many USL games that we've got going on and so many MLS games and we've got a few injuries too, we actually had to ask for an exemption and the CSA approved it," WFC2 coach Alan Koch told AFTN after the game. "I don't think it's something we'll be using very often. You can see in our roster that we've been playing a lot of Canadians. We only started four today but we did get it approved by the CSA before the game."
It wasn't the most exciting first half. Vancouver tried to take the game to Arizona but as with the first team, putting away those chances was proving difficult.
The Whitecaps turned up the pressure at the start of the second and Caleb Clarke showed quick reaction four minutes in to tuck away a rebound after Arizona keeper Carl Woszcynski had done well to keep out a Kianze Froese shot from the edge of the box. The goal was Clarke's fourth of the season and his second straight game with a goal.
Vancouver had several chances to add a second and were in control of the match. They finally got their second killer goal with 12 minutes of the game remaining.
It came from Brett Levis and was the Saskatoon native's first professional goal. And what a beauty it was too as the midfielder won possession at the half way line and skipped past two Arizona players before burying it in the bottom right corner of the net.
There was no way back for Arizona and the young Caps go marching on. Next up are two away matches in four days. Colorado Springs are first up on Wednesday followed by a trip to OKC Energy on Saturday.
AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk was there to capture all the action before, during and after the game and here's his "Story In Pictures", with a full Flickr slideshow at the end.
[Also check out Tom's website www.residualimagephotography.com for more of his photos and work].
The teams come out at Thunderbird Stadium, ready for battle
WFC2 starting XI
A small but loud supporters' section for this one
The closest WFC2 came in the first half was a Caleb Clarke header
But Clarke wasn't to be denied and put the Caps ahead in the 49th minute
Victor Blasco comes close to making it two
And so does Caleb Clarke as he tried to round Arizona keeper Carl Wozscynski
But the Caps do make it 2-0 in the 78th minute when Brett Levis picks up the ball at halfway line and runs in on goal
Getting past two Arizona players on the way and slotting home his first professional goal
Much to his joy
And relief!
The young Caps applaud the fans after back to back home wins
While it's a meeting of mutual respect at the goalkeepers' union
Paolo Tornaghi is in demand after his clean sheet
Former Whitecap, and Arizona striker, catches up with an old friend, AFTN contributor and Curva Collective's Zachary Meisenheimer, after the game
You can see a Flickr slideshow of all of Tom's photos from the game below: