KANSAS CITY, MO ā Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-19 Residency fought tooth and nail for 120 minutes but ultimately fell 2-0 to LA Galaxy U-19s on Sunday in extra time of the Development Academy semifinals.
Despite the loss, āCaps goalkeeper Thomas Hasal was the star of the evening. The Saskatoon native, who turns 19 on Monday, was simply spectacular. He made no fewer than six highlight-reel saves, including a pair of diving efforts in stoppage time, to help Vancouver reach extra time.
But the āCaps were reduced to 10 men early in extra time and LA took advantage, scoring on a deflected Alex Mendez free kick in the 110th minute. Efrain Alvarez, who is already signed to an MLS Homegrown contract, added an insurance marker for LA in the 124th minute.
The āCaps certainly had their chances in this one, including a Michael Baldisimo penalty that was denied in the 57th minute and a pair of Theo Bair counter-attacks in extra time, but they simply couldnāt beat Galaxy keeper Eric Lopez.
It was a heartbreaking defeat for Rich Faganās side, who had posted a perfect 4W-0L-0D postseason record leading into Sundayās semifinal. Vancouver will conclude their season on Tuesday morning, facing Columbus Crew SC U-19s in the Development Academy third-place match at SWOPE Soccer Park. The match will kick off at 9 a.m. PT.
Whitecaps FC U-19 Residency
23.Thomas Hasal; 2.Jake Ruby, 6.Keenan Foley (3.Nikolas Papakriakopoulos 111ā), 4.Jonas Hakkinen, 52.Gabriel Escobar; 18.Andres Charles-Barrera, 21.Michael Baldisimo, 12.Nicholas Fussell (9.Jefferson Alade 106ā); 7.Georges Mukumbilwa (45.Simon Colyn 62ā), 14.Theo Bair, 11.Jose Hernandez
