Vermont Green FC took home a point on Tuesday night in difficult conditions, battling with AC Connecticut to a 0-0 draw in over 90 degree heat. The Vermonters remain top of the table in the Northeast Division, and are unbeaten through nine USL League Two matches.
Chris Taylor employed his ninth unique Starting XI of the campaign, with Judewellin Michel starting in goal behind a backline of Gabe Fernandez, Moussa Ndiaye, Brandon Marshall, and Owen O’Malley. Julien Le Bourdoulous and Eskil Gjerde roamed the center of the park with Zach Zengue positioned in the central attacking midfielder position. Stephane Njike started at left wing, and Alex Hall started out right. Ask Ekeland played in the center forward position.
At the start of the match, the heat was a blistering 92 degrees, and the sun was still beaming on the majority of the pitch. With the weather a clear factor, the pace of the match was visibly affected, but the Green dominated in possession.
Zengue looked lively as ever, and Njike probed and prodded down the left wing. Hall and Fernandez—making their first starts for the club—looked very comfortable on the ball and both created chances in the final third.
Connecticut’s danger man Sam McCann had a couple of breakaways towards the Vermont end, and the Nutmeggers did manage to hit the post on a vicious counterattack down their left wing.
At half time, O’Malley was replaced by David Ajagbe. Hall slotted back into the right back position, and Ajagbe took over duties on the right wing.
The Green came out in the second half simmering, but AC Connecticut–often sitting eleven men behind the ball–were able to maintain a sturdy defensive unit.
The next set of changes saw the return of Pearse O’Brien to the squad, as Ekeland made way. In the final substitution window, Chris Taylor called upon Jacob Labovitz, Luca Costabile, and debutant Brandon Parrish, replacing Zengue, Fernandez, and Le Bourdoulous.
The Green spent the majority of the remaining minutes moving the ball forward, but couldn’t quite unlock the defense.
In the 90th minute, Labovitz pounced on a sloppy back pass and rounded the keeper, the goal frame at a tight angle. He sent a rolling shot goalwards, but at the very last second a Connecticut defender cleared it off the line. Moments later, Steph Njike danced through the box and unleashed a hard shot, but it pinged off the post and went out for a goal kick.
The match ended 0-0.
Vermont Green FC now have a three point lead at the top of the Northeast Division. Chris Taylor’s men will go again on Saturday evening at Virtue Field when 3rd place New England FC make their first ever trip to Burlington.
Lineups
Vermont Green FC — Judewellin Michel, Owen O’Malley, Brandon Marshall, Moussa Ndiaye (c), Gabe Fernandez, Julien Le Bourdoulous, Eskil Gjerde, Stephane Njike, Zach Zengue, Alex Hall, Ask Ekeland.
Subs — Tenzing Maske, Mohammed Ibrahim, Diego Rived, Jacob Labovitz, David Ajagbe, Brandon Parrish, Will Sawin, Pearse O’Brien, Luca Costabile.
AC Connecticut — Luca Marinelli, Matthias Dick, Samuel Carrias, Justin Vallejo, Jack Ryan, Daniel Istambouli, Sam Mccann, Saviour Anyagri, Trevor Pegg, Elijah Stein, Jordan Blunschi
Subs — Tyler Doherty, Ethan Zaldivar, Nickolas Santana, Noah Holczinger, Joaquin Manon, Gavin Bravado.
Referees: Gurhan Dolgun (R), Aaron Fong (AR1), Andre Carr (AR2), Ryan Williams (4th)
Weather: Oppressive heat, 92°F at kickoff
Attendance: 88
Credit: Josh Wallace