Match Report: Vermont Green FC 2-2 Western Mass Pioneers

The Miracle at Lusitano. Vermont Green FC are Northeast Division Champions.

The Boys in Green completed an undefeated regular season with a dramatic 2-2 draw, scoring goals in the 95th and 99th minute to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The evening’s foes—the mighty Western Mass Pioneers—were just seconds away from being crowned Northeast Division Champions for a third time, before O’Malley’s wonderstrike altered the course of history, and secured Vermont Green’s first division title.

Chris Taylor started the match in the Green’s signature 4-2-3-1 formation. Niklas Herceg was in goal, Moussa Ndiaye and Brandon Marshall were the centerbacks, and Rui Aoki and Gabe Fernandez were the fullbacks. Julien Le Bourdoulous and Eskil Gjerde roamed the center of the park behind Zach Zengue, and David Ajagbe and Alexander Hall manned the wings. Arnaud Tattevin started up top.

A brief thunderstorm delayed kickoff by 30 minutes, before the clouds parted and a beautiful rainbow emerged above the 107-year old stadium.

It was a battle from the first whistle. The Pioneers came out with a level of intensity the Green had not yet faced this season, and the early moments the match saw heavy challenges and yellow cards. Western Mass looked the better side, dominating possession and creating chances on goal. The Green were on the back foot.

In the 41st minute, Western Mass got their goal. Gustavo Barbosa curled a perfect free kick towards Juan Hermoso, whose powerful header rippled the back of the net.

The half ended 1-0 with the Pioneers ahead, the trophy squarely in their sights.

After the break, the Pioneers came out swinging again. Knowing they needed a win to secure the title, the hosts did not relent, sending waves of attack into Green territory. In the 64th minute, Israel Neto latched onto a Barbosa pass and finished past Herceg to double the lead. The stadium was electrified, and the Pioneers’ were firmly in control.

But the Boys in Green never gave up hope.

Labovitz, Ibrahim, Parrish, Zellefrow, McCann, and O’Malley all entered the fray in the second half, as desperation mounted for Vermont. The clock hit 90’ with the Green trailing 2-0, and the Pioneers’ just moments away from the title. The referee indicated 10 minutes of stoppage time. It was now or never for the Green…and they needed two.

The clock showed 90+5’ when Labovitz clipped a cross towards Zengue, who controlled it with his chest before pounding it into the top right corner. A glimmer of hope.

In the 90+9th minute, Alex Hall sailed a 40 yard ball diagonally into the path of Owen O’Malley. O’Malley saw his moment and did not hesitate. Brimming with confidence, he took two touches before unleashing a rocket from outside the area.

Top right corner. The sound of the net. The explosion of joy from the traveling fans. The Green completed the comeback from the foot of the returning hero, the MLS draft pick, a boy who started in the first ever Vermont Green match over three years ago. A fairytale finish to the regular season from a man who bleeds Green.

Vermont Green Football Club are undefeated 2025 Northeast Division Champions.

OWEN O’MALLEY WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?? 🤯🤯🤯@VermontGreenFC proves it’s never over till it’s over to snatch the division title! pic.twitter.com/Yk5AelQsZy
— USL League Two (@USLLeagueTwo) July 12, 2025

Lineups

Vermont Green FC — Niklas Herceg, Rui Aoki, Diego Rived, Moussa Ndiaye, Gabe Fernandez, Julien Le Bourdoulous, Eskil Gjerde, David Ajagbe, Zach Zengue, Alex Hall, Arnaud Tattevin.

Subs — Judewellin Michel, Ryan Zellefrow, Owen O’Malley, Jacob Labovitz, Sam McCann, Will Sawin, Brandon Parrish, Diego Rived, Mohammed Ibrahim.

Western Mass Pioneers — Rees Sheppard, Gustavo Barbosa, Aidan Kelly, Jorge Veintimilla Martinez, Juan Hermoso, Jose Bustamante, Robert Lyons, Jose Suarez Monaco, Jaiden Willems, Israel Neto, Mamadi Jiana.

Subs — Alan Horrocks, Jared Smith, Oskar Kaufmann, Santiago Blasco Gomez, Augustine Boadi, Kwame Adu-Gyamfi, Matt Cence, Alejandro Carrillo, Alexander Ainscough.

Scoring Summary

WMP: Juan Hermoso — 41′ (assist from Gustavo Barbosa), Israel Neto — 64’ (assist from Gustavo Barbara).

VGFC: Zach Zengue — 90+5′ (assist from Jacob Labovitz), Owen O’Malley — 90+9′ (assist from Alex Hall).

Referees: Stephanie MacFarland (R), Jamie Marshall (AR1), Sam Conroy (AR2), Randall Kelley (4th)

Weather: Rain to start, 73°F

Attendance: Over 1,000

Post Match Quotes

“Honestly, I’m just humbled to be honest. This is beyond my dreams as a coach. It’s the best season I’ve been a part of. Having people who care about us that much I’m just happy that the players could show what they can do every day and I’m just grateful to be a part of it.” — Head Coach Chris Taylor

“It’s unreal. I came here in ’22 when the team was in its inaugural season, and they helped me propel to the next level. Whatever happened happened and I’m back here, but all I gotta say is, it’s for the fans and for the people of the community. They stuck by us all season and I just do it for them at the end of the day. It’s not for me, it’s for them.” — #12 Owen O’Malley

“One of the happiest moments of my soccer career for sure. The club means so much to our fans and our community and our players, and especially our owners, and to win in this fashion was unbelievable” — #8 Jacob Labovitz

“Honestly, to put it into words right now is impossible. It didn’t look good there for a little while. That was the first time we were behind the whole season, literally, the first time we’ve been down a goal. So it was like, how are you going to react? That was an unknown. You don’t know anything in this game untill you actually are in those situations, and you see what happens. So clearly we have some character. That comes down to the coaches and the players themselves.” — Sporting Director Adam Pfeifer

“It means so much, honestly, that we got to do it. Especially in the fashion that we did it, it meant so much. I was just telling myself, ‘we need one, and I can get one, and I can push the boys to continue to believe’ and that’s what happened. I’m just so thankful and I just kept praying in my head, and it came true. So, I’m just thankful we keep going on Friday, and at home with the fans. I’m so excited to play at home with the fans and continue to play with this team. These guys are amazing.” — #19 Zach Zengue

“I don’t think in year one that we ever could have imagined this. Here we are in year four, second year in a row, doing it at Lusitano Stadium. It’s historic. Doing it an added time. What it means to us as the fans. We’ve always talked about how Vermont Green creates community, and this is a family. It’s not just community. It is a family. To bring back Owen O’Malley to do the one thing that you want him to do and that you need him to do in added time, it means so much to the community, it means so much to the city of Burlington, it means so much of the state of Vermont, and we couldn’t have scripted it any better.” — Mike Popovitch – Leader of Green Mountain Bhoys Supporters Group, Host of United in Green Podcast

Next Match

Playoff time!

2025 USL League Two Playoffs presented by VensureHR Round of 32 and Round of 16 are coming to Vermont! Matches will be hosted at Virtue Field next Friday and Sunday, July 18th and 20th. Tickets will go on sale Monday, July 14th at 10am.

Credit: Patrick McCormack