More than 2,500 fans packed Virtue Field to the brim on Sunday afternoon as Vermont Green FC bested Black Rock FC 3-1. The win is Vermont’s ninth of the season and maintains their hold on first place in the Northeast Division.
The match started off with the usual home flare for the Vermonters, but the Black Rock defense held their own through the bulk of the first half. Opportunities from Federico Tellez and Bilal Kamal came close, and a pair of distance strikes from Daniel Pacella tested the keeper, but the goals were held off.
It wasn’t until the 44th minute of the match that Felipe D’Agostini finally found the breakthrough. Daniel Pacella found himself with space on the right side and whipped in a cross that was tipped by a Black Rock defender, the slow rolling ball was rushed onto by D’Agostini and the Brazilian slotted it home.
After the break, the Green would control much of the play, but the visitors would prove their mettle in attack. The New Hampshire side found an equalizer in the 73rd minute with a mazy goal from Mohamed Tall.
After the tying goal, Adam Pfeifer’s men were not going to let the three points slip and attacked the goal with vigor. In the 83rd minute, Vermont earned a corner, and the ball delivered by Zengue was headed down to the far post by Nate Jones, where Captain Jake Ashford was there to smash it into the back of the net. The go-ahead goal sent all 2,500 fans and more into a frenzy not seen in some time at Virtue Field.
To put an exclamation point on it all, Chris Meyers’ outside-the-foot ball unleashed Yaniv Bazini who hit home an insurance goal. The big striker now has six goals in four games since arriving back in Burlington.
Vermont Green FC remain in first place but have worthy rivals Western Mass Pioneers and Seacoast United Phantoms hot on their tail. This Friday, the Green travel to Ludlow, MA for a gigantic clash with the Pioneers with a chance to create more space at the top.
The club returns to beloved Virtue Field on July 9 for a friendly with Juba Star FC, a celebration of Vermont’s diverse soccer community. Get tickets at tickets.vermontgreenfc.com
