Vermont Green FC suffered a first loss of the season on Tuesday evening in Epping, NH by a score of 3-1 against Seacoast United. It was a back and forth contest where the Green were dangerous throughout, but the hosts maintained the edge.
Adam Pfeifer’s starting group included goalkeeper Jahiem Wickham, with Bernardo Prego, Sjur Dreschsler, Moussa Ndiaye, and Gabe Threadgold in front of him on the backline. In the midfield, Rodri paired with hard-man Sam Layton to sit behind an attacking group of Zach Zengue placed centrally and Xavi O’Niel and Jackson Castro roving the wings. Yaniv Bazini got the start once again as center forward.
The match had an intensity from the first kick, with hard tackles coming more often than chances in the first twenty minutes.
Twice in the first twenty minutes the Green found themselves calling for handballs in the box, but the referees did not see it the same way. In the 23rd minute, Taig Healy, a familiar menace for the Green, opened the scoring when Seacoast hit Vermont on a counterattack. The Phantoms didn’t let up—Ibrahim Conde scored a second just four minutes later.
Down a pair of goals, Vermont turned on the jets looking to play catch-up. In the 29th minute, a corner kick delivered into the box was brought down by Moussa Ndiaye, eventually finding the foot of Yaniv Bazini, who smashed it into the top netting from close range. It was Bazini’s 8th goal of the season, tied for the most in all of USL League Two.
The 2-1 scoreline only lasted for a matter of seconds, as Conde scored again at the half hour mark. The first half ended with the hosts holding a 3-1 lead.
Jacob Labovitz entered the match for Jackson Castro after the restart as Adam Pfeifer’s side knew they needed to act with some urgency in the second half. Vermont looked dangerous for spells in the second frame. Midway through the period, Bazini found Labovitz, who headed the ball into the goalmouth. The ball appeared to cross the goalline, but the goal was controversially not given.
Diego Batista made a debut entrance in the 55th minute and showed calm and class with the ball at his feet. Ernest Bawa and Ryan Combe also entered in the second half adding creativity to the Vermont attack.
Ultimately, the match ended 3-1. Despite a valiant effort from the Green, Seacoast United were able to hold their lead, and go top of the table in the Northeast Division.
Vermont Green FC now turn their attention to a home match on Saturday, June 15th at 7:00pm vs Western Mass Pioneers, a crucial meeting between 2nd and 3rd place in the Northeast table. The Green know that to keep their sights on the top spot, three points is an absolute must.
It’s time to pack Virtue. See you there.
Lineups
Vermont Green FC — Jahiem Wickham, Bernardo Prego, Sjur Drechsler, Moussa Ndiaye (c), Gabe Threadgold, Sam Layton, Rodrigo Vaza, Zach Zengue, Jackson Castro, Xavi O’Neil, Yaniv Bazini.
Subs — Francesco Montali, Nathan Simeon, Jacob Labovitz, Ernest Bawa, Ryan Combe, Andrey ‘Gato’ Salmeron, Diego Batista.
Scoring Summary
VGFC: Yaniv Bazini – 29′
Referees: Luis Reis (R), Kobi Lane (AR1), Maria Brouard (AR2), Adam Kaycee (4th)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 70°F
Attendance: 213
Postmatch Quotes
“When you go to two strikers you lose a midfielder so you got to make up for that with a little bit of movement,” Vermont Green Assistant Manager Chris Taylor told The Blazing Musket after the match when asked about the two strikers. “There’s pros and cons to everything but they [Seacoast United] played a really good shape and we’re trying to counteract that, trying to make changes on the fly against maybe one of the best teams in the country, it’s hard to do. It’s something that you know, we’ve been hoping to work on but haven’t had the time because of the schedule. Maybe a little bit more activity with the ball but it’s not fare on Jacob and Yaniv to kind of throw them out there like that and say, you know, ‘go do it.’”
Next Match
Vermont Green FC are back at home on Saturday, June 15 at 7pm to take on Western Mass Pioneers in a huge match! Tickets are still available, but are going fast.
