Match Report: Vermont Green FC 3-0 Pathfinder FC

It was a high intensity battle in Pleasant Valley, NY on Sunday as Vermont Green FC scored three times in the second half to claim all three points. Goals from Sam Layton, Jacob Labovitz, and Yann Toualy would be the difference as the Green escaped a notoriously difficult away trip with a win.

There were a few changes to the starting eleven, starting between the sticks, as Adam Pfeifer called upon Jahiem Wickham as his goalkeeper. The backline looked familiar, with Bernardo Prego, Moussa Ndiaye and Gerardo Castillo, and Sjur Drechsler. The defensive midfield pairing of Rodrigo Vaza and Sam Layton were given the nod again, and Jackson Castro, Zach Zengue, and Nick Lockermann started in the attacking midfield positions. Up top, Yaniv Bazini took his usual place at center forward.

The match started with early chances for the Green, testing the Pathfinder defense and stinging the hands of their keeper—who had a brilliant performance at Virtue Field in the reverse fixture— multiple times. The hosts also had their chances on goal, even forcing a save from Wickham that rang the outside of his right post. A nervy moment for Vermont.

The match had a very competitive undertone, requiring multiple stops in play from the referee’s to attend to coaches, players, sideline staff, and more. Both head coaches received yellow cards, alongside multiple players. 

The match went into the half goalless.

After the break the match increased its intensity. In the 53rd minute, a hard, dangerous foul from Pathfinder’s Christopher Cardozo on Gerardo Castillo saw the referee use his red card. It was the first time he had to use it, but it would not be the last. 

With the advantage, the Green earned a corner in the 63rd minute and found their moment to capitalize. Zach Zengue’s well placed corner found the head of Sam Layton, and thundered past the Pathfinder keeper. It was a well-deserved goal for the Australian who has been winning aerial balls all over the pitch this season. 

With a goal and a man advantage, things were looking up for the Green, but this match still had plenty of drama in it. In the 74th minute, Jahiem Wickham went up to grab a cross out of the air and was fouled in the process. The referee blew for the foul but Wickham and the Pathfinder attacker were tangled as he came down to his feet in his penalty area. The referee deemed Wickham’s actions while he was tangled to be worthy of a straight red card. However, because the initial foul was called before Wickham’s infraction, the play did not result in a penalty for Pathfinder. Montali replaced Wickham in goal, and Zengue was the substituted player. Both sides now had ten men on the pitch.

In the chaotic moments following Wickham’s red, Pathfinder coach Juan Pablo Ulla was given a red card for using abusing language. Ulla left the pitch in dramatic fashion, gesturing inappropriately to Vermont Green players, fans, and staff members.

Adam Pfeifer would make multiple changes after the red card, with Jacob Labovitz, Yann Toualy, and Gabe Threadgold entering the match. All of these substitutions would make an impact.

In the 87th minute, Labovitz put his head on a low ball delivered into the box from Gerardo Castillo, doubling the lead and essentially sealing the match.

Just moments later, Gabe Threadgold hustled to a 50/50 ball with the Pathfinder keeper, winning it and sprinting to save the ball on the end line. With the ball unmanned on the end line and Threadgold catching his fall into the fencing, he once again sprung to action, delivering the ball to the crashing Yann Toualy, who lasered the ball into the bottom corner. A massive effort from both players.

The match ended 3-0, an important three points as Vermont Green FC head into the final three games of the regular season, all against top four opponents. 

Before the Green return to USL League Two action next Sunday, Virtue Field will host the 2024 Maple Cup on Wednesday, July 3rd against Quebec Champions CS Saint-Laurent. Get tickets to the remaining Vermont Green FC matches at tickets.vermotgreenfc.com.

UPDATE, July 1st, 2024 at 7pm: The USL League Two Disciplinary Committee has downgraded Jaheim Wickham’s red card to a yellow card. Wickham will not serve a suspension.