Vermont Green FC ran riot at Virtue Field on Saturday night, winning 5-1 over New England FC in front of a jam-packed sold out crowd. Captain Moussa Ndiaye scored two headers, and Jacob Labovitz, David Ajagbe, and Tyler Trimnal added goals of their own.
Chris Taylor once again deployed a unique Starting XI, his tenth of the season. In goal, Judewellin Michel earned his third straight start. Moussa Ndiaye and Brandon Marshall started at centerback, and were flanked by fullbacks Amoni Thomas and Gabe Fernandez. The popular duo of Julien Le Bourdoulous and Eskil Gjerde sat in the center of the park. Zach Zengue commanded the attack from the center, as Irishmen David Ajagbe and Pearse O’Brien handled the wings. Soccer Post Burlington shopkeep Jacob Labovitz returned to the Starting XI as the center forward.
The Vermonters knew the caliber of their opponents–who came into the match with six wins on the season–and met them with the respect that the match commanded. The fast paced, high pressure Chris Taylor style yielded early results this time, as Labovitz opened the scoring in just the 4th minute after knocking home a loose ball deflected by the keeper from a Le Bourdoulous shot.
In the 12th minute, fan-favorite and club captain Moussa Ndiaye doubled the lead for the Green, heading a corner kick from Le Bourdoulous into the goal from an incredibly tight angle. The towering center back put his body on the line, falling into the third-angle camera from our friends at the Northeast Sports Network.
The visitors wouldn’t be deterred though. In the 24th minute, NEFC swung in a free kick that pinging off the crossbar and fell to Steban Lopera, who struck the rebound on the volley into the bottom corner of the net. It was a goal of significant technical ability.
In the 34th minute, the Green reclaimed their multi-goal lead through David Ajagbe, who cut in on his left foot and unleashed a wonderstrike into the top left corner. The Irish-Canadian attacker relished his moment, performing his signature airplane celebration and saluting the amplified Virtue Field faithful.
The first half ended 3-1 to the Green.
After the break, the Green continued attacking. In the 54th minute, Pearse O’Brien served a ball towards the NEFC net that Moussa Ndiaye pounced upon, heading the ball home just before the keeper could claim it. Ndiaye’s second goal of the match marked the first two-goal performance of his career.
Head Coach Chris Taylor made multiple changes in the second act, with Tyler Trimnal and Diego Rived replacing Labovitz and Gjerde early in the second half. Mohammed Ibrahim, Alex Hall, Owen O’Malley, and Will Sawin also entered the match. It was Sawin’s USL League Two debut.
In the 68th minute of the match, Amoni Thomas made a winding run before uncorking a knuckling shot that the NEFC keeper could only parry. Trinmal threw his head at the awkward stray ball and earned his third goal of the season. Trimnal is now tied with Stephane Njike and Zach Zengue for most league goals.
Vermont Green FC improve to 8W-0L-2D on the season, and remain unbeaten through 10 games. The group will now prepare for the second Twin State Derby of the season in Epping, NH on Wednesday.
Lineups
Vermont Green FC — Judewellin Michel, Amoni Thomas, Brandon Marshall, Moussa Ndiaye (c), Gabe Fernandez, Julien Le Bourdoulous, Eskil Gjerde, Pearse O’Brien, Zach Zengue, David Ajagbe, Jacob Labovitz.
Subs — Tenzing Maske, Mohammed Ibrahim, Owen O’Malley, Diego Rived, Alex Hall, Tyler Trimnal, Nathan Simeon, Will Sawin.
New England FC — Matthew Tibbetts, Brandonn Bueno, Marco Perugini, Bryan Toro, Jack Burkhardt, Alexandru Parvu, Samuel White, Steban Lopera, Isaac Heffess, Matthew Fordham, Mason Sullivan.
Subs — Wade Johnson, Nathan Monteiro, Casey Milliken, Gabriel Raphael, Mathias Taylor, Ryan Carney.
Scoring Summary
VGFC: Jacob Labovitz — 4′, Moussa Ndiaye — 12′ (assist from Julien Le Bourdoulous), David Ajagbe — 34′, Moussa Ndiaye (assisted by Pearse O’Brien), Tyler Trimnal — 68′.
NEFC: Steban Lopera — 24′
Maple Man of the Match: Moussa Ndiaye
Referees: Luis Reis (R), Corey Cenate (AR1), Richard DeGraff-Murphy (AR2), Jace Laquerre (4th)
Weather: Perfect summer evening, 72°F
Attendance: 2,500 (sold out)
Post Match Quotes
“A big effort from our boys tonight in front of another brilliant home crowd. Two early goals out the gate were massive and we were able to stay on the ascendency despite conceding a goal that made it 2-1. It was great to bag a few goals and get minutes in a lot of legs. Most importantly, three well deserved points to keep us on top of the table heading into another tough test down at Seacoast on Wednesday.” — Assistant Coach Jed Sass
Next Home Match
After a midweek clash with Seacoast United in New Hampshire, the Green will return to Virtue Field on Saturday, July 5th to take on Black Rock FC in the second-to-last regular season home match.
Credit: Patrick McCormack
Credit: Josh Wallace