Only one game on last week’s USL schedule featured two MLS-operated teams squaring off, and they were forced to share the spoils following a 1-1 draw Sunday between Canadian rivals Toronto FC II and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.
In that game, both goals came from players loaned from their respective MLS clubs, Vancouver’s Caleb Clarke and Toronto’s Jay Chapman.
Other than that, it was a mostly rough week for affiliated MLS teams.
The Seattle Sounders 2 lost their first two matches of the season, 4-3 to the Tulsa Roughnecks on Thursday and 2-1 to OKC Energy on Saturday despite Sounders loanee Darwin Jones’ fourth goal of the season. In all, MLS-operated clubs were 1-5-3 last week, with the LA Galaxy II notching the only win (2-1 over the Austin Aztex on Sunday).
For the Galaxy II, first-team loanee Raul Mendiola scored his first goal of the season and set up an Ariel Lassiter goal for his USL-leading fourth assist.
Here’s a look at two key games from last week:
Sunday: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 1, Toronto FC II 1 (USL recap | | full game replay)
The Whitecaps 2 home opener at a sold-out UBC Thunderbird Stadium ended in a share of points after a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC II and both teams finishing with 10 men after a pair of second yellows late in the match.
The Whitecaps 2 opened the scoring, with Clarke taking a through ball and flicking it over the head of Toronto goalkeeper Quillan Roberts, a first-team loanee, in the 33rd minute.
Toronto equalized early in the second half when Chapman headed in a Raheem Edwards cross. Other highlights from loaned players included Roberts making six saves and Whitecaps 2 ‘keeper Marco Carducci (above) recording four of his own.
Spanish winger Victor Blasco was sent off in the 68th minute for the Whitecaps 2, and Toronto’s Mark-Anthony Kaye picked up his second yellow in the 78th minute.
MLS players on loan
VAN: Marco Carducci (90 mins), Christian Dean (90 mins), Tim Parker (90 mins), Ben McKendry (89 mins) Caleb Clarke (64 mins, 1 goal)
TOR: Quillan Roberts (90 mins), Jay Chapman (90 mins, 1 goal), Jordan Hamilton (65 mins), Chris Mannella (82 mins), Manuel Aparicio (8 mins)
Sunday: LA Galaxy II 2, Austin Aztex 1 (USL recap | highlights | full game replay)
Forward Ariel Lassiter and Mendiola each scored a goal as Los Dos grabbed their first win of the season to move to 1-3-1. Sainey Touray scored the lone goal for Austin, who dropped to 2-3.
Lassiter scored in his second straight match when he opened the scoring at StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium with a 65th-minute goal. Midfielder Alejandro Covarrubias played a long ball over top to Mendiola, who calmly played the ball back to an oncoming Lassiter before the forward cut inside to his left and launched a perfect curling shot past a helpless Cody Laurendi.
Following the Los Dos goal, Austin answered back late in the match as Touray got on the end of a loose ball inside the Galaxy penalty area before tapping in the equalizer.
In the 84th minute, Mendiola netted the game-winner when LA Galaxy academy product Ryo Fujii found space outside the penalty area before playing through Mendiola, who cut the ball back to create room in front of goal before launching in the winner.
MLS players on loan
LA: Jack McBean (90 mins), Oscar Sorto (90 mins), Ignacio Maganto (90 mins) Raul Mendiola (90 mins, 1 goal, 1 assist)
AUS: Kalen Ryden (90 mins)
This week’s games
Wed., April 22 – New York Red Bulls II vs. Richmond Kickers, 7:30pm ET
Fri., April 24 – Sacramento Republic vs. Orange County Blues, 10:30pm ET
Sat., April 25 – FC Montreal vs. Richmond Kickers, 2:30pm ET
Sat., April 25 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Toronto FC II, 7pm ET
Sat., April 25 – Louisville City vs. Tulsa Roughnecks, 7:30pm ET
Sat., April 25 – OKC Energy vs. Saint Louis FC, 8pm ET
Sat., April 25 – Austin Aztex vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 9pm ET
Sat., April 25 – Real Monarchs vs. LA Galaxy II, 10pm ET
Sat., April 25 – Arizona United vs. Portland Timbers 2, 10:30pm ET
Sun., April 26 – Rochester Rhinos vs. New York Red Bulls II, 2:05pm ET
Sun., April 26 – Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Charleston Battery, 3pm ET
Sun., April 26 – Vancouver Whitecaps 2 vs. Seattle Sounders 2, 6pm ET
Every game of the 2015 USL season will be streamed live on team Youtube channels. For highlights, visit the USL's official Youtube channel.
