There were two different match-ups involving MLS-operated sides in Week 6 of the USL season, and neither failed to deliver exciting moments.
On Sunday, Cascadia rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 and Seattle Sounders FC 2 split the points following a 1-1 draw that saw a first-half Robert Earnshaw goal get negated by a strike from Nick Miele.
A day earlier, LA Galaxy II found a stoppage-time goal from Bradley Diallo to dramatically edge Real Monarchs SLC, 1-0.
Other MLS-owned sides in action during this round of games were New York Red Bulls II, Toronto FC II, Portland Timbers 2, and FC Montreal. NYRBII suffered back-to-back losses, getting shut out by the Richmond Kickers and Rochester Rhinos in a span of five days. Montreal were also blanked by the Kickers, while TFC II were routed by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. T2 came out victorious, however, by blanking Arizona United SC thanks in part to the return of Will Johnson.
Here’s a look at two of the key games from last week:
Sunday: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 1, Seattle Sounders FC 2 1 (USL recap | full game replay)
Robert Earnshaw sure seems to like making debuts for Vancouver teams.
Earnshaw made his Vancouver Whitecaps 2 debut and scored a goal to help the club earn a 1-1 draw in a match with Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders FC 2. The Welshman, who also netted in his Whitecaps' first-team debut last month, struck in the 16th minute of the match at UBC Thunderbird Stadium after capitalizing on a mistake.
Sounders 2 refused to lose, however, and found an equalizer through a tap-in from Nick Miele in the 24th minute.
The result saw Whitecaps 2 move to 1-3-2 on the year. Sounders 2, meanwhile, are now 3-2-1.
MLS players on loan
VAN: Christian Dean (90 mins), Kianz Froese (90 mins), Tim Parker (90 mins), Ben McKendry (74 mins) Ethan Sampson (44 mins), Caleb Clarke (26 mins), Robert Earnshaw (64 mins)
SEA: Oniel Fisher (90 mins), Aaron Long (90 mins), Charlie Lyon (90 mins), Darwin Jones (76 mins), Aaron Kovar (70 mins)
Whitecaps 2 recap | Sounders 2 recap
Saturday: Real Monarchs SLC 0, LA Galaxy II 1 (USL recap | full game replay)
Real Monarchs SLC were on the brink of playing to another scoreless draw with LA Galaxy II, but one of the latter team's defenders made sure that was not the case.
Galaxy II defender Bradley Diallo scored a stoppage-time goal at Rio Tinto Stadium, giving his side a 1-0 victory and handing the Monarchs their third consecutive defeat.
While the winner came in the second half, it was the opening stanza that saw more action. LA nearly scored in the 31st minute, but Monarchs goalkeeper Eric Osswald answered the call each of the times he was tested.
The victory improved LA Galaxy II to 2-3-1 and dropped the Monarchs to 0-4-2.
MLS players on loan
RSL: Adolfo "Fito" Ovalle (90 mins).
LA: Raul Mendiola (90 mins), Oscar Sorto (84 mins), Jack McBean (78 mins).
Galaxy II recap | Monarchs recap
This week's games:
Wed., April 29 - Real Monarchs SLC vs. Sacramento Republic FC, 9pm ET
Fri., May 1 - Austin Aztex vs. OKC Energy FC, 9pm ET
Fri., May 1 - Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Orange County Blues FC, 10:30pm ET
Sat., May 2 - FC Montreal vs. Rochestor Rhinos, 4pm ET
Sat., May 2 - Richmond Kickers vs. Charleston Battery, 7pm ET
Sat., May 2 - Wilmington Hammerheads FC vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, 7pm ET
Sat., May 2 - Charlotte Independence vs. Louisville City FC, 7pm ET
Sat., May 2 - Arizona United SC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 10:30pm ET
Sun., May 3 - New York Red Bulls II vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 2pm ET
Sun., May 3 - LA Galaxy II vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, 8pm ET
Sun., May 3 - Portland Timbers 2 vs. Orange County Blues FC, 9pm 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.
