Another player acquired - F Ilijah Paul on loan from RSL https://t.co/n8wIxCstRv— Ventura County FC (@vcfcmlsnp) August 9, 2024 Thousand Oaks, California (Thursday, August 8, 2024) – Ventura County FC today announced that the club has acquired forward Ilijah Paul on loan for the remainder of the 2024 MLS Next Pro Season ahead of the MLS Next Pro Regular Season match against LAFC II on Sunday, August 11 (7 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). Paul, 22, has 3 goals in 17 games played (7 starts) for Real Monarchs during the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season. A product of RSL Academy, Paul had a strong college career for both University of San Francisco and University of Washington. His 15 goal contributions (11 goals, 4 assists) during his sophomore season for the Huskies led him to winning PAC-12 Offensive Player of the Year and featuring in PAC-12 All-Conference First Team. Notably, he was named as a semifinalist of the MAC Hermann Trophy.
A third acquisition at VCFC. This time, they acquired forward Ifunanyachi Achara on loan from the Houston Dynamo. This three player acquisition spree is really interesting. It seems like something that wouldn't happen if the G2s had stayed at Dignity Health and not taken on a separate management group that was trying to sell tickets. These acquisitions might give the senior team a chance to take a look at some players who they could to acquire for the senior team, while providing VCFC some reinforcements to actually try and win and sell tickets. It may also be part of a contractual guarantee since we loaned out one of their best players in Vivi, promoted guys like Lepley and Parente, and transferred Carson Klein. Ventura County FC Acquire Forward Ifu Achara on Loan From Houston Dynamo 2. https://t.co/YPgPzf2Su2— Ventura County FC (@vcfcmlsnp) August 9, 2024 https://vcfcpro.com/ventura-county-fc-acquire-forward-ifu-achara-on-loan-from-houston-dynamo-2/
Achara is not a good MLS player but played under Vanney at Toronto. The profile of the signings and the timing is interesting : Avayevu is an attacking midfielder capable of playing on a wing, and both Paul and Achara are strikers. The AM was an obvious need, but not so much the striker position. Is there an injury or something else with Bibout ? Or is the club auditioning guys the first team could use as forward depth ?
Two teams. Two counties. One winner. ⚔️🆚: LAFC 2🏟️: William Rolland Stadium🕰️: 7:00 PM, PST📺: Watch on #MLSSeasonPass on @appletv #WeAreVCFC #SiempreAdelante pic.twitter.com/bPAiXF8UGy— Ventura County FC (@vcfcmlsnp) August 11, 2024
Lepley and Parente back at CM and Ramos Jr. back on the wings New acquisitions Achara and Paul are on the bench With Dalgado starting, and not on the Univ of Portland roster, I'm assuming he signed a VCFC contract or at least deferred college a year. Our starting line up for today’s match vs @lafc_2 💫 Who’s ready for the biggest game of the season?!!📸: @angelserranosports pic.twitter.com/OtlwgoGjaA— Ventura County FC (@vcfcmlsnp) August 12, 2024
Down 1-0 on a header off a cross .@lafc_2 gets the party started in Thousand Oaks.Christian Diaz connects on a Bombino long pass and buries a clean finish! 💥📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/7NnnAd1Ymu pic.twitter.com/MYuf4mXG1o— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 12, 2024
LAFC up 2-1 on VCFC early in the second half. Essengue scores a header on a great Lepley corner Essengue nails the header and pulls one back for @vcfcmlsnp. pic.twitter.com/ka0djfb7WB— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 12, 2024
1-2 loss in El Trafiquito last night. Not so much success from VCFC this year against our neighbours, with 2 losses and 1 tie (we won the shootout). This one was close but in the end they were a little bit sharper in the final third. Tucker Lepley had a mixed game, a great assist on a corner kick but also tried to do too much sometimes as his feet couldn't follow his mind, leading to a couple of turnovers. Both Ifu Achara and Ilijah Paul made their debut in the second half, as a RW and as a second striker respectively. I won't have to say much about their offensive performances, but the second LAFC goal was ridiculous : VCFC were caught in transition, RB Harbor Miller was caught upfield. Ball was on the left side of our défense, there was a LAFC player alone at the back post. Both Achara and Miller saw him but Achara, who was the closest, never made a true attempt to mark him and it was Miller who was sprinting to get back to defense. Terrible lack of effort and recognition from Achara, especially for a 26 years old experienced player. I loved Ruben Ramos Jr. game, he was way more involed as a CAM, creating many spaces with his touches and his dribbles. It's so fun to watch him develop. Another player who (I think) hasn't get many reviews so far is defender Jose "Pepe" Magana. The young CB from the Academy has started the last three games and hasn't looked out of place, which is solid for a player who is probably only 17.
Pepe, who turned 17 in January, is the next big CB prospect for the Galaxy. He was going to push Ferkranus to the side at some point even if he didn't leave on his own.
Soccer Sunday in Washington ⚽️🆚: Tacoma Defiance🏟️: Starfire Sports Complex🕰️: 8:00 PM, PST📺: Watch at #MLSNextPro.com#WeAreVCFC #SiempreAdelante pic.twitter.com/0dHNrcb9fS— Ventura County FC (@vcfcmlsnp) August 18, 2024
With Bibout loaned out (to get more experience against grown men at a higher level according to Kuntz in his interview with CoG), Paul and Achara slot into the starting lineup. Parente is also not in the 18. Starting line up for tonight’s match vs @tacdefiance ✨📸: @angelserranosports pic.twitter.com/wHPLj1WI8h— Ventura County FC (@vcfcmlsnp) August 19, 2024
Down 1-0 in the 17th minute. Dalgado got stripped by a counter-press and the ball was nicely put to a cutting winger who beat Brady Scott at the near post from a position that looked like it would be a tough angle for a direct shot. Dylan Teves raising the stakes with a clinical finish! 💪@TACdefiance are off to a strong start! pic.twitter.com/FnWjJdxO8u— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 19, 2024
Down 2-0 right before half. Same Tacoma player scores after a cutback pass in the box and a deflection left Scott flat footed. ✌️ for Dylan Teves, ✌️ for @TACdefiance pic.twitter.com/Ln8KYTy6Aq— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 19, 2024
VCFC get 1 back! Ichara scores on a great free kick by Arnold that was headed across the box by Pepe Magana where Achara slotted it past the Tacoma goalkeeper. Down 2-1 Off the set piece! 🍿Achara buries a Jose Magana header to pull @vcfcmlsnp within one. pic.twitter.com/KiPpHwKzmW— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 19, 2024
VCFC equalizes as Arnold has another free kick from the same spot and Paul scores on a diving header! 2-2 Tie. Nice comeback and nice production from the two new forwards.
VCFC settles for a point after a rare loss in a shootout 4-3. Scott had a good save, but Tacoma's keeper made two great saves on the first two shooters.
Thank you for posting this. I tried to watch the game yesterday just before the half. I couldn't get in. I could see the updates and the highlights as they were posted but could not see the live feed when I clicked on that option. I tried the sign-on option using my Apple TV+/MLS season pass logon and it just brought up a blank window. Is there a separate registration process for MLS Next Pro?
I just went to mlsnextpro.com and clicked on the link. When it’s in the site, it’s not in Apple+ or MLS season pass
Just to be clear, did you register on the site? It just seems weird about what's on Apple TV+, versus other platforms.
I didn't have to register on the mlsnextpro.com site. If it's on that site, it's fully free and open as far as I know. It's only when it's on MLS Season Pass that you have to actually subscribe.
Just wanted to take a moment and say "Thank you!" to @LEM-LAG & @Benny Dargle for the synopses of each VCFC match. It takes time to do what you do in this forum and I wanted you both to know that it's appreciated.
Well, as a former IT professional of over 40 years, I hate to admit to user error on my part, but it's looking like that. Thanks. I guess the next thing to do is try different browsers and review their settings.
I didn't post a clip of this goal, but it's worth watching both for Gabriel Arnold's service and Ilijah Paul's finish. Lepley's fake move to take the kick also helped to unlock Paul. THIS GAME! 🗣️A stunning flying header from Ilijah Paul to level for @vcfcmlsnp! pic.twitter.com/77R0phS7Lh— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 19, 2024
Just finished the 2-2 draw at Tacoma. Good result from the youngsters (especially when you know Tacoma started many first team players from the Sounders), but let's be honest : they were the better team and VCFC took advantage of two set pieces to come back into the match. Both news forwards Ifu Achara and Ilijah Paul frankly struggled in this game but did very well on their two goals. Gabriel Arnold was instrumental in this comeback with two great set pieces. Another very solid performance from Pepe Magana in defense. He's tall but looks very comfortable with the ball, he really seems to have the whole package. I don't want to be harsh on him because he has been far from terrible, but I haven't seen what makes Harbor Miller so special yet. Both him and Ruben Ramos Jr. are 17 and will join the first team next year but, while you can see Ruben seems ahead of many youngsters in MLS Next Pro, I don't see Miller being better than the likes of Dalgado, Magana or Arnold yet.
Game tonight at 7 pm on MLS season pass. Lepley and Parente pair up in center midfield and Arnold on the bench Starting XI @callutheran vs @realmonarchs tonight! pic.twitter.com/Rj0vac1ZAM— Ventura County FC (@vcfcmlsnp) August 26, 2024