VCFC up 2-0 at halftime on goals from Paul and Karani. The first was scored on a Harbor Miller cross from the right side. Miller apparently took LEM-LAG's criticisms to heart. The second assist went to Ramos Jr. Miller ➡️ PaulPaul scores against his former club to make it 1-0 @vcfcmlsnp! pic.twitter.com/FQ5je9Frno— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 26, 2024 .@vcfcmlsnp are buzzing early on 🐝Karani makes it 2-0! pic.twitter.com/brimAnUlkM— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 26, 2024
Tucker Lepley scores his first pro goal to make it 3-0 Stinging the strings 🎸Lepley's first professional goal makes it 3-0 @vcfcmlsnp! pic.twitter.com/BYtXveBEKh— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 26, 2024
RSL gets one back late on a PK, but VCFC wins 3-1 .@vcfcmlsnp cruise to victory at home 😎 pic.twitter.com/s5WbgkIXiU— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 26, 2024
Great 3-1 win by VCFC. Tucker Lepley, who had a few turnovers in the first half because he was trying to be too pretty, had a great second half and scored his first professional goal. But the excellent performance came from Isaiah Parente, who was absolutely everywhere, defending, get out of pressure with some nifty moves (something I haven't seen him do much this year), and great passing. His stock has really been rising up lately. You're right @Benny Dargle, I thought about my comments last week on Harbor Miller... I must say he was superb tonight, especially on the offensive side with a couple of give and go with Ifu Achara that lead to two goals. Ghanaian midfielder Hope Avayevu made his debut for VCFC and had a good lay off to Lepley on his goal, but was also responsible for a useless foul that lead to a PK in stoppage time. He looked comfortable with the ball but I'm not surprised, his numbers with Dallas reserves are impressive (11 goals and 13 assists in 43 MLS Next Pro games). Defense did a good job overall and Brady Scott remains one of the most consistent player this season.
Your starting XI for todays game vs @houstondynamo2 #vamosvcfc pic.twitter.com/tl7XZbV7mB— Ventura County FC (@vcfcpro) September 8, 2024 2-2 draw on the road at Houston 2 last night, with another shootout win for VCFC. If my count is right, it's 8 wins out of 10 shootouts this year for our reserves. VCFC had a stinker in the first half, gifting two goals (plus Houston 2 hitting the post two times) and being destroyed in the midfield. Nico Schelotto and Gabriel Arnold really need to work on their defense, they're super light for MLS Next Pro right now. Christian Tchouante had another terrible game and was replaced at halftime. Things went better in the second half, with Ruben Ramos Jr. once again showing the way to a comeback with a beautiful goal scored on his wrong foot. Like last week Hope Avayevu, one of our summer signings, changed everything with the vision and creativity he brang, scoring another assist for the second game in a row (two assists in two 17-minute cameo appearances). Can't wait to see him start in place of Sean Karani. The good story came from Ifu Achara, who is loaned from Houston 2. He had an assist on Ramos Jr.'s goal and scored the game tying goal on a bicycle kick. It's been two goals and one assist for Achara in the last three games, it's crazy to think he hadn't scored a goal since 2021 before coming to VCFC. Ramos Jr curls in a beauty and pulls one back for @vcfcmlsnp 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UJOPlGWlGI— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 9, 2024 BICYCLE KICK ALERT 🚲Achara scores against his former club to level it all up for @vcfcmlsnp! pic.twitter.com/e82Ddm2Tmb— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 9, 2024
Middleby and Casillas with their first starts on the backline Your starting line up tonight vs @northtexassc @callutheran pic.twitter.com/1VV8OkGVuR— Ventura County FC (@vcfcpro) September 12, 2024
VCFC up 1-0 at half on a goal by Diaz Díaz's deflected volley finds the bottom corner and @vcfcmlsnp takes the lead! 💫 pic.twitter.com/Ef2T8fDvey— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 12, 2024
VCFC fell apart in the second half, giving up 3 goals in fairly quick succession to lose 3-1. Some bad luck (and good luck) from deflections, but mostly a game where VCFC was playing inexperienced defenders and it showed. .@northtexasSC does it again! 😤Garcia finishes off another impressive move from the visitors to extend the lead. pic.twitter.com/vs2xtT0Xsg— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 12, 2024 Ramirez rounds the keeper and slots it home! 😱@northtexasSC scores twice in quick succession to take the lead. pic.twitter.com/rJQFjy8oQf— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 12, 2024 A glancing header from Norris finds the back of the net! 🎯@northtexasSC ties it up. pic.twitter.com/Jkc4ppE5Xx— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 12, 2024
Fair result, Dallas reserves are so much better an our reserves. I'm not in a hurry to meet them in the playoffs. We are definitely very thin at the CB position : Axel Essengue had an excellent game but Christian Tchouante is very mistake-prone, Victor Casillas is too young and not ready yet. We really missed Pepe Magana. I'm not sure I've said it in the past but Riley Dalgado looks like Julian Aude a lot in his style of play. Ilijah Paul is a very active forward who likes to be everywhere on the field but doesn't impress me in the final third. Not bad, but for MLS that probably won't be enough. Ruben Ramos Jr. had one of his worst game of the season.
VCFC v Timber2 in Portland tonight at 7:30 pm on MLS Season Pass. Win and we clinch a playoff spot! Tonight's game is a must-win. ⚽️ Read our match preview and cheer us on to victory. https://t.co/CrOCkOcjz1— Ventura County FC (@vcfcpro) September 17, 2024
VCFC up 1-0 halfway through the first half on a Ruben Ramos goal in the 8th minute Leading, but the final whistle hasn’t blown #WeAreVCFC pic.twitter.com/2KpbaNwh2P— Ventura County FC (@vcfcpro) September 18, 2024
Hopeful cross in the box by Portland creates a scramble with the ball falling to a Timbers player right in front of goal who slams it home. Tied 1-1 77' | The clock has struck Tega Time. 📺: https://t.co/9YxqTZbwE7🪵 1-1 🔵 x #RCTID pic.twitter.com/ufyhqkq0Fp— Portland Timbers2 (@TimbersFC2) September 18, 2024
Timbers 2 scores a second and wins 2-1. Really an awful goal to give up for the win. First defender gets out-hustled for the ball and second gets blown by, seemingly without realizing the attacker was behind him. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?Portland jumps in front, 2-1!📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/T9zIqq2YvM pic.twitter.com/fkEwdx6onU— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 18, 2024
What a shameful loss. VCFC scored an early goal thanks to a great job from Ilijah Paul on the sideline and a good finish from Ruben Ramos Jr. Defense was solid, Brady Scott once again made a couple of great saves, Essengue played well, Nico Schelotto vision was something else... And then the subs happened. Sean Karani once again hurt us after failing to clear a cross near the box on the first goal, then Christian Tchouante made that awful clearance that 16 years old CB Enrique Martinez (who was making his first start) failed to recognize the danger. We really shot ourselves in the foot. VCFC will probably make the playoffs but I don't see this team making a deep run.
After a bad loss to the Timbers 2, VCFC nevertheless backs into the playoffs. At least some young players get more experience playing better teams California knows how to party 🎉Thanks to results elsewhere, @vcfcpro are into the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs for the first time in club history! pic.twitter.com/4P81KzwPOp— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 23, 2024
Game tonight at 7 pm on MLS Season Pass ‼️BIG night ahead‼️We can't wait to see you all tonight. Make sure to arrive early to grab your favorite merch at 50% off!🆚: St. Louis City SC II🏟️: William Rolland Stadium🕰️: 7:00PM, PST📺: Watch on #MLSSeasonPass on @appletv#WeAreVCFC #siempreadelante pic.twitter.com/pMdeqNdZct— Ventura County FC (@vcfcpro) September 29, 2024
Starting lineup tonight. Magana and Miller are back Your starting line up against @stlcity2 tonight! pic.twitter.com/XCkFi5S6GN— Ventura County FC (@vcfcpro) September 30, 2024
Down 1-0 on a free kick goal 5 minutes before halftime Wentzel opens the scoring for @STLCITY2 before the half! 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/7wp9FK985w— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 30, 2024
VCFC ties it up on a goal from Harbor Miller in the 51st minute! Miller equalizes with a low driven laser for @vcfcpro! pic.twitter.com/gKbXPVDQmE— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 30, 2024
Ruben Ramos hits a great shot to the far post in the 68th minute to give VCFC the 2-1 lead! Stadium is rocking Games i on MLS Next Pro.com, by the way (not as MLS Season Pass as advertised) RUBEN RAMOS JR.!@vcfcpro strikes to double their lead at home. pic.twitter.com/Jzsm7e0vyK— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 30, 2024
The lead didn't last long. St. Louis 2 scores on a great through ball in the 73rd minute 2-2 AND WE'RE LEVEL IN THOUSAND OAKS!McSorley beats the keeper to level the match for @STLCITY2! pic.twitter.com/2zf8haMJxV— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 30, 2024
Another goal from St. Louis on a diagonal run and great pass and one time finish. Someone is not following Brendon McSorley on these runs, who has scored the last two goals. St. Louis 2 up 3-2 Joyner ➡️ Pearce ➡️ McSorley@STLCITY2 takes over the driver's seat! pic.twitter.com/eeCkZYFqyA— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 30, 2024
Chaos on a scramble in the box that resulted in a disallowed VCFC equalizing goal after reported contact with the GK. Paul was red carded for the contact. VCFC now down a man and a goal with stoppage time to go. UPDATE: More chaos and fighting as St. Louis players start CONCACAF'ing Two more red cards shown, one to Achara
FINAL: VCFC loses 3-2 and loses the chance to be in the top 4, which would have gotten them home field in the first game I think VCFC finished with 9 men and STL2 finished with 10 men
The loss wasn't deserved. VCFC really brang their A game, creating many opportunities on set pieces and in open play. St-Louis probably had better individuals up front, as Ilijah Paul missed a couple of golden chances (and got what looked a very harsh red card in the end). Ruben Ramos Jr. was excellent, always very clever and decisive near the box. 1 goal and 1 assist to add to his tally, by my count he's been decisive every 167 minutes in MLS Next Pro, which is impressive for a 17 years old. He's less flashy than Efrain Alvarez or Jonathan Pérez, but just so deadly... I have high hopes for him. Very good game from Tucker Lepley, he was everywhere but has always the tendancy to use more his feet and his skills than his brain. Very interesting player to polish. Pepe Magana had an interesting game : for 75 minutes the young CB looked great, then was beaten by the same player on the exact same run just minutes apart. He's 17 too (15 days older than Ramos Jr. !) but seems to have the whole package : height, quickness, anticipation, very good with the ball at his feet. A name to remember. Last regular season game on Sunday at Salt Lake 2 then a playoff game for what will probably result in a quick exit for VCFC. I would not be surprised, our reserves season has rely on two things : a great start and scraping points from penalty shootouts. We're a very average team right now. That said, if you want to watch a replay of a very enjoyable game with a couple of pomising youngsters (Ramos Jr. #84, Miller #75, Magana #64, Dalgado #50) and a few first team depth players (Lepley #21, Parente #52 and GK Scott #31), it's here :