Vermont Green FC 2024 Home Opener Spoiled By Draw
A sell-out crowd left with a melancholy feeling
After starting the 2024 USL League Two season on the road, Vermont Green FC returned home. The Green were only able to secure a point in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday.
Adam Pfeifer trotted out a 4-1-4-1 with Lute Lillo getting the start in net behind a back line of Gerardo Castillo, Sjur Drechsler, Reid Fisher, and Gabe Threadgold. Daniel Pacella served as a defensive midfielder while Zach Zengue and Jackson Castro served as attacking midfielders ahead of the captain.
Ernest Bawa and Carlos Zambrano were on the wings while Yaniv Bazini served as the lone striker.
Vermont’s press continued to be a key characteristic of its play. They continued to cause turnovers and gain possession in key areas of the pitch.
But for Pfeifer the system isn’t working due to a lack of overall possession.
“Yeah, it's not working so far,” the head coach said. “I think that's pretty clear with the lack of possession that we've had a little bit. The second half we went, we went 4-2-3-1. We had much better control of the game. Maybe didn't create quite as much but that's what's going to happen when you're kind of parked in the opposition's half. But again, you got to score goals. We've got to score goals.”
Bawa was a menace on the wings. He showed supreme skill on the ball and had some superb pace. The Ghanian had multiple chances to score but was unable to find the back of the net.
While Pathfinder struggled to maintain possession, they had a chance when a cross into the box found open space. Lillo showed some bravery bursting off his line to get enough of the ball and draw a foul in the 24th minute.
The Green would eventually open their tab in the 33rd minute off of a beautiful set piece. The ball from Zengue was served on a platter as Fisher rocketed into the air and headed a ball centrally to Bazini who slotted the ball home.
From there on out, Vermont controlled the game. They had numerous chances to add to their tally — including a chance from Castro all alone in front of the net that sailed over the crossbar — but entered half time with just one goal to its name.
That would prove to be costly.
Vermont continued to have firm control of the game but couldn’t manage to add more goals to its tally. Missed chances from Castro and Threadgold would prove pivotal.
Pfeifer made two changes to start the half as Bawa and Zambrano were replaced by Moussa Ndiaye and Siad Haji. Then in the 70th minute, Bazini and Pacella were replaced by Jacob Labovitz and Sam Layton.
Pathfinder found the back of the net in the 82nd minute as a cross into the box failed to be claimed by Lillo and meandered off his gloves and into the net. Shouts for a foul fell on deaf ears as the head referee awarded the goal immediately.
The Green continued to fight but couldn’t find the back of the net to secure three points. Pathfinder’s goalkeeper made multiple key saves to secure a point for his side.
Vermont currently sits in second place with seven points behind the undefeated Western Mass Pioneers but Seacoast United has six points in just two matches played. The Green’s next match is on Tuesday against Black Rock FC.