After smashing Boston City FC at home 10:1, Vermont Green put in a nice performance on the road on short rest and with a rotated squad to win tonight's match and complete their series sweep over the Massachusetts side.
Though they ended up chasing the game after a rapid counterattacking goal, they managed to retake the lead before half. Some tactical and personnel changes at halftime comfortably allowed them to take the lead, add a cushion, and take three points back to Burlington.
The match itself ended up kicking off late. Through an unfortunate turn of events, Vermont ended up borrowing Boston City's away kits (save for Jeremi Abonnel, who wore a warm-up top with a "1" made of tape on the back). This resulted in a frantic call to the league office to sort out the fact that the Green weren't playing with their normal rostered numbers.
After kickoff, the first 10 minutes of the game were roughly even. Though Vermont had a bit of a possession edge, Boston City arguably had the better chances with three decent shots. As the team got used to the adjusted starting lineup, they grew into the game. By the 21st minute, possession was nearly entirely Green as Diego Rosas took over the game, constantly dancing through Boston's defense and shifting his body to get around players far larger than himself. The Green enjoyed enough decent chances to count on two hands through Rosas and Alex Hall, who were both excellent technically excellent with the ball at their feet on the night.
Boston City managed to find a moment of magic first, however. In the 31st minute and against the run of play, their keeper launched the ball up field to their No. 8. Though Abonnel came out to make himself big, he got chipped from a little inside the box as the ball floated into the back of the net to the sound of massive celebrations. Vermont didn't let the lead last long, though, as David Ajagbe equalized off a nice assist from Hall in the 40th. A quick flurry of Vermont chances saw out the half.
Boston City came back out 20+ minutes after the end of first half, getting some frustrated shouts to hurry up from the refereeing crew and the Green. Responses of "we waited for you before the game!" were retorted back.
Keen changes to the attacking line saw Jeremy Francou replace Ajagbe – who was just a tad off the pace of the game on the day – as well as Ryan Zellefrow's introduction. The two brought a cutting edge and precision that the team as a whole didn't quite have in the first half, allowing them to quickly take the lead in the 49th through an extremely rapid run from Francou.
Hall's technical ability was a major difference maker on the day. He put his skills to work again just a few minutes later as he slid in a cross that Francou turned in to give Vermont a cushy two-goal lead and notched his second assist of the night.
The rest of the half was a similar story. Though Boston had a couple of chances primarily through their No.9, almost all the play was directed toward the home net as their keeper stood on his head the entire rest of the match to keep his team in it. As Boston got frustrated, the match got more and more physical, though never devolving into a true dead-ball horror watch.
Hall continued to show out, while Martin Bakken and Joe Picotto helped solidify the center of the field and provide a bit more of an edge going forward. Zellefrow put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute as he finished a set piece straight off the training ground for his fifth goal of the year.
Lineups
Head coach Chris Taylor made six changes from Saturday's home leg of this two-game series. Winger duo Diego Rosas and Alex Hall, captain and lynchpin Brandon Marshall, and the defensive midfield pairing of Connor Miller and Tyler Caton were holdovers. Ajagbe made his return to the starting lineup, and Abonnel replaced Ryan Carney in net.
Key moments
14' BOS 0:0 VG - Chance! Alex Hall slips a ball from the right more centrally to Ajagbe, but the keeper is able to snuff out the danger.
17' BOS 0:0 VG - Chance! Diego Rosas shows tight footwork inside the box to dance through Boston's crowded defense and gets a shot away, but it's blocked away.
25' BOS 0:0 VG - Chance! Nick McHenry hits a driven ball along the endline forcing a save from the keeper. The ball spills out left for Gabe Fernandez, who forces the keeper into another save - best moment so far!
27' BOS 0:0 VG - CHANCE! Ajagbe can't quite get on the end of a ball in the box, but Conner Miller comes flying in from midfield to slam a close-range blast at the keeper, who makes yet another save.
29' BOS 0:0 VG - BLOCK! A ball sent in behind seemingly beats Vermont's defense, but Brandon Marshall makes a brilliant sliding tackle to send the ball straight up. Recovering, he's able to beat the attack to the ball and head safely back to Abonnel.
33' BOS 1:0 VG - Goal. Off a long feed from their keeper against the run of play, Boston City manage to chip Abonnel from a few yards inside the box.
40' BOS 1:1 VG - GOAL! Ajagbe turns the ball into the net off a nice feed from Alex Hall!
46' BOS 1:1 VG - Subs. Zellefrow, Francou and Moloney enter for Bangura, Ajagbe and Fernandez.
49' BOS 1:2 VG - GOAL! A super pacy run from Jeremy Francou gets him a few yards from goal. His shot is reached by the keeper, but not enough to prevent it from trickling into the net. Instant impact!
56' BOS 1:3 VG - GOAL! Alex Hall beats his defender and slides a ball across to the Francou. The keeper can't hang onto the ball at first touch and it spills for the Frenchman to finish!
60' BOS 1:3 VG - Save! Boston City's #9 makes an excellent run down the right sideline and opens his hips to take a left-footed shot to the far post. Abonnel is able to get down to make a diving save.
65' BOS 1:3 VG - Chance! Alex Hall sends a cheeky slip-pass to Moloney. The ball eventually lands to McHenry at the top of the box, who fires a bullet JUST wide of the left post.
68' BOS 1:3 VG - Sub. Bakken in for Rosas.
70' BOS 1:3 VG - Save! A great corner into a dangerous spot forces Boston's keeper to make an awkward two-hand push save. The play tilts toward Vermont's own net as Boston's #9 tries to chip Abonnel. The Green net minder manages to get his own hands up to block the shot.
71' BOS 1:3 VG - Yellow Card. A crunching tackle inside Vermont's half puts Boston City's #23 in the books.
74' BOS 1:3 VG - Sub. Picotto in for Caton.
75' BOS 1:3 VG - Chance! Boston's keeper makes an incredible save through traffic to save what seemed to be a certain headed goal.
81' BOS 1:3 VG - CHANCE! Alex Hall nearly gets one of his own after shooting across net to the far post. The keeper barely pushes it wide, and Vermont's follow-up shot flashes back across net and out.
87' BOS 1:3 VG - Yellow Card to Boston City resulting in a free kick just outside the box.
89' BOS 1:4 VG - GOAL! The free kick is tapped short to Zellefrow, who slams the ball to the side netting.
Quick thoughts
Red or green, can't stop this team: Despite an "emergency kit issue" that had Vermont Green playing in Boston City's red away colors, Chris Taylor's squad professionally handled the game. Last week's frustrating draw (and first dropped points all season) against their twin-state rivals seems fully in the rear-view mirror with back-to-back wins against Boston City FC.
The first half was primarily controlled by Vermont, and even though they went down a goal, the team remained cool-headed to find their equalizer not long before halftime. Some smart in-game adjustments and personnel changes allowed the team to comfortably take the lead and build a cushion while seeing out a much more chippy second half.
Frenetic Francou: David Ajagbe wasn't necessarily bad. A striker's job is to score goals, and he did exactly that. On the day, his first half was mired with imperfect first touches and runs that were just a fraction too slow. The addition of team goalscoring leader Francou at halftime was the perfect change from hold-up man to charge-at-you line leader. His impact was instantly felt, pushing Boston City's defense back with his harrying runs and showing off his sharp finishing capability. Neither center back nor outside defender could manage to continue him as he managed to face up on goal multiple times.
Taking care of business: Though some might say that Boston City isn't exactly much of a challenge being winless all season, you have to play every team on your schedule all the same. Despite the high-scoring and club-record setting 10 goal thriller against the Massachusetts side just this past weekend, Vermont didn't let the result go to their heads and respected their opponent. Though the lineup was certainly rotated and multiple key players didn't even travel, this team showed the ability to handle business regardless of personnel and regardless of gamestate; flowy or chippy both.
Player spotlight
Jeremy Francou: Immediately after second half kickoff, Francou made an instant impact with his lightning movement, scoring two inside the first 11 minutes he was on the field to take the lead. His impact continued to be felt as Boston City's already deep defense was pinned back with half a mind towards containing his runs and physical presence.
