Virginia Beach United Wraps Up USL2 Homestand with 3-1 Victory Over Christos F.C.
By Nicholas King — June 30, 2024
In a high-stakes Saturday night showdown, Virginia Beach United faced off against Christos F.C., with both teams having much to gain and even more to lose. For United, a win would have earned the team sole possession of first place in the Chesapeake Division, while a loss would have set it a full game behind Lionsbridge, leaving it tied with Charlottesville for second place in the standings. Christos, on the other hand, was battling to save its season. A win for the club kept its playoff hopes alive, while a loss eliminated it from postseason contention. In the end, the cards fell in United’s favor. Virginia Beach claimed a crucial 3-1 victory over Christos, walking away from the pitch with all the chips in their favor.
The match with both teams feeling the other out. Patient and deliberate passing, cautious defensive strategies, and whistle-less play lined the game's opening minutes. However, the match quickly became intense, with Virginia Beach United and Christos F.C. getting ahead the back line to rip shots on goal. However, Christos’s keeper Samuel Coss and Virginia Beach’s netminder Griffin Potter passed their opening tests, leaving the match scoreless through 30 minutes.
In the 33rd minute, however, United’s relentless attacks on the Christos net paid off. A corner kick by Ethan Taylor that was played short to defenseman Franco Tradatti worked its way into the box. After a shot on goal by midfielder Peekay Stoffle was fumbled by Coss, Bomba Hermoso stuck his right leg out to push the ball into the net for United’s first score of the game. However, that lead lasted only nine short minutes. Christos midfielder Adrien Wheaton-Schopp evened the score with a shot that bounded into the bottom right corner, tying the match as both teams headed into the break.
However, the game should not have been tied at halftime. Several errors by Virginia Beach turned what should have been a multi-goal lead into an even match. United striker Juan Valiente was responsible for a few of these mistakes, having two goals called back for offsides and ricocheting a wide-open shot from one yard out off the left post. This three-goal swing left United fans and players visibly frustrated, and Valiente was relieved by Sam Phillips to begin the second half.
When the final 45 minutes rolled around, the addition of Sam Phillips ignited the United offense. The Messiah product for United assisted on two quick goals by Ethan Taylor and Peekay Stoffle to put United up 3-1 five minutes into the second half. Although United would keep its offensive prowess up throughout the remainder of the match, Virginia Beach could not find another score.
Christos came alive late in the match, giving Griffin Potter and the United backline all they could work for. Although the Baltimore club had several chances on goal, none tickled the twine, and the game would end in a 3-1 United triumph.
Following the victory, Virginia Beach holds a franchise-best seven wins and sits atop the Chesapeake Division with three USL2 games remaining. As a result of the United victory, both Christos and NOVA F.C. were eliminated from postseason contention, meaning that the playoff race is down to three teams: Virginia Beach, Lionsbridge, and Charlottesville. United heads across the water to take on the Bridge in its next USL2 game on Saturday.