Vermont Green Win 2nd Straight USL2 Final, Defeat Flint City Bucks 2-1

Calum Ewing
Aug 3
2 min read

Credit Vermont Green

Vermont Green Triumph After Strong Second Half Performance

After miscues in the back by hosts Flint City Bucks and a fantastic second half effort by the Green, Vermont were named back-to-back USL2 National Champions Saturday night.

The match began with Flint City controlling possession, in part because of strong pressure applied onto the Green from their midfield. However, it took 23 minutes for their first chance on goal, in which Vermont cleared the initial danger with a pinpoint sliding tackle in the box. The rebound led to a shot over the bar.

From there, Vermont grew into the match with half chances, but the first half stayed scoreless by the time the ref blew his whistle for halftime. Both teams were packed together in their defensive shape, making it difficult for the other to break them down.

The second half was much, much different.

Vermont’s first big chance came in the 51st minute, with Sanson Kpardeh cutting into the box on his right, forcing a diving save at the near post by former MLS goalkeeper Steve Clark. Their second chance would lead to a goal, well deserved after intense pressure in Flint’s defensive third. Diego Rosas whipped in a cross from the right flank towards the back post, and as defender Ellis Jones reached for it to clear, he accidentally stabbed the ball into his own net for the away side to take the lead in front of 6,396 now silent fans.

In a shocking change of pace, it only took one minute for Flint City to equalize. Ellis Jones redeemed himself by heading the ball after a cross to an unmarked Matthew Paiva in the 6-yard box, and Paiva made no mistake with his header, putting it in the left side of goal past the diving Seth Wilson.

End to end football full of half-chances went on from there until the 75th minute with a ball in behind from Vermont. Steve Clarke came flying out of his goal to prevent an opportunity, but in doing so, he took a poor touch attempting to settle the ball with his thigh. With the ball now behind him and the goal unoccupied, he pulled down the pursuing Vermont attacker, resulting in a penalty that was easily converted by Ryan Zellefrow.

From there, Flint had 3 chances, with a half volley over the crossbar, a header that traveled through multiple bodies into the hands of Wilson, and a deflected shot rolling towards the back post before Wilson retreated to swallow it up. Shortly after that final opportunity, the final whistle blew, and the Green rushed to their 50 or so away fans in the corner who made the long trip to Michigan and were rewarded.