We need to talk about this goal.

Brett Levis scored a stoppage-time winner in WFC2’s 2-1 win over Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium – and it was a thing of beauty from start to finish.

Let’s break it down.

The play starts at 89:54 with midfielder Matthew Baldisimo winning a slide tackle in midfield – just 20 seconds after stepping onto the pitch as a substitute. Thomas Sanner deserves some credit here as well for tracking back and putting some additional pressure on the Real Monarchs player.

Baldisimo then does well to create some space for himself before playing a short pass to Jordan Haynes. This is where it gets fun. Haynes plays a one-touch pass to Giuliano Frano, who then lobs a one-touch pass to Levis at the touchline. That’s training ground stuff, right there.

Looks like this is where Levis senses an opportunity.

The Canadian midfielder-turned-left back plays the ball up the touchline to Baldisimo, who sends his mark the wrong way with a brilliant turn. Baldisimo takes two touches before once again feeding Haynes, who has found a nice pocket of space. Haynes plays another one-touch pass, this time back to Levis who has made a run through midfield.

Game on.

Levis tiptoes around two defenders before playing a throughball – through the legs of a third defender – to Baldisimo who has now made a run down the left. With his first touch, Baldisimo plays it back to Levis, who flips the ball up to himself before firing in the winner on a volley.

There is so much to like about this goal.

The tackle, the one-touch passing, the movement, the individual brilliance – not to mention the fact that all four players who played a part in the play are Canadian and it was a stoppage-time winner.

Like I said, thing of beauty. Watch it in its entirety below.

BY THE NUMBERS

Starting with Baldisimo’s tackle, the whole play last just 22 seconds.

Baldisimo led the way with eight touches during that span, followed by Levis with seven, Haynes with two, and Frano with one.

This year, every Tier 1 ‘Caps Club MLS membership includes three open tickets to WFC2 matches. Members can select their matches and theme days online through Account Manager. Information on theme days is available at whitecapsfc.com/wfc2/themedays.

For more information, contact wfc2@whitecapsfc.com or call 604-484-7862.