Vancouver, who returns home after two road losses in MLS plays, looks to bounce back against the Sounders. The Whitecaps’ chances were looking good as Seattle have won only three of its previous 26 away matches coming into this game.
Neither team could get it going as the match was nearing the half time as they had a combined nine failed attempts. But the Whitecaps were more aggressive, missing 6 shots attempts with the Sounders having two blocked shots and one missing.
In the 44th minute Vancouver’s aggression finally paid off when Pedro Vite scored off a blunder by Seattle’s Alex Roldan. Ahmed sent a cross into Vite’s direction who was running in front of the goal but was covered by Roldan. Despite Roldan having the first touch, he fell and gave Vite the chance to pounce, and Souder Goalkeeper Stefan Frei was there but too late to stop the shot. Vancouver heads into the half time leading 1-0.
Nothing was going in Seattle’s way as they began the second half with an own goal courtesy of goalie Stefan Frei, who despite having four saves, committed an own goal when he couldn’t control the ball when Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld’s attempt hit Frei near the goal post and ricocheted inside.
With Seattle trailing 2-0, all they could afford in the game was two offside attempts, one for each half. They were too busy trying to stop the Whitecaps from adding another goal in the second half with Vancouver attempting 7 shots compared to Seattle’s 4.
This was the Sounder third lost int their past four matches and now have three wins in its previous 27 away games.
Staff Writer Ryan Espinosa,
Shotbug Press
Photo Credits, Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
Photo Credits, Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
Photo Credits, Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
Photo Credits, Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
Photo Credits, Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
]]>
The Whitecaps broke their streak of two consecutive 0-0 draws coming into this game with a goal from Brian White in the 17th minute mark. White found himself all alone against Minnesota’s Dayne St. Clair coming off a fast break, his right foot shot easily on the mark and gave the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead early in the first half.
Minnesota United, who before this game has won half of its eight all-time road games in Canada with alternating wins and losses, tried to even the game with a couple of attempts. Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s right footed shot from the outside of the box was blocked in the 26th mark and Robin Lod’s header from close range was saved in the 33rd mark.
Minnesota’s efforts finally paid off when Jeong Sang-Bin’s corner kick to the center of the box was misread by Whitecaps’ goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, who went up to intercept which resulted in the ball rattling on the ground in front of Minnesota’s Michael Boxall. Boxall then sent the ball with a right footed shot from very close range, and it went straight through the net as Takaoka was unable to recover.
With the game tied at 1-1 the Whitecaps spent the remainder of the first half trying to get the lead back. Julian Gressel and Ranko Veselinovic both tried to score from the right side of the box, but both missed. Brian White and Pedro Vite tried to score but White’s shot was saved and Vite’s header missed to the right.
The Whitecaps started the second half hot by scoring their second goal when Ranko Veselinovic fed the ball to Brian White who found himself in front of Minnesota’s goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. The two collided after White sent the ball through the net with a left footed shot. White went down in pain and was taken out of the game.
Just four minutes later Vancouver scored another goal courtesy of Simon Becher from an assist by Ryan Gauld. This was Becher’s 4th career goal and gave the Whitecaps 3-1 lead early in the second half.
Minnesota responded in the 65th mark as Jeong Sang-Bin scored a goal with a right footed shot from the center of the box, keeping the game alive and bringing Minnesota to just within a goal at 2-3. But Minnesota came up short, unable to score again in the remainder of the second half. Ménder García made a couple of attempts, his shot in the 71st mark missed and another in the 72nd mark was saved. Kemar Lawrence and Jeong Sang-bin tried to score in the dying minutes to save the game with Sang-Bin’s shot just narrowly missing.
Staff Writer, Ryan Espinosa, Shotbug Press
Video Credit: Sukhwant Dhillon/Shotbug Press
Photo Credit: Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
Photo Credit: Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
Photo Credit: Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
Photo Credit: Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
Photo Credit: Wes Shaw/Shotbug Press
Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2882-StandardVancouver Whitecaps forward Simon Becher (29) and Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Chará (21) vie for the ball during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023Photo Credits: Wesley Shaw/ ShotBug Press
www.wesleyallenshaw.com
Instagram @wesleyallenshaw
Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2883-StandardPortland Timbers midfielder Diego Chará (21) and Portland Timbers forward Tega Ikoba (17) gang up against Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinović (4) during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023Photo Credits: Wesley Shaw/ ShotBug Press
www.wesleyallenshaw.com
Instagram @wesleyallenshaw
Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2884-FocusVancouver Whitecaps forward Simon Becher (29) and Portland Timbers defender Dario Župaric (13) vie for the ball during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023Photo Credits: Wesley Shaw/ ShotBug Press
www.wesleyallenshaw.com
Instagram @wesleyallenshaw
Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2885-StandardVancouver Whitecaps forward Simon Becher (29) and Portland Timbers defender Dario Župaric (13) vie for the ball during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023Photo Credits: Wesley Shaw/ ShotBug Press
www.wesleyallenshaw.com
Instagram @wesleyallenshaw
Wesley Shaw Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 20230408 -2899-StandardVancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinović (4) leaps in celebration after Vancouver Whitecaps forward Brian White scores and gives the team a 1-0 lead during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023Photo Credits: Wesley Shaw/ ShotBug Press
www.wesleyallenshaw.com
Instagram @wesleyallenshaw
Wesley Shaw Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 20230408 -2921-StandardVancouver Whitecaps defender MathÃas Laborda (2) gets past his defender during the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2023Photo Credits: Wesley Shaw/ ShotBug Press
www.wesleyallenshaw.com
Instagram @wesleyallenshaw Whitecaps secure win VS Timbers 1-0 courtesy of Brian White
Despite only attempting two shots the entire game, the Timbers looked like they would be able to survive the game until Whitecaps’ Brian White found a way late in the second half.
The whitecaps, coming from a 5-0 win against CF Montreal which also happens to be the largest win ever by a Canadian team over another team from Canada in MLS, started attacking early. They had three on target attempts in the opening 20 minutes alone, first in the 4th minute mark when Pedro Vite’s left footed shot from outside the box was saved. Mathías Laborda followed with a header from the left side of the six-yard box in the 7th minute mark and Vite had another attempt from outside the box in the 19th minute mark.
Portland, who have won seven of their last 14 visits to BC Place coming into this game, we’re not able to put up any shots in the entire first half but were able to save all attempts by the Whitecaps. The Whitecaps were able fire off seven attempts during the first half, four were saved, one was a miss and the other two were caught offside.
The Whitecaps continued with their attack in the second half with Sebastian Berhalter attempting a right footed shot from the outside of the box in the 54th minute mark, it came close as it missed to the left. Julian Gressel tried a right footed shot from the right side of the box but was saved in the top right corner. Gressel had another look in the 72nd minute mark but was saved again.
The Whitecaps’ relentlessness paid off in the 74th minute mark. Ryan Gauld sent one from far left but was saved by Aljaz Ivacic. The ball rolled far right into Julian Gressel’s direction which set him up nicely for a right-footed shot just outside of the box. Despite Ivacic recovering quicky it was Justin-Rasmussen who had a piece of Gressel’s shot but he sent the ball back to Gressel. This time Gressel sent the ball to Brian White’s direction, who was waiting in front of the goal, for a right footed shot that went straight through giving the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead.
The Timbers never recovered as they spent the remainder of the game trying to stop the Whitecaps from scoring again. Ryan Gauld and Ranko Veselinovic both tried a through ball but Pedro Vite and Cristian Dájome and were called offside respectively.
Portland was only able to afford two shot attempts for the entire game. Santiago Moreno’s right footed shot from the center of the box in the 60th minute mark was blocked. Juan Mosquera’s right footed shot from very close range in the 80th minute mark was too high.
ShotBug Press Staff Writer
Ryan Espinosa
]]>
The Whitecaps managed to contain LAFC in the opening stages. With LAFC just managing 3 shot attempts, 2 of them were caught offside and the right footed shot by Dénis Bouanga just missing to the right.
LAFC too did a good job of making sure the Whitecaps had a hard time scoring in the first half. Though having several good looks, the 2022 Canadian Champions had 4 attempts, only to miss 3 times and the other attempt blocked. Andrea Cubas’s shot from the outside of the box in the 41st minute mark came close but missed to the left, as both teams failed to score a goal in the first half.
The game went in favor for the LAFC with an explosion courtesy of Bouanga. In the 55th minute mark of the second half Carlos Vela sent the ball to Bouanga whose right-footed shot from outside of the box went through the top center of the goal.
After just 6 minutes, Bouanga sent the ball to Kwadwo Opoku who scored LAFC’s second goal, this time with a left-footed shot from the center of the of the box that went to through the bottom left.
Nothing seemed to be going in the Whitecaps’ favor when Bouanga scored another goal in the 65th minute mark, just 3 minutes after Opoku’s last goal, with a left footed shot that went straight to the top left corner, this time with the assist from Timothy Tillman.
All 3 LAFC goals came in the span of 10 minutes with the home team unable to provide an answer. Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini brought Pedro Vite and Luis Martins in hope of making a comeback. Simon Becher attempted twice, in the 72nd and 75th minute mark, missing both attempts.
Sebastian Berhalter had a look in the 84th minute mark but missed, and another attempt from Brian White in the 89th minute mark was saved.
LAFC now has now one foot in the Concacaf Championship League semifinals.
Shotbug Press Staff Writer
Ryan Espinosa
CF Montreal, coming into this game has won 6 of the last 10 matches against the Whitecaps, had no answer to the scoring barrage by their opponent. CF Montreal also lost and failed to score in all their 4 away games this season.
The Whitecaps’ first goal came in the 38th minute mark, when Javain Brown cleared a path for Becher, who then sent a cross to Brian White who easily finished past Jonathan Sirois. Coincidentally, this was also White’s first goal of the season.
Five minutes later, Becher scored Whitecaps’ second goal with a right footed shot from the center of the box that sent the ball thru to the bottom right corner. This was assisted by Ali Ahmed, who in turn would score his first ever professional goal in the opening stages of the second half.
The Whitecap’s third goal came just 2 minutes after Becher’s. This time courtesy of Julian Gressel who was at the right place and at the right time after Brian White’s attempt was blocked by Jonathan Sirois, sending the ball in front of a wide-open Gressel who in turn sent the ball thru with a right footed shot with Sirois unable to recover in time.
Becher gave the Whitecap’s fifth goal in the 59th minute mark, coming from a Javain Brown cross, Becher sent the ball with a right footed shot straight thru the bottom left corner. This was also Brown’s second assist of the game.
To add salt in CF Montreal’s wound the team only shot 3 times against the Whitecaps’ 29.
ShotBug Press, Staff writer Ryan Espinosa
]]>
]]>
]]>