SANDY, UT – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2W-6L-1D) put up a valiant effort but came up just short against the LA Galaxy (6W-3L-0D), dropping a 2-1 result to their Western Conference adversaries at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
After a scoreless opening half, the Galaxy found the breakthrough in the 47th minute thanks to Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, who slid home his eighth goal of the season from Sebastian Lleget’s low ball across the ‘Caps penalty area.
Just a couple minutes later, ‘Caps winger Cristian Dájome forced a mix-up in the Galaxy penalty area with the ball dropping to the feet of striker Lucas Cavallini, but “El Tanque” couldn’t put his effort past Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.
In the 69th minute, the ‘Caps would once again trouble the Galaxy backline as substitute Deiber Caicedo was sent in behind on the break, got past Galaxy defender Nick DePuy and fired an effort just wide of the near post, almost giving the Blue and White the equalizer.
Ten minutes later, it was Érik Godoy’s turn to try to get the ‘Caps on the board.
After winning a free kick deep in Galaxy territory, ‘Caps defender Cristian Gutiérrez whipped in a left-footed ball to the back post, where Godoy headed his effort right off the bar. The rebound fell right into Caicedo's path but like his Argentinean counterpart, the Colombian was unable to find the back of the net.
The ‘Caps second half pressure would finally pay off as Dájome headed the ball down for Janio Bikel, who dribbled into the Galaxy penalty area and smashed home a shot to the far post to score his first MLS goal.
Despite being on the backfoot for most of the second half, the Galaxy found the winner two minutes later, as Homegrown midfielder Efraín Alvarez curled in a shot from just inside the area past Maxime Crépeau to give the Galaxy all three points.
The ‘Caps will now regroup for a quick turnaround against their Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders FC this Saturday, June 26 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Catch the game live on TSN1/3 and AM730, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. PT. The radio pregame show begins at 5 p.m. PT.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: In support of National Indigenous Peoples Day and the tragic discovery of children’s remains found at former Canadian residential schools, Whitecaps FC players wore orange armbands during the match… Over 1,000 fans were in attendance as the ‘Caps opened their home matches to Rio Tinto Stadium to spectators for the first time.
MATCH DETAILS
GE Appliances VWFC Player of Quality: Janio Bikel
Referee: Tori Penso
Scoring Summary
47’ – LA – Chicharito (Sebastian Lletget, Sacha Kljestan)
90’+2’ – VAN – Janio Bikel (Cristian Dájome)
90’+3’ – LA – Efrain Álvarez
Statistics
Possession: VAN 49.2% – LA 50.8%
Shots: VAN 11 – LA 9
Shots on Goal: VAN 3 – LA 2
Saves: VAN 0 – LA 2
Fouls: VAN 13 – LA 10
Offsides: VAN 1 – LA 2
Corners: VAN 5 – LA 3
Cautions
23’ – VAN – Erik Godoy
78’ – LA – Nicholas DePuy
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
16.Maxime Crépeau; 23.Javain Brown (8.Caio Alexandre 53’), 22.Érik Godoy, 15.Andy Rose, 3.Cristian Gutierrez; 11.Cristian Dájome, 19.Janio Bikel, 55.Michael Baldisimo (17.Leonard Owusu 71’), 31.Russell Teibert © (7.Déiber Caicedo 58’); 24.Brian White (27.Ryan Raposo 71’), 9.Lucas Cavallini
Substitutes not used
1.Thomas Hasal, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 14.Theo Bair, 28.Jake Nerwinski, 32.Patrick Metcalfe
LA Galaxy
1.Jonathan Bond; 2.Julian Araujo, 4.Sega Coulibaly, 20.Nicholas DePuy, 19.Jorge Villafaña (91.Oniel Fisher 71’); 17.Sebastian Lletget, 16.Sacha Kljestan (8.Jonathan dos Santos 59’), 7.Víctor Vázquez (43.Adam Saldana 71’); 11.Samuel Grandsir (25.Cameron Dunbar 81’), 14.Chicharito ©, 9.Kevin Cabral (26.Efrain Álvarez 60’)
Substitutes not used
33.Jonathan Klinsmann, 21.Giancarlo González, 29.Ethan Zubak, 56.Jonathan Perez
