- With 21 points on the road (6W-4L-3D), Whitecaps FC have now surpassed their point-total on the road from last season (18 points, 4W-7L-6D). The 'Caps are only three points back of their best point-total on the road in a season, set in 2015 (24 points, 7W-7L-3D)
- Whitecaps FC are now unbeaten in four MLS matches (3W-0L-1D), and five overall including Wednesday's 1-0 win in the Canadian Championship
- After scoring two more goals, Brian White has now scored seven goals in his past four MLS matches. He has scored 51 goals in all competitions in his Whitecaps FC career
- With two more assists, MLS All-Star midfielder Ryan Gauld now has 18 goal contributions (9 goals, 9 assists) in his last 19 MLS appearances, with 13 of those coming in the last 10 matches
- With a goal and an assist, Fafa Picault now has eight goal contributions this MLS season (5 goals, 3 assists)
- Ryan Raposo added to his career-high with his seventh goal contribution of the MLS season (3 goals, 4 assists)
ST. LOUIS, MO – It was an ice-cold display despite the blistering heat in St. Louis, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC put St. Louis CITY SC to the sword with a stunning 4-1 win at CITYPARK.
The match began with Whitecaps FC pressing St. Louis early, and that pressue would see the ‘Caps strike first. Ryan Gauld picked up a loose pass at the back and bore down on goal in the ninth minute. Ever the selfless creator, instead of shooting, Gauld decided to lay it off for Brian White to latch onto and slot it home for the lead.
St. Louis continued to probe for an equalizer and would get their chance in the 28th minute. A free kick found Nokkvi Thórisson at the back post and despite White doing well to deny his first shot, Thórisson put away his second chance after firing it low and hard past Yohei Takaoka. White almost regained the lead for the ‘Caps minutes later, getting on the end of a long ball and lashing a shot towards goal to force Bürki to make a big save.
Sebastian Berhalter nearly finished a superb bit of play by Whitecaps FC in the 36th minute. Some slick one-touch volleyed passes between Berhalter, Gauld and White found the American midfielder all alone on goal but his final volley from a tight angle flew the wrong side of the post.
White would not be denied again right before half, though, restoring the lead for the ‘Caps. MathÃas Laborda whipped a teasing cross towards the back post for Fafa Picault to pounce on. Picault’s header was saved well by Bürki but he could not deny the follow-up from White as the American sidefooted the ball into the wide-open net to make it 2-1.
The second half began with St. Louis looking for an equalizer once more. John Klein swung a cross towards goal that forced Takaoka to back-track and push the ball wide. Indiana Vassilev had another great chance at the back post moments later, but his side-foot effort dragged wide of the mark. Ranko Veselinović then made a massive block in the 59th minute, denying Edward Löwen on the line to keep the lead for Whitecaps FC.
Whitecaps FC punished the home side with the next goal, with Ryan Raposo finishing after a scramble in the 63rd minute. Raposo managed to find a yard of space and rifled a shot past Bürki to open a two-goal lead.
Fafa Picault had a chance in the 75th to make it 4-1 if it wasn’t for a massive save by Bürki. Picault was sent in behind by Gauld and went one-on-one with the German ‘keeper but fired it too centrally to beat Bürki, as he managed to get a hand on it to deny the insurance marker.
Picault did finish a nearly identical chance five minutes later to seemingly make it 4-1 on the night, but the goal was ruled out after an alleged handball offence in the build-up.
Takaoka was called to action right at the end as the ball almost sneaked by to Tim Parker but the Japanese shot-stopper did well to be brave and punch the ball away before the player could get a shot off.
Picault would not be denied a third time as the Haitian international got the clincher right in added time to ensure all three points for Whitecaps FC. Gauld unleashed Picault with a stellar pass in behind to go one-on-one with Bürki. The speedster made no mistake, skipping past the onrushing ‘keeper and striking it into the open net to make it a 4-1 final.
Whitecaps FC are back in action this coming Wednesday, July 17 as they face off against Sporting Kansas City in the club's '80s Match at home at BC Place. As part of the decade celebration, free arcade games such as Tetris, Pac Man, and Donkey Kong will feature at the pre-match and the concourse. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT.
Following that match, the 'Caps are back at BC Place on Saturday, July 20 during Pride Match against Houston Dynamo. Kickoff will also be at 7:30 p.m. PT, and tickets are available at whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC GE Appliances Player of Quality: Ryan Gauld
Attendance: 22,500
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Scoring Summary
9’ – VAN – Brian White (Ryan Gauld)
28’ – STL – Nokkvi Thórisson
44’ – VAN – Brian White (Fafa Picault)
63’ – VAN – Ryan Raposo
90’+2 – VAN – Fafa Picault (Ryan Gauld)
Statistics
Possession: STL 46% - VAN 54%
Shots: STL 14 - VAN 14
Shots on Goal: STL 3 - VAN 9
Saves: STL 5 - VAN 1
Fouls: STL 10 - VAN 10
Offsides: STL 2 - VAN 2
Corners: STL 5 - VAN 5
Cautions
19’ – STL – Njabulo Blom
45’+7 – VAN – Sebastian Berhalter
53’ – STL – Jayden Reid
71’ – STL – Chris Durkin
88’ – VAN – Andrés Cubas
90’+6 – VAN – Levonte Johnson
St. Louis CITY SC
1.Roman Bürki; 14.Tomas Totland, 15.Josh Yaro (16.Samuel Adeniran 70’), 26.Tim Parker, 99.Jayden Reid; 6.Njabulo Blom (20.Akil Watts 46’), 8.Chris Durkin; 41.Josh Klein III (46.Caden Glover 90’+5), 10.Edward Löwen (85.Hosei Kijima 77’), 19.Indiana Vassilev; 29.Nokkvi Thórisson (40.Michael Wentzel 90’+4)
Substitutes not used
39.Benjamin Lundt, 2.Jake Nerwinski, 4.Joakim Nilsson
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 2.MathÃas Laborda, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 15.Bjørn Inge Utvik; 7.Ryan Raposo (3.Sam Adekugbe 84’), 16.Sebastian Berhalter (28.Levonte Johnson 90’+3), 20.Andrés Cubas, 14.LuÃs Martins (8.Alessandro Schöpf 67’); 25.Ryan Gauld ©, 24.Brian White (19.Damir Kreilach 90’+3), 11.Fafa Picault (13.Ralph Priso 90’+3)
Substitutes
32.Isaac Boehmer, 12.Belal Halbouni, 27.Giuseppe Bovalina, 45.Pedro Vite
