CARSON, CA – Ranko Veselinović headed home his first career MLS goal to help Vancouver Whitecaps FC earn a point and a fourth consecutive draw on the road against LA Galaxy on Sunday.
On a late evening in Carson, Veselinović got his head under a Déiber Caicedo corner in the match’s 50th minute to open his account with the team. After contacting the 'Caps centre back, the ball immediately ricocheted off the outstretched fists of Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond before nestling just inside the far post.
The game’s first 20 minutes were relatively uneventful, but at the halfway mark of the half the Galaxy began to play faster and more frenzied. A myriad of chances came up just short for LA before Kevin Cabral found himself wide open in the box on a delivery from Efrain Álvarez in the 32nd minute. His calm finish put LA Galaxy up 1-0.
Lucas Cavallini went down with an injury in the 43rd minute, one that forced him to be substituted at the beginning of the second half. Still, he remained on long enough to deliver a bicycle kick that sailed just wide of Bond’s goal as the first 45 wrapped up.
Momentum in the game shifted back and forth across the remaining 40 minutes. Samuel Grandsir tested goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau twice in three minutes in the game’s final quarter, but neither effort made its way past the recently returned Canadian international.
With time running out and both teams jockeying for three points, Whitecaps FC head coach Marc Dos Santos brought in newcomer Ryan Gauld for his MLS debut. Gauld had not played since May, but he made an impact on the pitch, notably challenging Bond with a nefarious, curving floater in the second minute of stoppage time.
In the end the shorthanded 'Caps secured another point ahead of their return to BC Place on August 21. The 'Caps will play again in California in five days time, a 7:30 p.m. PT match on Friday, August 12 against San Jose Earthquakes.
Stay tuned to whitecapsfc.com for the latest news and updates.
MATCH DETAILS
GE Appliances VWFC Player of Quality: Ranko Veselinović
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Scoring Summary
32' - LA - Kevin Cabral (Efraín Álvarez)
50' - VAN - Ranko Veselinović (Déiber Caicedo)
Statistics
Possession: LA 56.6 – VAN 43.4
Shots: LA 16 – VAN 10
Shots on Goal: LA 6 – VAN 5
Saves: LA 4 – VAN 5
Fouls: LA 11 – VAN 9
Offsides: LA 2 – VAN 1
Corners: LA 9 – VAN 4
Cautions
5' - LA - Julian Araujo
81' - VAN - Ranko Veselinović
LA Galaxy
1.Jonathan Bond; 2.Julian Araujo, 4.Sega Coulibaly, 3.Derrick Williams, 19.Jorge Villafaña (24.Danilo Acosta 65'); 8.Jonathan dos Santos © (43.Adam Saldaña 65'), 6.Rayan Raveloson, 17.Sebastian Lletget; 11.Samuel Grandsir (48.Augustine Williams 90'+1), 9.Kevin Cabral, 26.Efraín Álvarez (16.Sacha Kljestan 65')
Substitutes not used33.Jonathan Klinsmann, 5.Daniel Steres, 20.Nicholas DePuy, 25.Cameron Dunbar, 91.Oniel Fisher
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
16.Maxime Crépeau ©; 23.Javain Brown (6.Bruno Gaspar 90'+1), 4.Ranko Veselinović, 22.Érik Godoy, 28.Jake Nerwinski; 8.Caio Alexandre (31.Russell Teibert HT), 32.Patrick Metcalfe (17.Leonard Owusu 77'), 19.Janio Bikel; 24.Brian White, 9.Lucas Cavallini (27.Ryan Raposo HT), 7.Déiber Caicedo (25.Ryan Gauld 77')
Substitutes not used
1.Thomas Hasal, 15.Andy Rose, 26.Florian Jungwirth, 87.Tosaint Ricketts
