NASHVILLE, TN – Vancouver Whitecaps FC earned a strong 1-1 road draw against Western Conference side Nashville SC at GEODIS Park this Saturday evening. Tonight was the fourth straight match the ‘Caps have earned a result on the road.
The first half started with some pressure coming from Nashville throughout the opening minutes and eventually earned the home side an early lead. Following a ball won back in the attacking half, forward Hany Mukhtar sent in a cross from the right flank of the field, as it connected to Teal Bunbury. His header inside the box opened the scoring within the 17th minute of the match.
The 'Caps were quick to reorganize following the goal and started to generate chances of their own. In the 27th minute, off a quick counter attack, a short pass from attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld found Brian White inside the final third. White's strong strike was well saved in the 27th minute by goalkeeper Joe Willis.
With the Blue & White continuing to push, a cross delivered from Julian Gressel on the right side of the field found its way to White, who’s headed pass placed the ball to Gauld. The quick left footed strike outside the box from the midfielder just whistled past the net in the 39th minute. The 'Caps went into the break down but had momentum on their side.
The second half would see the ‘Caps finding additional rhythm within their own midfield, as Gauld’s quick one touch pass to Cristian Dájome led to an opportunity in the 60th minute, as the Colombian’s right footed shot was then held away in the ensuing play.
With the away side continuing to push in the late stages of the second half saw Vancouver win a free kick just outside the box. The set piece from Gauld, with the ball curling its way down, found Javain Brown and the Jamaican defender levelled the game in the 87th minute. Gauld has now earned an assist in five straight matches across all competitions.
Nashville looked to find a winner in the dying moments of the game, deep inside the attacking half, substitute Luke Haakenson’s strike was followed by a strong reactionary save from goalkeeper Cody Cropper, securing the road point for the ‘Caps.
The ‘Caps return home at BC Place for an upcoming Western Conference clash against Houston Dynamo next Friday, August 5. Kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC GE Appliances Player of Quality: Ryan Gauld
Attendance: 26,578
Referee: Marcos DeOliveira
Scoring Summary
17’ – NSH – Teal Bunbury (Hany Mukhtar)
87’ – VAN – Javain Brown (Ryan Gauld)
Statistics
Possession: NSH 50% – VAN 50%
Shots: NSH 17 – VAN 21
Shots on Goal: NSH 3 – VAN 6
Saves: NSH 5 – VAN 2
Fouls: NSH 5 – VAN 12
Offsides: NSH 0 – VAN 0
Corners: NSH 7 – VAN 7
Cautions
33’ – VAN – Tristan Blackmon
47’ – VAN – Michael Baldisimo
56’ – VAN – Ryan Raposo
86’ – NSH – Jack Maher
90’+2’ – VAN – Ryan Gauld
Nashville SC
1.Joe Willis; 18.Shaquell Moore (15.Eric Miller 63’), 25.Walker Zimmerman, 4.Dave Romney, 23.Taylor Washington; 12.Teal Bunbury (5.Jack Maher 63’), 54.Sean Davis, 6.Dax McCarty © (27.Brian Anunga 85’), 8.Randall Leal (26.Luke Haakenson 74’); 10.Hany Mukhtar, 17.C.J. Sapong
Substitutes not used
30.Elliot Panicco, 32.Will Meyer, 7.Handwalla Bwana, 11.Ethan Zubak
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
55.Cody Cropper; 23.Javain Brown, 4.Ranko Veselinović (8.Caio Alexandre 81’), 6.Tristan Blackmon; 19.Julian Gressel, 20.Andrés Cubas, 33.Michael Baldisimo (17.Leonard Owusu 52’), 27.Ryan Raposo (87.Tosaint Ricketts 61’); 45.Pedro Vite (11.Cristian Dájome HT), 25.Ryan Gauld ©; 24.Brian White
Substitutes not used
60.Isaac Boehmer, 2.Marcus Godinho, 26.Florian Jungwirth, 28.Jake Nerwinski
