PORTLAND, OR – Vancouver Whitecaps FC wrapped up their 2020 MLS season strong on Sunday afternoon, winning 3-0 against LA Galaxy at Providence Park behind a brace from Fredy Montero and a pair of assists from Cristián Gutiérrez.
Whitecaps FC had six different players recording a goal or assist in a dominant 90-minute performance, giving them a final record of 9W-14L-0D in a year like no other in its history. The 'Caps land at ninth place in the Western Conference, just three points below the playoff line despite playing only four of 23 games at BC Place, and spending the last 51 days of the season away from Vancouver. VWFC, who improved their points-per-game average from last season, also become the first club in MLS to conclude their schedule without a draw.
Lucas Cavallini ends his first year in MLS with six goals to win the Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot Award as the club's top scorer. Evan Bush, who started in net for the 'Caps final eight matches after joining the club in late September, had a season-high six saves for his first clean sheet in a VWFC uniform.
The 'Caps were able to find the first score of the afternoon in the 24th minute. After Russell Teibert sent an aerial through ball down the left side of the pitch to Gutiérrez, the left back ripped a cross towards the goal where Cavallini powered above a defender to send in the ball off the back of his head.
Not long after Vancouver’s first score, the ‘Caps would gain another advantage as Julian Araujo was shown a straight red for serious foul play following a studs-up tackle on Gutiérrez. Taking advantage of their extra man, Vancouver would double their lead in the first half with a 43rd-minute goal from Montero's chest off an Ali Adnan cross that dropped just in front of the goal.
While the majority of the second half was less attack-oriented for the ‘Caps and more focused on maintaining their lead, Vancouver were tasked with denying a number of late Galaxy attacks including a curling Chicharito free kick from the edge of the box that was swatted away by a diving Bush in the 75th minute. Finally, the 'Caps were able to seal the game on a Montero goal from the centre of the box giving the Colombian his brace in his 200th MLS regular season appearance.
The 'Caps now look forward to an important offseason ahead with the goal of adding difference-makers to a youthful roster that has gone through the fire and showed their promise in the face of adversity this year.
Stay tuned to whitecapsfc.com for news and updates throughout the offseason.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Gutiérrez's assist on Cavallini's goal is his first in MLS... Teibert's assist is his 18th in his MLS career, moving him up to sole second in the club's all-time MLS assist records behind only Pedro Morales... Whitecaps FC finish the season with 149 combined games played by Canadian players, a club MLS record despite the abbreviated schedule... 'Caps Homegrown midfielder Damiano Pecile came on as a late substitute to make his professional debut.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC Man of the Match: TBA on @whitecapsfc
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
Scoring Summary
24' – VAN – Lucas Cavallini (Cristián Gutiérrez, Russell Teibert)
43' – VAN – Fredy Montero (Ali Adnan)
90'+1' – VAN – Fredy Montero (Cristian Dájome, Cristián Gutiérrez)
Statistics
Possession: VAN 52.3% – LA 47.7%
Shots: VAN 16 – LA 12
Shots on Goal: VAN 6 – LA 6
Saves: VAN 6 – LA 3
Fouls: VAN 14 – LA 15
Offsides: VAN 0 – LA 3
Corners: VAN 2 – LA 7
Caution
52' – LA – Perry Kitchen
Ejection
41' – LA – Julian Araujo
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
30.Evan Bush; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 22.Érik Godoy, 3.Cristián Gutiérrez; 11.Cristian Dájome, 19.Janio Bikel, 31.Russell Teibert ©, 53.Ali Adnan (87.Tosaint Ricketts 87'); 12.Fredy Montero (62.Damiano Pecile 90'+2'), 9.Lucas Cavallini (14.Theo Bair 87')
Substitutes not used
1.Bryan Meredith, 13.Derek Cornelius, 15.Andy Rose, 20.Jasser Khmiri, 27.Ryan Raposo, 32.Patrick Metcalfe
LA Galaxy
1.David Bingham; 22.Julian Araujo, 21.Giancarlo González, 5.Daniel Steres, 3.Emiliano Insúa (27.Emil Cuello 86'); 15.Joe Corona (16.Sacha Kljestan 55'), 2.Perry Kitchen; 11.Yony González (25.Rolf Feltscher 44'), 26.Efraín Álvarez (28.Kai Koreniuk 87'), 10.Cristian Pavón ©; 29.Ethan Zubak (14.Chicharito HT)
Substitutes not used
18.Justin vom Steeg, 20.Nicholas DePuy, 60.Cameron Dunbar, 67.Carlos Harvey
