'Caps get another important point in return home

*updated October 3, 2023

• Since May 31, Ryan Gauld has the most goal contributions in MLS with 21 (11 goals, 10 assists)
• With the point, Whitecaps FC (43 points) can now clinch their second playoff spot in three seasons with a win against St. Louis CITY SC on Wednesday, combined with a loss/draw from Minnesota United FC (38 points) at Los Angeles FC OR a loss/draw from FC Dallas versus Colorado Rapids
• Brian White scored his 14th goal of the MLS season, one back of the MLS golden boot lead, and his 18th goal in all competitions
• Gauld and White have connected for the most goals in MLS among active teammates since 2021 with 15
• After scoring in the second minute, Whitecaps FC joined the 2017 Houston Dynamo as the only teams in MLS since 2000 to score five times within the the first three minutes of matches in a single season
• Whitecaps FC have scored the second most goals in MLS inside the first 30 minutes (20), trailing only Columbus Crew (22)

VANCOUVER, BC – It was an electric atmosphere at BC Place on Saturday as Vancouver Whitecaps FC returned home after 41 days, playing to an exciting 2-2 draw against D.C. United.

Whitecaps FC began their homecoming in scintillating fashion, scoring inside the first three minutes. Richie Laryea did well to dash into the box, his cross getting cleared only to Ryan Gauld. The MLS MVP candidate would then look up and chip a cross to Brian White, who headed in his 14th goal of the 2023 MLS campaign.

D.C. would bounce back quickly, however, equalizing in the 11th minute. Ted Ku-DiPietro would latch onto a stray pass just outside the Whitecaps FC box, and square it to Christian Benteke for an open-net tap-in.

Pedro Santos would get a free kick in a dangerous position outside the Whitecaps FC box in the 34th minute, but his effort would sail harmlessly over the bar. Both teams would try to break the deadlock with some decent spells of possession but it would remain a stalemate going into the break.

The ‘Caps would start the second half with renewed energy, and almost got the go-ahead goal inside the first three minutes of the second half. Sebastian Berhalter would find White in the box, but the ‘Caps leading scorer’s shot would be swept up by doalkeeper Alex Bono. Laryea would test his luck not seconds later, sprinting down the line and firing a shot, forcing Bono to make yet another save.

The pressure would come to a head in the 56th minute, when White would win a penalty in the D.C. United box. Gauld would step up to the plate and dispatch his 11th goal of the MLS season in style, placing perfectly past an outstretched Bono.

D.C. would not back down either, though, and would equalize in the 62nd minute. A deflected ball fell kindly to Mateusz Klich and would be volleyed sweetly by the Polish midfielder, nestling into the bottom corner to tie it up at 2-2.

White would nearly get his second in the 76th minute, chesting a cross down and slipping past two markers, before tamely placing his shot into the hands of Bono.

With four minutes of regulation time to go, substitute Ali Ahmed would almost win it. Sam Adekugbe would place a clever reverse pass to Ahmed in the box, allowing his fellow Canadian time to curl an effort that would be palmed away at full-stretch by Bono for a corner.

Despite some great chances at the end, neither side would find a winner as the match ended in a draw.

Whitecaps FC are back at home this coming Wednesday, October 4 against St. Louis CITY at 7:30 p.m. PT on College Night. Tickets remain available at whitecapsfc.com/tickets and available to watch on TSN, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and to listen on AM730 radio

MATCH DETAILS

VWFC GE Appliances Player of Quality: Ryan Gauld
Attendance: 19,442
Referee: Drew Fischer

Scoring Summary
2’ – VAN – Brian White (Ryan Gauld)
11’ – DC – Christian Benteke (Ted Ku-DiPietro)
57’ – VAN – Ryan Gauld (penalty kick)
62’ – DC – Mateusz Klich

Statistics
Possession: VAN 48.9% - DC 51.1%
Shots: VAN 9 - DC 10
Shots on Goal: VAN 6 - DC 3
Saves: VAN 1 - DC 4
Fouls: VAN 9 - DC 12
Offsides: VAN 4 - DC 1
Corners: VAN 4 - DC 4

Cautions
69’ – DC – Mateusz Klich
82’ – VAN – Alessandro Schöpf

Vancouver Whitecaps FC18.Yohei Takaoka; 23.Javain Brown, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 6.Tristan Blackmon; 20.Andrés Cubas; 16.Sebastian Berhalter (3.Sam Adekugbe 72’), 8.Alessandro Schöpf (22.Ali Ahmed 86’), 45.Pedro Vite (11.Junior Hoilett 73’), 7.Richie Laryea (27.Ryan Raposo 63’); 24.Brian White, 25.Ryan Gauld ©

Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 2.Mathías Laborda, 26.J.C. Ngando, 29.Simon Becher, 31.Russell Teibert

D.C. United
24.Alex Bono, 2.Ruan (14.Andy Najar 86’), 3.Derrick Williams (15.Steven Birnbaum 74’), 23.Donavan Pines, 7.Pedro Santos (31.Éric Davis 79’); 8.Chris Durkin, 25.Jackson Hopkins (22.Yamil Asad 79’), 43.Mateusz Klich; 10.Gabriel Pirani; 21.Ted Ku-DiPietro (12.Cristian Dájome 79’), 20.Christian Benteke ©

Substitutes not used
50.Luis Zamudio, 9.Erik Hurtado, 19.Nigel Robertha, 84.José Fajardo