CARSON, CA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC suffered a last-minute 1-0 loss to LA Galaxy in a measured, defensive-oriented match at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday evening.
The 'Caps looked moments away from extending their undefeated streak to three but the late-game winner from Galaxy substitute Kai Koreniuk prevented the visiting side from moving up the Western Conference standings. With the loss, the 'Caps stay put at eighth and one spot above the playoff line as the season heads towards its final stretch.
Goalkeepers Evan Bush and Jonathan Klinsmann stood tall against a number of solid chances to keep the match scoreless for the first half. Bush was called to action early as Cristian Pavón found himself in a one-one-one situation with the keeper in the opening minutes, but Bush dove at the attacking Pavón to disrupt the chance and was able to get his body in front of the Argentine’s follow-up shot.
On the other end of the pitch, Vancouver’s early attack was mostly contained by Klinsmann and the Galaxy backline. However, a solid chance for the ‘Caps came in the 19th minute as Ali Adnan hit a curling free kick from just outside the box that forced Klinsmann to dive to his left to make the save.
Mimicking the first half, the second half started with defence on both sides of the pitch as the ‘Caps were able to thwart nearly every attack from the Galaxy. As the match rolled on to the end, a Pavón in-swinging cross in front of Bush connected with Koreniuk as the 22-year-old finished off the match powering in a score. The 90th-minute goal sealed the victory for the Galaxy.
Whitecaps FC finish their season with four straight matches at Providence Park beginning with a date with San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT live on TSN and TSN Radio 1040.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: With his 12th MLS regular season start, Ranko Veselinović has been acquired by Whitecaps FC on permanent transfer from Serbian SuperLiga club FK Vojvodina and is signed through 2023... Russell Teibert made his 180th MLS regular season appearance – a club record, passing Jordan Harvey... Cristián Gutiérrez returned to action after missing four games due to a left ankle contusion.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC Man of the Match: Evan Bush
Referee: Victor Rivas
Scoring Summary
90'+1' – LA – Kai Koreniuk (Cristian Pavón, Julian Araujo)
Statistics
Possession: LA 45.4% – VAN 54.6%
Shots: LA 18 – VAN 7
Shots on Goal: LA 5 – VAN 5
Saves: LA 4 – VAN 4
Fouls: LA 10 – VAN 10
Offsides: LA 1 – VAN 2
Corners: LA 8 – VAN 3
Cautions
45'+1' – LA – Perry Kitchen
89' – VAN – Russell Teibert
90'+2' – LA – Carlos Harvey
LA Galaxy
33.Jonathan Klinsmann; 22.Julian Araujo, 5.Daniel Steres ©, 21.Giancarlo González, 3.Emiliano Insúa; 17.Sebastian Lletget (28.Kai Koreniuk 87'), 2.Perry Kitchen, 16.Sacha Kljestan; 26.Efrain Álvarez (67.Carlos Harvey 78'), 11.Yony González (14.Chicharito 50'), 10.Cristian Pavón
Substitutes not used
1.David Bingham, 19.Diedie Traore, 20.Nicholas DePuy, 27.Emil Cuello, 29.Ethan Zubak, 31.Gordon Wild
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
30.Evan Bush; 28.Jake Nerwinski (14.Theo Bair 90'+2'), 4.Ranko Veselinović, 22.Érik Godoy, 53.Ali Adnan (3.Cristián Gutiérrez 80'); 11.Cristian Dájome, 55.Michael Baldisimo (27.Ryan Raposo 71'), 17.Leonard Owusu, 31.Russell Teibert ©; 12.Fredy Montero, 9. Lucas Cavallini
Substitutes not used
1.Bryan Meredith, 13.Derek Cornelius, 15.Andy Rose, 32.Patrick Metcalfe, 62.Damiano Pecile, 87.Tosaint Ricketts
