- Whitecaps FC set a new club record for attendance in an MLS match with 32,465
- More than 110 alumni from across the club’s history dating back to 1974 attended the match and took part in a pre-match ceremony
- Goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka and Whitecaps FC recorded their fourth clean sheet of the season
VANCOUVER, BC – It was a historic night at BC Place in front of an MLS era record crowd of 32,464 on the club's 50th Anniversary match. Despite dominating proceedings and outshooting the visitors 23 to four, the 'Caps were ultimately held to a 0-0 draw against Austin FC.
The highly-anticipated match began with Whitecaps FC on the front foot, pressing Austin back. Fafà Picault got into the box early and put a dangerous ball across the box, with Adekugbe waiting to tap it in before Austin managed to clear it.
Picault then forced Brad Stuver into his first save of the match through a headed effort, after an audacious flick and cross by Brian White into the box.
Ryan Gauld looked to have put Whitecaps FC ahead after 19 minutes, scoring low into the corner, but the referee called it back after a video review due to a handball on Picault.
Picault kept the pressure on Austin, including a thunderous deflected shot from outside the box just past the half-hour mark.
Gauld tested Stuver’s goal once again just a few minutes later, curling an effort into the corner only for Stuver to deny him at full-stretch. Whitecaps FC would continue to push Austin all the way until the halftime whistle, but would go into the break scoreless on the night.
The second half began in similar fashion as the first, with the ‘Caps gunning for that opener. Alessandro Schöpf and Ryan Raposo each had great chances in the box in quick succession less than 10 minutes into the half, but were denied through blocks by Stuver and his defence. Picault then nearly snatched the lead just a few minutes later, diving for a header after a brilliant cross from Raposo, but his effort would zip past the wrong side of the post.
Gauld tried his luck from distance with just over 20 minutes to play, getting on the end of a clever one-two before poking it towards goal. Stuver was well positioned for that one, and was forced into another save as Raposo got on the end of a whipped cross for a headed effort.
Gauld then had a fantastic chance in the 75th minute, capitalizing off a clever pass from Brian White, only for his shot to curl wide.
Bjørn Inge Utvik nearly got his first goal for the club in the 82nd minute, after a peach of a cross by Gauld, but his header was stopped by Stuver from close range.
Despite the 'Caps efforts, the match would end with no goals from either side, splitting the points between them.
Whitecaps FC are back in action this coming Tuesday, May 7 as they open defence of the Voyageurs Cup in the TELUS Canadian Championship, playing the first leg at Calgary's ATCO Field against Cavalry FC. Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. PT, live on OneSoccer, TELUS channel 980, FuboTV, and on AM730 radio. .
The 'Caps are back at home for two matches in late May. They will host Cavalry FC in the second leg of the TELUS Canadian Championship at BC Place on Tuesday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. PT - tickets are included for season members. Whitecaps FC will then face Inter Miami FC on Saturday, May 25 at BC Place at 7:30 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC GE Appliances Player of Quality: Andrés Cubas
Attendance: 32,465
Referee: Marcos DeOliveira II
Scoring Summary
None
Statistics
Possession: VAN 62.2% - ATX 37.8%
Shots: VAN 23 - ATX 4
Shots on Goal: VAN 7 - ATX 1
Saves: VAN 7 - ATX 1
Fouls: VAN 5 - ATX 10
Offsides: VAN 1 - ATX 1
Corners: VAN 10 - ATX 2
Cautions
45’+8 – ATX – Guilherme Biro
45’+8 – VAN – Fafà Picault
46' – ATX – Sebastián Driussi
46’ – VAN – Brian White
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 15.Bjørn Inge Utvik, 4.Ranko Veselinović (28.Levonte Johnson 81’), 6.Tristan Blackmon; 3.Sam Adekugbe (7.Ryan Raposo 43’), 8.Alessandro Schöpf (45.Pedro Vite 65’), 20.Andrés Cubas, 22.Ali Ahmed; 25.Ryan Gauld ©, 24.Brian White, 11.Fafà Picault
Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 2.Mathías Laborda, 13.Ralph Priso, 14.Luís Martins, 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 23.Javain Brown
Austin FC
1.Brad Stuver; 17.Jon Gallagher, 18.Julio Cascante, 4.Brendan Hines-Ike, 29.Guilherme Biro; 8.Alexander Ring, 5.Jhojan Valencia (23.Žan Kolmanič 83’); 11.Jáder Obrian (33.Owen Wolf 63’), 10.Sebastián Driussi, 7.Emiliano Rigoni (13.Ethan Finley 83’); 14.Diego Rubio (9.Gyasi Zardes 75’)
Substitutes not used
30.Stefan Cleveland, 2.Matt Hedges, 15.Leo Väisänen, 16.Hector Jimenez, 19.CJ Fodrey
