VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC recorded their fifth home win and third consecutive clean sheet in MLS play with a 1-0 victory against Western Conference rivals Los Angeles FC. Andrés Cubas scored his first for his new club late at BC Place to send the 18,292 fans home happy on Saturday night.
LAFC would get the first chance of the match in the 12th minute, as midfielder Latif Blessing deflected his shot from the top of the box off the crossbar and out.
Two minutes later, the 'Caps would get their first chance of the match, with Ryan Gauld whipping a corner into Ranko Veselinovic, who saw his volleyed effort blocked by LAFC.
The second half began with both teams looking to break the deadlock.
In the 65th minute, Brian White crossed a ball into the box for defender Tristan Blackmon to head on target but couldn't direct his effort past LAFC goalkeeper and former 'Caps player Maxime Crépeau.
As the ‘Caps pushed on throughout the half with multiple chances created, White’s right footed strike from a tough angle went off the far post and out 10 minutes later.
With time running out, the Blue & White continued to push on looking for a late match winner. Defensive midfielder Andrés Cubas won a loose ball at the top of the box and unleashed a strike, which found the back of the net in the 89th minute, scoring his first MLS goal and first goal for the club.
The Blue and White prevented LAFC from getting a shot on target and held on for the three points, claiming their seventh win of the season and vaulting up to eighth in the Western Conference, just outside the playoff places due to goal differential.
The ‘Caps wrap up their homestand with a match against Western Conference side Minnesota United FC next Friday, July 8, with kickoff is for 7:30 p.m. PT at BC Place. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets**
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC GE Appliances Player of Quality:* Andrés Cubas*
Attendance:* 18,292*
Referee:* Guido Gonzales Jr*
Scoring Summary*
89’ – VAN – Andrés Cubas*
Statistics
Possession:* VAN 42.3% – LAFC 57.7%*
Shots:* VAN 10 – LAFC 7*
Shots on Goal:* VAN 2 – LAFC 0*
Saves:* VAN 0 – LAFC 1*
Fouls:* VAN 14 – LAFC 12*
Offsides:* VAN 2 – LAFC 0*
Corners:* VAN 12 – LAFC 0*
Cautions*
27’ – VAN – Lucas Cavallini
39’ – LAFC – Jesus Murillo
55’ – VAN – Ryan Gauld
88’ – LAFC – Mamadou Fall*
Vancouver Whitecaps FC**
55.Cody Cropper; 23.Javain Brown, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 6.Tristan Blackmon; 2.Marcus Godinho (14.Luís Martins 83’), 31.Russell Teibert ©️, 20.Andrés Cubas, 27.Ryan Raposo (45.Pedro Vite 68’); 24.Brian White (87.Tosaint Ricketts 84’), 25.Ryan Gauld (26.Florian Jungwirth 90’), 9.Lucas Cavallini (11.Cristian Dájome HT)
Substitutes not used
60.Isaac Boehmer, 17.Leonard Owusu, 22.Érik Godoy, 28.Jake Nerwinski**
Los Angeles FC**
16.Maxime Crépeau ©; 5.Mamadou Fall, 3.Jesus Murillo (4.Eddie Segura HT), 25.Sebastien Ibeagha (26.Cal Jennings 90’); 24.Ryan Hollingshead, 23.Kellyn Acosta (6.Ilie Sanchez 66’), 8.Francisco Ginella, 7.Latif Blessing, 2.Franco Escobar; 9.Cristian Arango (31.Daniel Trejo 78’), 29.Danny Musovski (22.Kwadwo Opoku 66’)
Substitutes not used
77.John McCarthy
