- With two goals, Ryan Gauld now has 13 goal contributions in his past 14 MLS appearances, including seven (5G, 2A) in the past four matches
- With an assist, Ranko Veselinović recorded his third goal contribution of the MLS season (1G, 2A)
- Javain Brown recorded his first assist of the season
- Ralph Priso recorded his first assist for Whitecaps FC
- Damir Kreilach made his first start since March 30
FOXBOROUGH, MA – It was a match with many goals at Gillette Stadium, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC fell 3-2 to a resurgent New England Revolution on Saturday evening.
The match began with Whitecaps FC looking to get a foothold in the match early on. Damir Kreilach got the first shot on target of the match inside five minutes, getting on the end of a chipped pass into the box from Ryan Gauld and volleying it towards Aljaž Ivačič to forcing him into an early save.
But while the ‘Caps would get the first look, New England drew first blood in the seventh minute. After the 'Caps blocked a cross at the edge of the box, Noel Buck lashed a long first-time shot into the top corner of Yohei Takaoka’s net.
It did not take long for Whitecaps FC to hit back, as Gauld found the equalizer in the 13th minute. Javain Brown picked a perfect cross to find Gauld in the box, and the Scot flicked a header into the near post, leaving Ivačič rooted to his spot.
The Revs scored the go-ahead goal just after the 20-minute mark. Borrero threaded a pinpoint pass through the back-line, sending Giacomo Vrioni through on goal. Vrioni then made no mistake, placing a shot past an outstretched Takaoka to make it 2-1.
The ‘Caps were close to getting an equalizer with 10 minutes left in the first half, as Brown drilled a cross into the box for Brian White to try to flick into the back of the net, but Ivačič managed to block the shot before it could dink in.
But despite that heavy pressure to level the match, it was New England that scored the next goal. Esmir Bajraktarevic got on the end of a clearance just inside the box on the right, and cut inside. Bajraktarevic then let fly a curled effort that got a fortuitous deflection to loop over Takaoka and into the back of the net.
That would be the last action of the half, as Whitecaps FC went into the break with work to do.
The second half started with the ‘Caps putting on the pressure. Luís Martins nearly found Brian White in the box early on with a dangerous cross, before Gauld almost volleyed Whitecaps FC back into the match with a spectacular effort towards goal that was blocked.
Barrero was close to getting a fourth for the Revs close to the 60th minute mark, unleashing a venomous shot from range, forcing Takaoka into a snap save. Borrero again kept Takaoka’s hands warm in the 65th minute, cutting inside off the left and lacing a shot towards goal for Takaoka to tip over the bar.
Giuseppe Bovalina then tried to copy that effort, cutting inside off the right this time and curling a shot for Ivačič to catch at full-stretch. Bovalina tried that angle once again just a little while later, but this time his effort fizzed over the bar.
Emmanuel Boateng forced Takaoka into one more impressive save near the end of the match, volleying towards the Japanese ‘keeper's far side but finding the hands of Takaoka at full stretch.
Gauld would make it a nervy finish for New England, as he fired a rocket from 35-odd yards out that left Ivačič no chance.
Despite that incredible goal, the 'Caps would run out of time to try to salvage a point.
Whitecaps FC are back in action next Saturday, June 22 in another Cascadia Cup clash on the road against Portland Timbers at 7:30 p.m. PT. The ‘Caps then host sophomore side St. Louis CITY SC at BC Place on Saturday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC GE Appliances Player of Quality: Ryan Gauld
Attendance: 27,028
Referee: Natalie Simon
Scoring Summary
7’ – NE – Noel Buck
13’ – VAN – Ryan Gauld (Javain Brown, Ranko Veselinović)
21’ – NE – Giacomo Vrioni (Dylan Borrero, Carles Gil)
39’ – NE – Esmir Bajraktarevic
90’+4 – VAN – Ryan Gauld (Ralph Priso)
Statistics
Possession NE 56.7% - VAN 43.3%
Shots: NE 19 - VAN 14
Shots on Goal: NE 7 - VAN 8
Saves: NE 6 - VAN 4
Fouls: NE 12 - VAN 11
Offsides: NE 0 - VAN 0
Corners: NE 3 - VAN 4
Cautions
29’ – NE – Xavier Arreaga
89’ – VAN – Fafà Picault
90’+2 – VAN – Sebastian Berhalter
New England Revolution
31.Aljaž Ivačič; 12.Nick Lima, 2.Dave Romney, 3.Xavier Arreaga, 24.DeJuan Jones; 29.Noel Buck (88.Andrew Farrell 71’), 14.Ian Harkes; 47.Esmir Bajraktarevic (18.Emmanuel Boateng 86’), 10.Carles Gil, 11.Dylan Borrero; 9.Giacomo Vrioni
Substitutes not used
36.Earl Edwards Jr., 4.Harry Kessler, 6.Jonathan Mensah, 22.Jack Panayotou, 25.Peyton Miller,
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 23.Javain Brown, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 15.Bjørn Inge Utvik; 7.Ryan Raposo (27.Giuseppe Bovalina 60’), 45.Pedro Vite (13.Ralph Priso 90’+2), 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 14.Luís Martins (28.Levonte Johnson 79’); 25.Ryan Gauld ©; 24.Brian White, 19.Damir Kreilach (11.Fafà Picault HT)
Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 2.Mathías Laborda, 6.Tristan Blackmon, 12.Belal Halbouni, 59.Jeevan Badwal
