ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – MLS All-Star Ryan Gauld’s three sublime assists pushed Whitecaps FC up to fourth place in the Western Conference with a 3-1 victory over Minnesota United FC on Wednesday night.
The ’Caps (9W-4D-7L) collected their second win in a row and leapfrogged Minnesota (8W-5D-8L), who have now lost a franchise record five straight.
Gauld set the tone early with his speed and savvy in the fourth minute, as he alertly pounced on a casual back pass in the danger area from Loons centre back Michael Boxall.
The ’Caps captain fired a quick pass to striker Brian White, who coolly tapped home the first shot on target and stunned goalkeeper Alec Smir, who was making his league debut.
White’s strike was an historic one as he broke the record for most all-time Whitecaps FC goals in MLS regular season play with his 40th – one more than former forward Camilo Sanvezzo. White is also the club's leading scorer across all competitions with 45 in the MLS era.
Gauld was far from done in encouraging the dozen away supporters who made the trip to the North Star State. Off a corner kick, Sebastian Berhalter made a short chip to Gauld, who cracked a 25-yard looping cross that found defender Mathías Laborda. He climbed the ladder to head the ball past Smir and double the lead.
The Loons had a golden opportunity when ’Caps keeper Yohei Takaoka was stripped of a back pass. United’s Bongokuhle Hlongwane centred to a wide-open Robin Lod but ’Caps experienced defender Ranko Veselinović bravely stood his ground and blocked the chance.
A few minutes later, referee Victor Rivas whistled for an apparent hand ball in the box against the 'Caps. Winger Joseph Rosales stepped up to the spot but wasn't able to beat Takaoka.
However, off the ensuing corner, the Loons got on the board with a deflection that dribbled in off Hlongwane and cut the ’Caps advantage to 2-1.
After play resumed for the second half, MNUFC came mere inches from glory. A series of headers eventually fell to Jeong Sang-bin – his seven-yard effort took a bounce off the boot of Vancouver's Sebastian Berhalter – and just trickled wide of the post.
At the other end, Gauld set up Berhalter, who made his presence felt on the scoresheet. From 25 yards out, the 23-year-old midfielder juked to make space and unleashed a wonder goal – his spectacular one-touch strike whipped in off the post.
The ’Caps continue their road trip at Montreal this Saturday, July 6 at 4:30 p.m. PT. The Blue and White return to BC Place on Wednesday, July 17th to face Sporting Kansas City for their '80s Match, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC GE Appliances Player of Quality: Ryan Gauld
Attendance: 19,684
Referee: Victor Rivas
Scoring Summary
4’ – VAN – Brian White (Ryan Gauld)
17’ – VAN – Mathías Laborda (Ryan Gauld, Sebastian Berhalter)
30’ – MIN – Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Hassani Dotson)
60’ – VAN – Sebastian Berhalter (Ryan Gauld, Alessandro Schöpf)
Cautions
13’ – MIN – Jeong Sang-bin
23’ – MIN – Alejandro Bran
28’ – VAN – Brian White
39’ – MIN – Michael Boxall
45’+4 – VAN – Ryan Gauld
81’ – VAN – Mathías Laborda
90’+6 – MIN – Jordan Adebayo-Smith
Statistics
Possession: MIN 55% - VAN 45%
Shots: MIN 17 - VAN 6
Shots on Goal: MIN 4 - VAN 4
Saves: MIN 1 - VAN 2
Fouls: MIN 13 - VAN 13
Offsides: MIN 2 - VAN 2
Corners: MIN 6 - VAN 5
Minnesota United FC
30.Alec Smir; 2.Devin Padelford, 4.Miguel Tapias, 15.Michael Boxall; 8.Joseph Rosales, 25.Alejandro Bran (7.Franco Fragapane 62’), 31.Hassani Dotson, 37.Caden Clark (27.D.J. Taylor 62’); 17.Robin Lod, 11.Sang Bin Jeong (99.Jordan Adebayo-Smith 73’), 21.Bongokuhle Hlongwane
Substitutes not used
3.Zarek Valentin, 23.Morris Duggan, 44.Moses Nyeman
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 2.Mathías Laborda, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 15.Bjørn Inge Utvik; 8.Alessandro Schöpf (27.Giuseppe Bovalina 88’), 45.Pedro Vite (13.Ralph Priso 62’), 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 14.Luís Martins (23.Javain Brown 63’); 25.Ryan Gauld © (11.Fafà Picault 75’), 24.Brian White, 28.Levonte Johnson (7.Ryan Raposo 63’)
Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 17.Joe Bendik, 12.Belal Halbouni, 52.Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau
