LOS ANGELES, CA – It was an electric start to Leagues Cup on Tuesday for Vancouver Whitecaps FC, as they defeated Los Angeles FC in a shootout after an end-to-end 2-2 match at BMO Stadium.
The match began with a bang for the 'Caps. Sebastian Berhalter opened the scoring with a screamer inside five minutes, intercepting a loose clearance, taking one touch and volleying it from more than 30 yards out into the far corner to give the ‘Caps the lead.
Whitecaps FC continued their rapid-fire start with a second 12 minutes later, this time through Ranko Veselinović. Berhalter whipped a fantastic cross into the box from a corner for the Serbian defender to rise above the rest and flick the ball on into the back of the net for 2-0.
Isaac Boehmer got called into action just before the end of the half, denying Cristian Olivera from sneaking a shot underneath the ‘keeper from a close angle. Brian White was then inches away from making it three goals to the good in added time at the end of the first half, catching Abraham Romero off his line but dragging the effort wide of the mark.
LAFC went into the second half looking to reduce the deficit. Bogusz had another fantastic opportunity to get his side on the scoresheet inside 10 minutes of the half, getting on the end of a cross from Denis Bouanga, but was denied by a brilliant piece of goalkeeping from Boehmer.
The match became more open after that chance, with both sides getting numbers on the break but unable to finish.
Mathías Laborda made an outstanding goal-line clearance in the 67th minute to deny Bogusz from getting an elusive goal for LAFC.
It would take until the 87th minute for LAFC to finally break the stubborn Whitecaps FC defence. Bouanga curled a cross towards the near post for Kei Kamara to get just ahead of Boehmer and flick in to make it 2-1.
That goal set up a tight finish for Whitecaps FC, as they put their bodies on the line to protect the lead in the final minutes of the game.
Levonte Johnson was inches away from making it 3-1 with only seconds remaining after getting on the end of a long ball, but rolled the ball just wide of the net.
Despite their valiant efforts at the back, LAFC did manage to find an equalizer right at the death. David Martínez was found at the edge of box and drove a volley into the ground that bounced up right in front of the net. Bogusz snuck in behind the line to pop up and deflect it home to send the game to penalties.
The 'Caps would not be deterred, and Boehmer would prove to be the hero once again for Whitecaps FC. The young shotstopper came up with a save on Kamara, before seeing Bogusz fire over the net to cap an exhilarating opening win in the Leagues Cup.
Whitecaps FC are back in Leagues Cup action this coming Saturday, August 3 against Club Tijuana at BC Place. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Man of the Match: Sebastian Berhalter
Attendance: 18,351
Referee: Cesar Ramos
Scoring Summary
5’ – VAN – Sebastian Berhalter
17’ – VAN – Ranko Veselinović (Sebastian Berhalter)
88’ – LAFC – Kei Kamara (Denis Bouanga)
90’+5 – LAFC – Mateusz Bogusz (David Martínez)
Statistics
Possession: LAFC 66% - VAN 34%
Shots: LAFC 20 - VAN 15
Shots on Goal: LAFC 9 - VAN 4
Saves: LAFC 2 - VAN 6
Fouls: LAFC 11- VAN 13
Offsides: LAFC 2 - VAN 1
Corners: LAFC 6 - VAN 2
Cautions
13’ – VAN – Ali Ahmed
53’ – VAN – Belal Halbouni
80’ – LAFC – Cristian Olivera
90’ – LAFC – David Martínez
90’+1 – VAN – Sebastian Berhalter
Ejection
90’+8 – VAN – Vanni Sartini
Los Angeles FC
22.Abraham Romero; 14.Sergi Palencia, 3.Jesús Murillo, 33.Aaron Long, 24.Ryan Hollingshead (2.Omar Campos 45’); 19.Mateusz Bogusz, 6.Ilie Sánchez (30.David Martínez 69’), 18.Erik Dueñas (20.Eduard Atuesta 45’); 13.Cristian Olivera, 27.Nathan Ordaz (23.Kei Kamara 45’), 99.Denis Bouanga
Substitutes not used
1.Hugo Lloris, 4.Eddie Segura, 12.Thomas Hasal, 21.Tomas Ángel, 25.Maxime Chanot, 36.Thomas Musto
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
32.Isaac Boehmer; 12.Belal Halbouni (20.Andrés Cubas 69’), 4.Ranko Veselinović (13.Ralph Priso 87’), 15.Bjørn Inge Utvik; 2.Mathías Laborda, 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 45.Pedro Vite, 8.Alessandro Schöpf (7.Ryan Raposo 69’), 22.Ali Ahmed; 11.Fafa Picault (28.Levonte Johnson 45’), 24.Brian White (19.Damir Kreilach 76’)
Substitutes not used
1.Yohei Takaoka, 17.Joe Bendik, 27.Giuseppe Bovalina, 41.Eliot Goldthorp, 83.Finn Linder
