CARSON, CA - A second-half goal from Tosaint Ricketts lifted Vancouver Whitecaps FC to a 1-0 road victory over LA Galaxy on Saturday evening, spoiling the highly-anticipated home debut of Mexican superstar Chicharito at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The 'Caps received a solid team effort across the board to secure their first win of the MLS season, including from Janio Bikel, Ryan Raposo, and Leonard Owusu, who each made their MLS debut on the evening.
Bikel got the start at right back in place of the injured Jake Nerwinski, and was instrumental in keeping Cristian Pavón off the score sheet for the first time in 10 league matches dating back to last season. Raposo came off the bench to provide a spark and help set up the game-winning goal, while Owusu pitched in defensively to seal the clean sheet for the 'Caps.
All the ‘Caps hard work came together in the 74th minute when Raposo’s clever through ball sent Ali Adnan free down the left side of the Galaxy box. Adnan smartly rode a challenge and picked out Ricketts in the middle of the box. A calmly side-footed shot found the bottom corner and sent Ricketts running off in celebration with his teammates. Ricketts, starting in place of Yordy Reyna who was out with a common cold, now has two goals for the 'Caps since joining the club last summer, both coming at LA.
Only one minute later, Galaxy’s Joe Corona received his second yellow card and LA would be forced to play the last 15 minutes of regulation time with 10 men.
With only a few minutes remaining, Raposo played another brilliantly weighted through ball to put Ricketts in behind the Galaxy defence, and a clumsy tackle led to a penalty for Vancouver. Unfortunately, Lucas Cavallini’s shot was saved by David Bingham to hold the ‘Caps to just the one-goal advantage.
Vancouver held off the hosts through added time and left Southern California as 1-0 victors.
The ‘Caps are back home next weekend when they host Colorado Rapids at BC Place on Saturday, March 14. Visit whitecapsfc.com for ticket information.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC Man of the Match: Tosaint Ricketts
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Attendance: 26,382
Scoring Summary
74’ – VAN – Tosaint Ricketts (Ali Adnan, Ryan Raposo)
Statistics
Possession: LA 54.2% – VAN 45.8%
Shots: LA 12 – VAN 12
Shots on Goal: LA 1 – VAN 4
Saves: LA 3 – VAN 1
Fouls: LA 23 – VAN 7
Offsides: LA 0 – VAN 2
Corners: LA 6 – VAN 2
Cautions
45’ – LA – Aleksander Katai
68’ – LA – Joe Corona
75’ – LA – Joe Corona
88’ – LA – David Bingham
Ejection
75’ – LA – Joe Corona
LA Galaxy
1.David Bingham; 25.Rolf Feltscher, 20.Nicholas DePuy, 21.Giancarlo González, 3.Emiliano Insúa; 8.Jonathan Dos Santos © (2.Perry Kitchen HT); 7.Aleksander Katai (17.Sebastian Lletget 59'), 15.Joe Corona, 16.Sacha Kljestan (29.Ethan Zubak 83'), 10.Cristian Pavón; 14.Chicharito
Substitutes not used
18.Justin vom Steeg, 5.Daniel Steres, 22.Julian Araujo, 31.Gordon Wild
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
16.Maxime Crépeau; 19.Janio Bikel, 20.Jasser Khmiri, 15.Andy Rose, 53.Ali Adnan; 11.Cristian Dájome (27.Ryan Raposo 67'), 6.Inbeom Hwang, 31.Russell Teibert ©, 7.David Milinković (17.Leonard Owusu 84'); 87.Tosaint Ricketts (12.Fredy Montero 89'), 9.Lucas Cavallini
Substitutes not used
1.Bryan Meredith, 3.Cristián Gutiérrez, 13.Derek Cornelius, 56.Georges Mukumbilwa
