MARBELLA, SPAIN – Brian White scored in his first match of preseason after returning from making his debut with the United States men's national team before two late goals saw the 'Caps fall 2-1 to Serbian SuperLiga club FK TSC on Saturday.
Vanni Sartini deployed his side in a 3-3-1-3 to start, with Ryan Gauld, Damir Kreilach, and Fafà Picault up top. Serbian international Ranko Veselinović wore the captain's armband.
The 'Caps were on the front foot early. A corner kick from the recently re-signed Gauld led to a deflected shot from Picault, but a good save kept it out.
Yohei Takaoka was called into action on 25 minutes and 36 minutes, making two good saves to keep the score level. The Japanese goalkeeper has yet to concede a goal through his three preseason appearances so far.
White, on as a halftime substitute for Kreilach, would make a quick impact. After getting a shot off high in the 47th minute, he threatened again with a header from a Sebastian Berhalter cross on 55 minutes.
Four minutes later Tristan Blackmon headed in a Gauld free kick, only for it to be called offside, before Takaoka again held firm with a save at the other end.
Eight changes were made to the lineup after 62 minutes, with only halftime substitutes MathÃas Laborda, Levonte Johnson, and White remaining on the pitch.
On 67 minutes White found his goal. A whipped in free kick from LuÃs Martins was tapped in by the 'Caps returning top scorer to make it 1-0 for Whitecaps FC.
FK TSC would find two late goals in the final 10 minutes to take a 2-1 final score.
The ‘Caps will wrap-up the camp against Norwegian side FK Haugesund on Tuesday, January 30, with kickoff set for 5 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. local time.
MATCH DETAILS
Scoring Summary
67’ – VAN – Brian White (LuÃs Martins)
83’ – FK TSC
89’ – FK TSC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Starting XI
18.Yohei Takaoka; 23.Javain Brown (2.MathÃas Laborda HT), 4.Ranko Veselinović ©, 6.Tristan Blackmon; 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 20.Andrés Cubas, 27.Ryan Raposo; 8.Alessandro Schöpf; 92.Fafà Picault (28.Levonte Johnson HT), 19.Damir Kreilach (24.Brian White HT), 25.Ryan Gauld
62nd minute
50.Joe Bendik+; 2.MathÃas Laborda, 48.Belal Halbouni+, 14.LuÃs Martins; 41.Eliot Goldthorp+, 59.Jeevan Badwal^, 92.Jay Herdman^; 26.J.C. Ngando; 42.Lowell Wright^, 24.Brian White, 28.Levonte Johnson
^ WFC2 & Academy camp invitee
+ Unsigned SuperDraft selection or trialist
