CARSON, CA – Brian White scored a hat-trick as Vancouver Whitecaps FC wrapped up their California preseason trip with a 4-2 win at LA Galaxy.
White opened the scoring in the ninth minute, receiving a through ball from Ryan Gauld and calmly finishing low past the goalkeeper.
White then made it 2-0 in the 41st minute. A nice cross-field ball from Déiber Caicedo found Javain Brown, who hit a nice low ball to White for the finish.
The Galaxy pulled one back in the second half on a goal from Samuel Grandsir on a cross from Julián Araujo.
LA then tied the match on 74 minutes on a goal from Farai Mutatu.
Giovanni Aguilar gave the 'Caps the lead in the 85th minute, finishing a ball into the box from White. It was the second straight preseason match with a goal for Aguilar, a second round pick in this year's 2022 MLS SuperDraft.
White then finished his hat-trick in the 88th minute. Florian Jungwirth played a ball forward, Caicedo was stopped by the goalkeeper and White put in the rebound.
Whitecaps FC will now return to Vancouver and be back on the training pitch on Friday. On Saturday, the club will host a Blue vs. White intersquad match at BC Place, which is at capacity.
The following Saturday, February 26 at 12:30 p.m. PT, the 'Caps open up their MLS season at Columbus Crew, live on TSN. On March 5, the boys are back at BC Place for their home opener against defending MLS Cup champions New York City FC at 3 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
Scoring summary
9' – VAN – Brian White (Ryan Gauld)
41' – VAN – Brian White (Déiber Caicedo, Javain Brown)
54' – LAG – Samuel Grandsir (Julian Araujo)
74' – LAG – Farai Mutatu
85' – VAN – Giovanni Aguilar (Brian White)
88' – VAN – Brian White
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Thomas Hasal; 26.Florian Jungwirth, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 28.Jake Nerwinski (6.Tristan Blackmon 63'); 16.Sebastian Berhalter (66.Giovanni Aguilar 80'); 23.Javain Brown (3.Cristián Gutiérrez 63'), 45.Pedro Vite (17.Leonard Owusu 67'), 25.Ryan Gauld (33.Michael Baldisimo HT), 11.Cristian Dájome (51.Ali Ahmed 88'); 24.Brian White, 7.Déiber Caicedo
Substitutes
60.Isaac Boehmer, 22.Érik Godoy, 49.Emiliano Brienza
