‘caps Move Into First Place In The Western Conference

April 6, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release

VANCOUVER, BC – It was a statement win from Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Saturday, as they put four goals past Toronto FC to move into first place in the Western Conference on the ‘Caps third annual Vaisakhi Celebration Match.

The ‘Caps began the game brightly, nearly scoring inside the first three minutes after Brian White put a wonderful ball straight across goal, just missing the foot of Ryan Gauld.

It didn’t take much longer for the ‘Caps to open the scoring as White won the ball back in the TFC final third by dispossessing Deybi Flores, and bore down on goal to score his 42nd goal for the ‘Caps in all competitions. That goal made him the team’s second top all-time scorer of the MLS era.

Toronto nearly levelled in the 18th minute, after Deandre Kerr smacked an effort off the post for TFC, with the ball only narrowly getting cleared. Kerr forced a save out of Yohei Takaoka less than ten minutes later, after muscling his way through on goal. White then nearly got his second right after, getting a touch as he raced past Johnson, but unable to get his shot away before the ‘keeper palmed it out.

The ‘Caps did make it 2-0 in the 29th minute, thanks to another headed goal from Fafà Picault. Alessandro Schöpf was the provider, as his left footed cross found Picault perfectly at the back. The Haitian winger then rose the highest to score his 50th MLS regular season goal.

Schöpf nearly went from provider to scorer as he got on the end of a lofted Ali Ahmed cross and volleyed it sweetly, forcing Johnson into another save. That would be the story of the first half, as Whitecaps FC kept the pressure on until the break.

Another beautiful play in the 72nd almost gave Whitecaps FC a third. A one-touch passing sequence inside the Toronto box between Gauld and Picault nearly allowed White to backheel it past Johnson, but the American ‘keeper scrambled back in time to gather the ball before it crossed the line.

Gauld, however, sealed the deal by scoring the ‘Caps third in the 81st minute, sprinting from inside his own half to get away from two markers and cooly slot it past Johnson.

Ryan Raposo, coming off the bench, forced Johnson into yet another save, trying to squeeze through a shot from a close angle after good work from Picault to send him through on the right.

On the ensuing corner kick, Raposo set up Ranko Veselinović for the fourth, whipping a cross in near post for the Serbian…