April 14, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release
VANCOUVER, BC – On a cool April evening, Vancouver Whitecaps FC put in a big second half, but ultimately succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Los Angeles Galaxy in what was a thrilling match in front of 25,026 fans at BC Place.
The match pitted the top two sides in the Western Conference standings, with the Galaxy moving into first place with the result and the ‘Caps now in second.
It was an end-to-end start to the game. Gabriel Pec forced Yohei Takaoka into a full-stretch stop inside 10 minutes, cutting inside and unleashing a lethal curling effort.
Brian White nearly got the opener just inside half an hour, latching onto a beautifully over the top floated ball by Ryan Gauld, but his low strike at full sprint just went a whisker wide.
At the other end of the pitch, Joseph Paintsil was a threat all night long for the visitors. On 37 minutes, the Ghanaian tried to get the better of Takaoka while picking the ball up on the right, but his quick turn shot was dragged wide of the Japanese keeper’s net.
Despite a scoreless first half, the match opened up in the second half.
The Galaxy had the first chance, as Pec managed to rise above everyone else and head an effort against the crossbar, with Delgado’s follow-up shot pulled wide.
White then had another big chance to break the deadlock, being put in behind one-on-one on John McCarthy, but the Galaxy keeper denied the striker from point-blank.
Soon after that chance, the Galaxy came back the other way to open the scoring on the break. Takaoka came up with another big save to deny Pec inside the box, but it would fall for Dejan Joveljić to tap it into an open net.
Minutes later, White was back threating the Galaxy goal. The American almost caught McCarthy out in the 60th minute, dispossessing the keeper through some intense pressing, but was unable to slide it past him to level the match.
Alessandro Schöpf then forced McCarthy into another snap save as his volley inside the box almost nestled into the side-netting.
White would finally get his goal after 77 minutes, powering a header from a Gauld corner to tie the match 1-1.
The drama was not done though. LA would hit back moments later, with Puig threading a ball through in behind for Paintsil to run on to and tuck home for the 2-1 lead.
The Galaxy would make it three goals two minutes later, with Paintsil sprinting down the right side and driving it across goal for substitute Diego Fagúndez to tap in.
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