August 31, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release
AUSTIN, TX – After playing over 100 minutes in the blazing Texas heat, Vancouver Whitecaps FC secured a gutsy 1-0 win over Austin FC to stay in the hunt for the top spots in the Western Conference.
The match started with Whitecaps FC looking dangerous. Ryan Gauld sent Fafa Picault into the box with a clever through ball. Picault hit it first time and it took a slight deflection as it whiskered by the far post. Ranko Veselinović then was inches away himself from getting the ‘Caps on the scoreline from the following corner, heading it just wide of the post.
Pedro Vite kept the Whitecaps FC pressure up a little while later, going for the volley in the second phase of a free kick and bouncing it just past the far post. Andrés Cubas tried his luck from 25 yards out and forced Brad Stuver into a big save, pushing it wide at full stretch.
After a period of hard-fought jostling for possession, Mathías Laborda came close to opening the scoreline in the 42nd minute. Gauld served up another wonderful cross from the back post for Laborda to rise up and meet, but just got a little too underneath it to get it on frame.
At the end of a thoroughly dominant first half, Whitecaps FC thought they finally broke through Austin FC right before halftime, as Gauld curled an effort into the side-netting, but it was called back due to an offside in the build-up. That would be the last action as the referee called for the break.
After waiting for over an hour, the ‘Caps finally broke the deadlock thanks to a stunning strike from Vite in the 70th minute. A clever one-two on the edge of the box between Vite and Gauld set-up the Ecuadorian to tee up a vicious strike that blasted into the back of the net, giving Stuver no shot.
Ali Ahmed almost sealed the deal right at the end of regular time, finding space in the middle of the box but his goal-bound shot was deflected wide for a corner.
In the end, Whitecaps FC finished a top performance from start to finish to secure another all-important three points on the road as they head into the business end of the season.
Whitecaps FC are back in action for their next two matches. First up, next Saturday, September 7 they host FC Dallas at BC Place at 7:30 p.m. PT on Next Gen Night. Then, on Saturday, September 14 they host San Jose Earthquakes in the club’s ’90s Match. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
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