- VWFC welcomed a crowd of over 20,000 fans to BC Place for the 27th consecutive MLS match
- Whitecaps FC continue to lead the MLS Western Conference with 58 points (17W-8L-7D). The ‘Caps can clinch first place in the Western Conference with a win over Seattle Sounders FC at BC Place this coming Sunday, November 1 at 1:30 p.m. PCT
- Since Jesper Sørensen took over in January 2025, the Blue and White have scored 183 goals across all competitions and posted a 45W-23L-28D record. Vancouver remains unbeaten when leading at the half (27W-0L-5D) under Sørensen. The team has scored three or more goals in 32 of Sørensen’s 96 games at the helm (33%). The ‘Caps have a 27W-10L-9D home record across all competitions, scoring 110 goals and recording a +60 goal differential. VWFC are also 32W-1L-5D record when scoring first in MLS play under Sørensen
- Aleksa Cvetkovic recorded his first goal and third goal contribution since making his club debut in September (1G, 2A)
- Brian White scored the 100th goal of his MLS career, becoming only the 17th player in league history to do so. White added to his single-season career high with his 18th goal of the MLS season, 19th across all competitions, and his 23rd goal contribution (19G, 4A). White now has 98 goals in his VWFC career
- MLS Comeback Player of the Year candidate Ryan Gauld scored his sixth goal, recorded his third assist, and ninth goal contribution across all competitions since returning from injury after the FIFA World Cup break (6G, 3A)
- Bruno Caicedo scored his sixth goal of the season across all competitions, and his 10th goal contribution (6G, 4A)
- Édier Ocampo recorded his team-leading 11th assist of the season across all competitions, and 13th goal contribution (2G, 11A)
- Oliver Larraz recorded a career high fifth assist of the MLS season, and sixth goal contribution (1G, 5A)
- Yadaly Diaby recorded his second assist since making his club debut in September, and fourth goal contribution (2G, 2A)
- Mathías Laborda recorded his fifth assist of the season, and his ninth goal contribution (4G, 5A)
- Rayan Elloumi reorded his first assist of the season, and fourth goal contribution across all competitions (3G, 1A)
- Ralph Priso recorded his first assist of the season, and second goal contribution (1G, 1A)
VANCOUVER, BC – After five straight matches on the road, Vancouver Whitecaps FC finally returned to BC Place on Wednesday night and secured another convincing home victory, defeating San Diego FC 4-1 to put themselves four points clear at the top of the Western Conference.
It was nearly a fast start for Whitecaps FC, after Ryan Gauld won a foul outside the box inside two minutes and Oliver Larraz crossed it towards the back post for Yadaly Diaby to head just wide of the mark.
Larraz almost took it upon himself to score the opener just a few minutes later, striking a vicious shot from 30 yards out that smashed off the crossbar and off the foot of San Diego FC ‘keeper Pablo Sisniega before bouncing out.
The ‘Caps had to pull out the stops to deny San Diego the opening goal in the 14th minute, after Cedric Bakambu broke through on goal, but MLS Goalkeeper of the Year contender Yohei Takaoka made a great save to deny Bakambu his first shot, before Mathías Laborda made an unbelievable goal-line headed clearance to deny his second chance.
Rayan Elloumi then had a look on goal in the 20th minute, after the forward’s head met the end of a Édier Ocampo cross in the box, but his effort curled over the bar.
After all of their early pressure, Whitecaps FC took the lead in the 24th minute through Aleksa Cvetković. Gauld and Laborda combined on the right-hand side of the box to set up Cvetković for his first Whitecaps FC goal.
The ‘Caps continued to press forward in search of a second, and had a handful of half-chances as the half wore on, before Brian White scored four minutes before the break. Larraz whipped a stunning cross from the left towards the back post, where White rose the highest and flicked it past Sisniega to make it 2-0, and mark a hundred career MLS goals for the forward.
Elloumi nearly made it 3-0 right before the referee blew for the half after powering a header towards goal, but Sisniega did well to hold onto it.
The second half saw a more robust start from San Diego, keeping their shape and pushing to pull a goal back.
However, after a quiet first 20 minutes, the ‘Caps were able to make it 3-0 through their captain. Ocampo crossed it towards the edge of the box for Elloumi to try a first-time volley. The striker’s effort bounced off the ground and flew right into the path of Gauld to head home for his sixth goal of the season.
Whitecaps FC then made it 4-0 in the 76th minute, through substitute Bruno Caicedo. The play began with Takaoka making an impressive reaction save to deny San Diego a way back. Ralph Priso, also fresh off the bench, booted it forward for Bruno Caicedo to latch onto and sprint down towards goal. The Ecuadorian took it on himself and slotted it past Sisniega to score his sixth of the season.
San Diego were able to pull one back in the 83rd minute, after Onni Valakari flicked a free kick past Takaoka.
Elloumi came close to making it five for the ‘Caps right at the end after a pair of chances running in behind, but San Diego were able to get in the way.
In the end, the ‘Caps completed a commanding performance as they head towards the end of the regular season.
Whitecaps FC are back in action this coming Sunday, November 1, hosting Cascadian rivals Seattle Sounders FC in the last regular season home match of the year, which is also the ‘Caps’ annual Fan Appreciation Match, presented by Chevrolet. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets. Tickets for the first home match of the MLS Cup Playoffs are also on sale now at ticketmaster.ca/whitecaps.
MATCH DETAILS
Attendance: 21,718
Referee: Joe Dickerson
ERDINGER Man of the Match: Aleksa Cvetković
Scoring Summary
24’ – VAN – Aleksa Cvetković (Mathías Laborda, Ryan Gauld)
41’ – VAN – Brian White (Oliver Larraz, Yadaly Diaby)
66’ – VAN – Ryan Gauld (Rayan Elloumi, Édier Ocampo)
76’ – VAN – Bruno Caicedo (Ralph Priso)
83’ – SD – Onni Valakari (David Vazquez)
Statistics
Possession: VAN 47.6% – SD 52.4%
Shots: VAN 14 – SD 17
Shots on Goal: VAN 8 – SD 6
Saves: VAN 4 – SD 4
Fouls: VAN 19 – SD 8
Offsides: VAN 2 – SD 4
Corners: VAN 8 – SD 3
Cautions
2’ – SD – Manu Duah
55’ – SD – Jeppe Tverskov
82’ – VAN – Tate Johnson
90’+1 – VAN – Rayan Elloumi
90’+4 – VAN – Rayan Elloumi
Ejection
90’+4 – VAN – Rayan Elloumi
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 18.Édier Ocampo, 2.Mathías Laborda, 33.Tristan Blackmon (4.Ranko Veselinović 74’), 28.Tate Johnson (29.Mihail Gherasimencov 83’); 25.Ryan Gauld (13.Thomas Müller 74’), 23.Aleksa Cvetković, 8.Oliver Larraz (6.Ralph Priso 67’), 77.Yadaly Diaby (14.Bruno Caicedo 67’); 24.Brian White, 19.Rayan Elloumi
Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 22.Kwasi Poku, 41.Nikola Djordjevic, 59.Jeevan Badwal
San Diego FC
13.Pablo Sisniega; 33.Oscar Verhoeven, 26.Manu Duah, 97.Christopher McVey, 5.Kieran Sargeant; 6.Jeppe Tverskov (8.Onni Valakari 75’), 20.Anibal Godoy (70.Alejandro Alvarado 62’), 12.Gabriel Pirani; 10.Anders Dreyer (19.David Vazquez 75’), 94.Cedric Bakambu (14.Bryan Zamblé 62’), 90.Amahl Pellegrino (7.Marcus Ingvartsen 62’)
Substitutes not used
1.CJ Dos Santos, 3.Dagur Thórhallsson, 25.Ian Pilcher, 36.David Mimbang
