Gauld continues MVP level as ‘Caps go atop Cascadia Cup standings

• Whitecaps FC have now won three of their last four road matches in all competitions
• With the win, Whitecaps FC moved into first place in the 2023 Cascadia Cup standings. If Seattle and Portland draw next Saturday, the ‘Caps would claim the Cascadia Cup and tie Seattle with the most among the three clubs with seven
• Whitecaps FC will play their final Cascadia Cup match of the season on Saturday, October 7 at Seattle Sounders FC. A win or draw in that match would also clinch the Cascadia Cup
• With two goals and an assist, Ryan Gauld now has 10 goals and eight assists in his last 13 matches in all competitions
• Brian White set a new career high with 13 goals scored in all competitions. White is now tied for third all-time for Whitecaps FC goals in MLS regular season play with 25 – equal to former captain Pedro Morales and one behind Fredy Montero. Camilo Sanvezzo holds the record with 39
• Ali Ahmed made his first start for Whitecaps FC since May 24 in the Canadian Championship semifinal at Pacific FC
• Sam Adekugbe made his first start since returning to Whitecaps FC. His last MLS start was on April 30, 2016 at New York City FC
• Russell Teibert made his 300th appearance for the club in all competitions

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PORTLAND, OR – It was a feisty affair in Portland, Oregon, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC battled to a thrilling 3-2 victory over bitter Cascadian rivals Portland Timbers on Saturday.

2024 Season Memberships for the 50th Anniversary season go on-sale September 5. Fans who place a deposit today can receive a 2023 MLS Season Pass on Apple TV ($129 value, limited availability).

The game began with both sides vying for early control. Portland would try to push the ‘Caps into their own half, but a giveaway in midfield inside 13 minutes would give Whitecaps FC their first chance of the game. Sam Adekugbe would drill a cross across goal, allowing Alessandro Schöpf’s first-time shot to clip off of Brian White and fall into the path of Ryan Gauld to tap home.

Portland would try to get back into the match, with Felipe Mora getting a good opportunity off a set-piece, but his header sailed over the bar. Dairon Asprilla would try the acrobatic with a bicycle kick on the half hour to level the score, but it too would rise over Yohei Takaoka’s net.

But less than 10 minutes from halftime, Whitecaps FC would double their lead. Gauld would break down the left and whip a cross into the back post for Brian White to rise above the rest and nod it into the back of the net to make it 2-0.

White would come ever-so-close to making it 3-0 from another Gauld cross, this time from a corner. The cross would deflect off Tristan Blackmon, bounce off White’s head and clip the top of the crossbar and over. That would be the last effort before the halftime break.

Portland would start the second half as they went on in the first, controlling much of the possession. However, they would get their breakthrough in the 53rd minute as a high cross by Asprilla would be met by Mora. The Timber number nine would leap over his two markers and loop it into the top corner to halve the deficit.

Whitecaps FC would create more opportunities afterwards, and would win a penalty minutes later through Richie Laryea. Laryea would be taken down after contact from Evander, and the referee whistled and pointed to the spot. Gauld would step up and expertly dispatch his penalty past an outstretched David Bingham to restore the ‘Caps two-goal advantage.

Mosquera would force a huge save from Takaoka with just over 20 minutes to go, striking the ball from distance. His effort would be parried wide from the Japanese keeper, in what was his first big save of the night. Evander would come close not five minutes later, side footing a shot towards goal that was crucially blocked by Ranko Vesilinović.

Portland would drag it back to a one-goal game with five minutes to go. Sebastian Blanco would drill a ball across the ‘Caps’ box and find Evander all alone, allowing him to redirect it past Takaoka to make it 3-2. Portland would continue to throw everything forward, trying to equalize in the dying moments.

The ‘Caps would hold firm and see out the three points in Providence Park.

Whitecaps FC are back in action on Wednesday, August 30 against Chicago Fire at Soldier Field in Illinois at 5:30 p.m. PT. The next home match for the ‘Caps is on Saturday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m. PT against DC United. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.

MATCH DETAILS

VWFC GE Appliances Player of Quality: Ryan Gauld
Attendance: 22,674
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza

Scoring Summary
13’ – VAN – Ryan Gauld (Brian White)
36’ – VAN – Brian White (Ryan Gauld)
53’ – POR – Felipe Mora (Dairon Asprilla)
60’ – VAN – Ryan Gauld (penalty kick)
85’ – POR – Evander (Sebastian Blanco)

Statistics
Possession: POR 63.8% – VAN 36.2%
Shots: POR 17 – VAN 9
Shots on Goal: POR 5 – VAN 3
Saves: POR 0 – VAN 3
Fouls: POR 17 – VAN 11
Offsides: POR 0 – VAN 3
Corners: POR 6 – VAN 3

Cautions
34’ – POR – Evander
51’ – POR – Dario Župarić
63’ – POR – Dairon Asprilla
65’ – VAN – Andrés Cubas
90’+5 – VAN – Richie Laryea
90’+5 – POR – Franck Boli

Portland Timbers
1.David Bingham; 29.Juan Mosquera, 2.Miguel Araujo (18.Zac McGraw 83’), 13.Dario Župarić, 5.Claudio Bravo; 22.Cristhian Paredes (80.Antony 79’), 21.Diego Chará, 20.Evander; 27.Dairon Asprilla (30.Santiago Moreno 66’), 9.Felipe Mora (7.Franck Boli 66’), 23.Yimmi Chará (10.Sebastian Blanco 66’)

Substitutes not used
31.Aljaž Ivačič, 6.Bryan Acosta, 15.Eric Miller, 33.Larrys Mabiala

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
18.Yohei Takaoka; 23.Javain Brown (2.Mathías Laborda 79’), 4.Ranko Veselinović, 6.Tristan Blackmon; 20.Andrés Cubas; 7.Richie Laryea (45.Pedro Vite 89’), 8.Alessandro Schöpf (16.Sebastian Berhalter 79’), 22.Ali Ahmed, 3.Sam Adekugbe (27.Ryan Raposo 61’); 24.Brian White, 25.Ryan Gauld (31.Russell Teibert 89’)

Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 9.Sergio Córdova, 26.J.C. Ngando, 29.Simon Becher