The Whitecaps name has a long and proud history, dating back to its usage in the NASL of the 1970s and 80s.
Since becoming an MLS franchise, the Caps have done quick work in adding to the legacies of that name and soccer in British Columbia as whole. Whether you are a newer, MLS-era fan or are singing loud with the Southsiders every match, here five Whitecaps matches we’ll all remember forever.
March 19, 2011: Whitecaps 4-2 Toronto FC
The Whitecaps’ MLS reincarnation got off to as good a start as imaginable. On a sunny spring day at Empire Field, the new-look Caps looked like old pros as Eric Hassli put them ahead early for the club’s first goal in their MLS history.
After DeRo equalised for TFC, Terry Dunfield, Atiba Harris, and again Hassli all found goal to help eventually secure a 4-2 win. The historic victory was definitely one to savor, as it was another three months before Caps players’ supporters had another to celebrate.
August 26, 2015: Whitecaps 2-0 Montreal
After finishing runner-up five times in six years, the Canadian Championship was seemingly a cursed competition for the Whitecaps (both in MLS and the USSF Division 2). Despite being the top seed, Vancouver only just snuck by Edmonton FC in the semis, pitting them against Montreal in the final.
Two late Impact goals saw the first leg end 2-2, making the return leg a winner-takes-all clash at BC Place. Victor Cabrera getting sent off in the 30th proved disastrous for Montreal, as Octavio Rivero soon after put Vancouver up 1-0. Tim Parker added one of his own after the break and the 4-2 aggregate victory finally allowed the Caps to lift the elusive Voyageurs Cup.
May 14, 2016: Toronto FC 3-4 Whitecaps
In their only league meeting with Toronto for 2016, the Caps were huge +694 underdogs at Canadian online sportsbooks. Many soccer fans chose to read the thorough sports betting guide on OnlineGambling.ca before picking a sportsbook but the result of the game was completely unexpected and would surprise both supporters and bettors. After shooting out to a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes, TFC fought back and by the 70th minute the score was level again.
Kekuta Manneh and Pedro Morales then restored Vancouver’s two-goal lead in the span of three minutes, but Fraser Aird’s second bookable offense sent him to the bench and left the Caps down a man. A goal off a TFC corner reduced the lead to one again, but Vancouver held on to win in a tense final 15 minutes.
October 23, 2016: Whitecaps 4-1 Timbers
On the final matchday of the 2016 regular season, defending MLS Cup Champions Portland needed a win against Vancouver to secure a place in the playoffs, and at least a draw to lift the Cascadia Cup for the first time since 2012. For Vancouver, a win would tie them atop the table on points but give them the title on goal differential.
In the opening half-hour, Giles Barnes scored his first two goals for the club and less than 30 minutes later Nicolas Mezquida and Diego Valeri each added one of their own for a 4-1 final. The win gave Vancouver their third Cup win in the last four years and dashed their west coast rivals’ playoff hopes.
March 2, 2017: Whitecaps 2-0 New York Red Bulls
The Caps finished the group stage of the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League with the best record of all clubs, cruising through Group C with a 4-0-0 record. In the quarterfinals, they were slated to play the New York Red Bulls, who won Group F with a .500 mark.
But NYRB hung tough in the first leg, equalizing in the second half for a 1-1 finish. In leg two at BC Place, sixteen-year old Alphonso Davies scored in the fifth minute to give the Caps the early lead. Fredy Montero, in his club debut, added an insurance goal in the 70th that sent Vancouver thru to the semi-finals, keeping their hopes of becoming the first MLS club to win the competition intact.
