Whitecaps Improved Play

The Vancouver Whitecaps gave up a late goal on Sunday night to the LA Galaxy in the first minute of injury time as Kai Koreniuk took a feed from Cristian Pavon and beat Caps keeper Even Bush for only goal of the match in a highly entertaining game between.

The two MLS rivals and despite the loss Vancouver remained in the 8th and final playoffs with four games still left in the regular season with 21 points Real Salt Lake tied with and one point up Houston Dynamo.

Vancouver and LA put on a very entertaining show for the fans in attendance on Sunday trading scoring chances in a playoff type atmosphere at Dignity Health Sports Park Sunday evening and both squads playing a tight exceptional defensive game limiting the scoring chances.

Vancouver came into the game on a two game winning streak after back to back wins on the road and appeared to be heading to run their undefeated streak to three games until the late strike by Kai Koreniuk Galaxy player gave his team a hard fought win over the Whitecaps and a tough loss for the guys.

Both keepers were exceptional standing up the offensive set-ups by Vancouver’s and LA’s offence sacrificing their bodies in blocking the shots or getting a hand on the ball to deflect it wide.

Vancouver came close to opening the scoring in the 19th minute off the foot of best chance as Galaxy keeper Johnathon Klinsmann was forced to his left to make the save.

The  second half was also  tight marking by the players on the pitch not leaving much room for offensive rushes as the goalkeeping battle between Caps Evan Bush and LA”s Johnathon Klinsmann were putting a wall and stopping everything fired at them from all angles.

LA’s Pavilion hit a perfect cross finding teammate Koreniuk and sending the ball to the back of

the net past Evan Bush in the 91st minute giving Los Angeles the slim victory over a very tough Whitecaps squad that deserved better.

Vancouver have four games left in the regular season and if they score points  in the final four matches they stand a good chance to make the postseason something they have in the last three years for the franchise starting with a match against the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night at Providence Park kickoff time 7:00m  PT live on TSN and TSN Radio 1040.

Vancouver’s Ranko Veselino was acquired by the Whitecaps FC on a permanent transfer from the Serbian Superl iga FK and signed a contract through 2023. Russell Teibert played in his 180 career MLS game for Vancouver on Saturday night surpassing former club holder Jordan Harvey also Cristian Gutierrez played in his first match after missing four starts with an ankle injury contusion.

Thanks to the Vancouver Whitecaps for the following listed below:

MATCH DETAILS

VWFC Man of the Match: Evan Bush,    Referee: Victor Rivas

Scoring Summary

90’+1′ – LA – Kai Koreniuk (Cristian Pavón)

Statistics

Possession: LA 45.4% – VAN 54.6%,    Shots: LA 18 – VAN 7

Shots on Goal: LA 5 – VAN 5,               Saves: LA 4 – VAN 4

Fouls: LA 10 – VAN 10,                         Offsides: LA 1 – VAN 2

Corners: LA 8 – VAN 3

Cautions

45’+1′ – LA – Perry Kitchen

89′ – VAN – Russell Teibert 

90’+2′ – LA – Carlos Harvey

LA Galaxy

33.Jonathan Klinsmann; 22.Julian Araujo, 5.Daniel Steres ©, 21.Giancarlo González, 3.Emiliano Insúa; 17.Sebastian Lletget (28.Kai Koreniuk 87′), 2.Perry Kitchen, 16.Sacha Kljestan; 26.Efraín Álvarez (67.Carlos Harvey 78′), 11.Yony González (14.Chicharito 50′), 10.Cristian Pavón

Substitutes not used

1.David Bingham, 19.Diedie Traore, 20.Nicholas DePuy, 27.Emil Cuello, 29.Ethan Zubak, 31.Gordon Wild

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

30.Evan Bush; 28.Jake Nerwinski (14.Theo Bair 90’+2′), 4.Ranko Veselinović, 22.Érik Godoy, 53.Ali Adnan (3.Cristián Gutiérrez 80′); 11.Cristian Dájome, 55.Michael Baldisimo (27.Ryan Raposo 71′), 17.Leonard Owusu, 31.Russell Teibert ©; 12.Fredy Montero, 9. Lucas Cavallini

Substitutes not used

1.Bryan Meredith, 13.Derek Cornelius, 15.Andy Rose, 32.Patrick Metcalfe, 62.Damiano Pecile, 87.Tosaint Ricketts