Whitecaps ride Ryan Gauld, Yohei Takaoka, and two own goals to series-tying 3-0 victory over LAFC
Whitecaps ride Ryan Gauld, Yohei Takaoka, and two own goals to series-tying 3-0 victory over LAFC
Los Angeles FC’s Maxime Chanot, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, right, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Maxime Chanot, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, right, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Tristan Blackmon, front, and Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, top, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Mateusz Bogusz, front left, knocks Vancouver Whitecaps’ Sam Adekugbe off the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, reacts after being tackled by Los Angeles FC’s Eddie Segura during the second half of a first-round MLS Cup playoffs soccer match, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, left, scores against Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, front center, as Los Angeles FC’s Eddie Segura, bottom right, looks on during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld (25), Ranko Veselinovic (4), Brian White (24), Stuart Armstrong, back left, and Alessandro Schopf (8) celebrate after White’s goal against Los Angeles FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White (24) celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, front right, during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, right, jumps to get his head on the ball during the first half of Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps players are silhouetted as smoke from pyrotechnics hangs in the air before Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, front right, takes a free kick as, from top left to right, Los Angeles FC’s Aaron Long, Maxime Chanot, Ryan Hollingshead, Olivier Giroud, Timothy Tillman, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O’Brien, bottom left, defend during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, center, vies for the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, and Sebastian Berhalter, right, during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, right, dives to grab the ball that got past him during the first half of Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps players are silhouetted as smoke from pyrotechnics hangs in the air before Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
From top left to right, Los Angeles FC’s Aaron Long, Maxime Chanot, Ryan Hollingshead, Olivier Giroud, Timothy Tillman, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O’Brien, bottom left, defend against a free kick by Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld (not shown) as Whitecaps’ Tristan Blackmon, second from front right, and Ranko Veselinovic, front right, watch during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Fafa Picault, front left, and Los Angeles FC’s Timothy Tillman, back, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fromleft to right, Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ranko Veselinovic, Ali Ahmed, Tristan Blackmon, Sebastian Berhalter, back right, and Ryan Gauld celebrate after Gauld’s goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Maxime Chanot, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, right, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Maxime Chanot, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, right, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Maxime Chanot, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, right, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Maxime Chanot, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, right, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Tristan Blackmon, front, and Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, top, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Tristan Blackmon, front, and Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, top, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Mateusz Bogusz, front left, knocks Vancouver Whitecaps’ Sam Adekugbe off the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Mateusz Bogusz, front left, knocks Vancouver Whitecaps’ Sam Adekugbe off the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, reacts after being tackled by Los Angeles FC’s Eddie Segura during the second half of a first-round MLS Cup playoffs soccer match, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, reacts after being tackled by Los Angeles FC’s Eddie Segura during the second half of a first-round MLS Cup playoffs soccer match, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, left, scores against Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, front center, as Los Angeles FC’s Eddie Segura, bottom right, looks on during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, left, scores against Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, front center, as Los Angeles FC’s Eddie Segura, bottom right, looks on during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld (25), Ranko Veselinovic (4), Brian White (24), Stuart Armstrong, back left, and Alessandro Schopf (8) celebrate after White’s goal against Los Angeles FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld (25), Ranko Veselinovic (4), Brian White (24), Stuart Armstrong, back left, and Alessandro Schopf (8) celebrate after White’s goal against Los Angeles FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White (24) celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, front right, during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White (24) celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, front right, during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, right, jumps to get his head on the ball during the first half of Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, right, jumps to get his head on the ball during the first half of Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps players are silhouetted as smoke from pyrotechnics hangs in the air before Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps players are silhouetted as smoke from pyrotechnics hangs in the air before Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, front right, takes a free kick as, from top left to right, Los Angeles FC’s Aaron Long, Maxime Chanot, Ryan Hollingshead, Olivier Giroud, Timothy Tillman, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O’Brien, bottom left, defend during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, front right, takes a free kick as, from top left to right, Los Angeles FC’s Aaron Long, Maxime Chanot, Ryan Hollingshead, Olivier Giroud, Timothy Tillman, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O’Brien, bottom left, defend during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, center, vies for the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, and Sebastian Berhalter, right, during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, center, vies for the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, left, and Sebastian Berhalter, right, during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, right, dives to grab the ball that got past him during the first half of Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, right, dives to grab the ball that got past him during the first half of Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps players are silhouetted as smoke from pyrotechnics hangs in the air before Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps players are silhouetted as smoke from pyrotechnics hangs in the air before Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
From top left to right, Los Angeles FC’s Aaron Long, Maxime Chanot, Ryan Hollingshead, Olivier Giroud, Timothy Tillman, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O’Brien, bottom left, defend against a free kick by Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld (not shown) as Whitecaps’ Tristan Blackmon, second from front right, and Ranko Veselinovic, front right, watch during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
From top left to right, Los Angeles FC’s Aaron Long, Maxime Chanot, Ryan Hollingshead, Olivier Giroud, Timothy Tillman, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O’Brien, bottom left, defend against a free kick by Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld (not shown) as Whitecaps’ Tristan Blackmon, second from front right, and Ranko Veselinovic, front right, watch during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Fafa Picault, front left, and Los Angeles FC’s Timothy Tillman, back, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Fafa Picault, front left, and Los Angeles FC’s Timothy Tillman, back, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fromleft to right, Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ranko Veselinovic, Ali Ahmed, Tristan Blackmon, Sebastian Berhalter, back right, and Ryan Gauld celebrate after Gauld’s goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fromleft to right, Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ranko Veselinovic, Ali Ahmed, Tristan Blackmon, Sebastian Berhalter, back right, and Ryan Gauld celebrate after Gauld’s goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Vancouver got an early goal from a red-hot Ryan Gauld and two own goals from Western Conference top seed LAFC, Yohei Takaoka posted his third clean sheet in five postseason starts, and the Whitecaps breezed to a 3-0 victory on Sunday night to even their best-of-three first-round series for the MLS Cup.
Vancouver, the eighth seed in the West, jumped out to a 2-0 lead 13 minutes into the match and carried it into halftime on a goal by Gauld and an own goal by LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead.
Gauld gave the Whitecaps the lead with an unassisted goal off a deflection in the 10th minute. Gauld has five goals this postseason after not scoring in his first three playoff appearances. He had a hat trick in a 5-0 victory at home over the Portland Timbers in the wildcard round and scored the only goal for Vancouver in a 2-1 loss to LAFC in the series opener.
The only scoring in the second half came courtesy of an own goal from LAFC defender Eddie Segura in the 68th minute, four minutes after he subbed in for Maxime Chanot.
Takaoka finished with three saves for the Whitecaps.
Hugo Lloris saved one shot in his second postseason start for LAFC in his first season in the league.
LAFC beat the Whitecaps in Vancouver to finish off a sweep in the same round last season on its way to the conference championship.
LAFC entered having won seven in a row across all competitions, outscoring its opponents 16-5.
The Whitecaps were only 6-7-4 at home during the regular season and winless in their last four — including a 2-1 loss to LAFC — but outscored their two playoff opponents 8-0 in the victories.
Vancouver held LAFC’s Denis Bouanga in check after he scored four goals in his first three playoff matches against the Whitecaps.
LAFC will host the rubber match of the series on Friday.