- Whitecaps FC played their first match ever at Snapdragon Stadium
- The 'Caps remain one point back of San Diego FC for first place in the Western Conference, with a game in hand
- Whitecaps FC are now 11W-0L-1D in MLS play when scoring the first goal, and 8W-0L-1D when leading at halftime
- Ranko Veselinović made his 200th appearance for Whitecaps FC, tying Jordan Harvey for second all-time in the club's MLS era
SAN DIEGO, CA – It was a tense battle at Snapdragon Stadium, befitting of the top two teams in the Western Conference, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC were held to a 1-1 draw against San Diego FC in the last match of five straight MLS games away from home.
Whitecaps FC almost began with a bang, after Brian White was sent through behind less than 30 seconds into the match. White took the ball past the onrushing San Diego FC ‘keeper Pablo Sisniega, but his left-footed shot went just wide of the mark.
Mathías Laborda also came close to putting the ‘Caps ahead in the eighth minute, after he rose highest off a corner to head an effort towards goal, but his shot was mere inches away from hitting the top corner.
Yohei Takaoka made a big save in the 23rd minute, denying Anders Dreyer from slotting it past him inside the box.
35 minutes in, Édier Ocampo tried his luck from 25-yards out, forcing Sisniega to go full stretch to palm it behind. That, however, was a sign of things to come.
After 40 minutes, Sebastian Berhalter sprung Ocampo again, and his shot inside the box was palmed into the path of Laborda. The Uruguayan's ensuing shot was deflected in by Manu Duah, going down as an own goal on the San Diego FC defender.
San Diego came out strong in the second half. After a lengthy period of battling for control, Takaoka had to make another big save to deny Chucky Lozano a long-range goal in the 70th minute.
A few minutes later, Jayden Nelson got sent through on goal by Berhalter after a quick ‘Caps counterattack, but before he could pull the trigger, Duah stuck a leg in to take the chance away.
Nelson was at the heart of it again moments later, slipping Brian White in behind the San Diego FC defence. White did well once again to take it past Sisniega, but his rolling shot from a tight angle went agonizingly past the goalline and went out for a goal-kick.
San Diego FC did equalize in the 79th minute, after Ian Pilcher scored from inside the box.
Not long after, Takaoka made yet another great save, flicking over a goal-bound header off a corner.
Whitecaps FC had a brilliant chance to deservedly take all three points right at the death, as Daniel Ríos controlled a ball inside the San Diego box and drilled it towards goal, but Sisniega just did enough by sticking his leg out to deny the goal.
That would prove to be the last play of the evening, as Whitecaps FC took home a valuable road point to stay within striking distance of first place.
Whitecaps FC are back in action next Saturday, July 26 as they return to BC Place to host Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Attendance: 27,418
Referee: Alexis Da Silva
Scoring Summary
40’ – VAN – Manu Duah (own goal)
79’ – SD – Ian Pilcher
Statistics
Possession: SD 58.9% - VAN 41.1%
Shots: SD 17 - VAN 9
Shots on Goal: SD 6 - VAN 3
Saves: SD 3 - VAN 5
Fouls: SD 2 - VAN 20
Offsides: SD 5 - VAN 4
Corners: SD 10 - VAN 2
Cautions
12’ – SD – Luca Bombino
44’ – VAN – Édier Ocampo
51’ – VAN – Mathías Laborda
90’+6 – VAN – Belal Halbouni
90’+8 – VAN – Tate Johnson
San Diego FC
13.Pablo Sisniega; 33.Oscar Verhoeven, 26.Manu Duah, 25.Ian Pilcher, 27.Luca Bombino; 8.Onni Valakari, 14.Luca de la Torre, 6.Jesper Tverskov; 10.Anders Dreyer, 9.Tomas Ángel (24.Emmanuel Boateng 84’), 11.Hirving Lozano
Substitutes not used
1.Carlos dos Santos, 5.Hamady Diop, 22.Franco Negri, 77.Alex Mighten, 98.Jacob Jackson
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 18.Édier Ocampo (28.Tate Johnson HT), 15.Bjørn Inge Utvik, 4.Ranko Veselinović © (12.Belal Halbouni 34’), 2.Mathías Laborda; 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 20.Andrés Cubas, 59.Jeevan Badwal (13.Ralph Priso 57’); 11.Emmanuel Sabbi (14.Daniel Ríos 86’), 24.Brian White, 7.Jayden Nelson
Substitutes not used
30.Adrían Zendejas, 26.J.C. Ngando, 33.Tristan Blackmon, 42.Nelson Pierre
