VANCOUVER — By clinching a Major League Soccer playoff spot, the Vancouver Whitecaps have reached "the minimum expectation" for their season, says striker Ryan Gauld.
The Whitecaps scored three second-half goals to defeat St. Louis City 3-0 then got some help on the out-of-town scoreboard Wednesday to make the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
“It’s good to finally have it guaranteed,” said Gauld, who heard chants of 'MVP' from the crowd of 13,776 at BC Place Stadium. “Now we can push on and look further up the table.”
Striker Brian White and midfielders Sebastian Berhalter and Richie Laryea scored for Vancouver. Gauld earned his 12th assist in MLS play this season on Berhalter’s goal.
Vancouver (12-10-10) came into the match needing a win over St. Louis City and for either Minnesota United F.C. or F.C. Dallas to lose or draw in their games. The Whitecaps got a positive result when Minnesota lost 5-1 to LAFC. The Dallas-Colorado game was postponed due to weather conditions.
The win moves Vancouver into fifth place with 46 points in the tight Western Conference.
St. Louis (17-11-5) lost for the first time in six games (2-1-3) but still leads the West with 56 points.
With two games remaining the Whitecaps can potentially finish second in the West or finish as low as ninth. Currently, eight points separate second and ninth place.
The Whitecaps suffered a frustrating 2-2 draw with cellar-dwelling Colorado Rapids Saturday night in a game they led twice.
“We knew the importance of tonight because against Colorado we should have come away with three points,” said Gauld. “Tonight, a draw wasn’t going to be good enough.”
White’s goal came in the 59th minute and started with defender Ranko Veselinoivc sending a long pass up the field. White headed the ball between two St. Louis defenders, chased it down, then chipped a shot over goalkeeper Ben Lundt.
It was White’s 15th goal in MLS play and 19th across all competitions.
Berhalter scored in the 87th minute when he took a pass from Gauld and hammered a left-footed shot into the corner of the net.
Laryea scored in added time with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box.
Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini liked what his team showed against the best team in the West.
“I’m feeling very good because we played a top game against a very good team,” said Sartini. “We played much better than them.
“Everyone went through the game plan and did what we were supposed to do, better than most of the last few games. We didn’t make any silly mistakes and that was the difference.”
Vancouver controlled much of the first 45 minutes, but the game was 0-0 at half time.
Sartini praised his team for showing patience.
“The thing that was difficult was not getting frustrated and doing things that were outside the game plan,” he said. “We kept pounding on the things that we were trying to do.”
The Whitecaps were frustrated by two video review calls during the opening half.
Gauld looked to have scored in the 39th minute with a tumbling, right-footed shot that beat Lunt. The goal was disallowed after a video review ruled Gauld was offside on the play.
In the 23rd minute the crowd was angry when sliding St. Louis defender Josh Yaro took the legs out from underneath White. The referee reviewed the play, but no penalty was called.
No matter where the Whitecaps end up in the standings, Gauld believes Vancouver can be a dangerous team in the playoffs.
“We’ve got a lot of depth,” he said. “We’re a confident team.
“Against a good St. Louis side, we proved we’re capable of scoring goals and keeping a clean sheet. This gives us confidence.”
WHAT’S NEXT: The Whitecaps play Seattle at home Saturday night then end their regular season on the road Oct. 21 against LAFC. St. Louis ends its regular season Oct. 21 at home against Seattle.
NOTES: White has goals in four consecutive games. He also has seven goals and two assists in his last nine appearances. … Whitecaps defender Andres Cubas left the game in the 51st minute with a right shoulder injury. … The top seven teams in MLS’s two conferences clinch playoff spots. The eighth and ninth teams earn wild-card spots and play in a one-game playoff. … The Whitecaps were coming off a 2-2 draw with DC United Saturday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2023.
Jim Morris, The Canadian Press
