The Vancouver Whitecaps Dominate Real Salt Lake 4-1 to extend their unbeaten streak to 9 straight matches and a 3 game winning streak. Ryan Gauld added to his stats with a goal and an assist. Brian White added the 4th tally of his Whitecaps career in the 60th minute. Florian Jungwirth would also get in on the scoring in the 69th minute, Nice.
Real Salt Lake would score their lone goal in the 1st minute of added time to break up Maxime Crepeau’s bid for a clean sheet. It was impressive after being outplayed in every facet of the game against Pacific FC.
Lineup News and Notes Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake
The Vancouver Whitecaps and Vanni Sartini would switch formations from the 2-1 win against LAFC. The Christmas tree formation was back for the Whitecaps! Brian White will be the star at the top of the tree with Ryan Gauld and Cristian Dajome falling right underneath. Russell Teibert, Janio Bikel, and Leonard Owusu will slot into the midfield. And two changes to the backline with Florian Jungwirth replacing Andy Rose and Bruno Gaspar coming in for the injured Jake Nerwinski. Ranko Veselinovic and javain Brown will round out the back 4 ahead of Maxime Crepeau.
Real Salt Lake would go with 5 changes to the lineup that fell 2-1 to Colorado Rapids. Damir Kreilach is out for RSL due to a suspension. Andrew Putna gets back between the sticks for Zack MacMath. Canadian Ashtone Morgan will play on the backline from left to right with Marcelo Silva, Justin Glad, and Noah Powder.
Pablo Ruiz and Nick Besler will play the first level of midfield in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Justin Meram, Albert Rusnak, and Jonathan Menendez will look to provide service to Rubio Rubin up top for interim coach Pablo Mastroeni.
Whitecaps Come Out Strong in The 1st Half
Things would kick off in the first half as the Whitecaps looked to use the home crowd to their advantage. Vancouver tried to find Ryan Gauld with a long ball in the 4th minute but the Scottish International was offside. Real Salt would press back at the Caps in the 6th minute but after cutting into the middle of the field Jonathan Menendez shot was wide right of the target and out for a goal kick.
The Whitecaps looked to build up an attack in the 8th minute but the referee Remy Touchan interfered with the play. After a drop, the Whitecaps were almost able to work it down low to Gauld but it was knocked out for a goal kick. The first corner of the match would come in the 9th minute after some nice work down the left side from Gauld. He would send in the corner to Dajome but his shoot was an easy stop for Andrew Putna.
It was a slow start to the match as we moved into the 13th minute. The Whitecaps would get a great chance after Dajome was able to steal the ball and it fell to Brian White. His shot was blocked before the rebound was volleyed on the net by Ryan Gauld. It was right at Putna and RSL tried to transition quickly. It was stopped by Vancouver but the away side would maintain possession. The next chance of the match would come to Vancouver in the 18th minute. Some great work from Brian White and Caicedo would lead to a chance short side. It was cleared out for a corner.
Ryan Gauld would deliver it to the top of the box but RSL was able to clear it. the Whitecaps were right back in on the attack and won a throw. It was wasted and Salt Lake was able to relieve the pressure. As we moved past the 20th minute they would try and attack down the left side but some nice work from Javain Brown and the Whitecaps would regain possession. They would give the ball away after a strong foul by Brown on Meram in the 22nd minute of action. Real Salt Lake was playing very timid on the attack and wasn’t able to make anything of the opportunity.
Vancouver would come back and win a 24th-minute corner. Ryan Gauld would deliver it right into the box but Nick Besler was able to head it away for Real Salt Lake. The home side was forced to defend briefly but some nice defensive work and the ball would roll out of touch for a goal kick. Things would slow down until a Whitecaps foul in the 27th minute. Janio Bikel was called for a tackle on Menendez and Real Salt Lake had a free-kick. It was delivered short and cleared before the second attempt was played out for a goal kick.
The physicality would pick up as we moved past the 30th minute. Vancouver would win a free kick after a foul by Justin Glad on Brian White. It was a bad delivery and cleared easily but Vancouver would maintain possession and work it around the back. They would get another chance off a set-piece shortly after and make it count.
In the 33rd minute, Vancouver would cash in on an Own Goal from Marcelo Silva. It was delivered into the box and deflected off Silva and into the back of the net. After the Goal, Noah Powder would be shown a yellow card for arguing with Touchan. We moved into the last 10 minutes of the first half with the home side up 1-0. Ryan Gauld would be called for a foul on Real Salt Lake for a strong shoulder barge. It wasn’t just Gauld being physical as Javain Brown would be shown a yellow card in the 40th minute for a hard challenge on Justin Meram.
Real Salt Lake would stand over the free-kick, they took a long look at things before sending in a ball that was deflected back to Noah Powder. His shot beat Maxime Crepeau and bounced back off the post. It would come right to Justin Meram but his header was over the net as he looked skyward after the miss. There was a bit of confusion after the play as the referee sorted out a drop. As we moved near the end of the first half Vancouver tried to double their lead but the service was cleared by Real Salt Lake.
The 4th official would signal an additional one minute in the first half. Vancouver would take a 1-0 lead into the half after controlling 58.5% of the possession in the first half.
Whitecaps Dominate Real Salt Lake 4-1 To End The Match
The second half would get underway from BC Place Stadium with the Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake up 1-0. RSL would try and equalize things in the 49th minute with a hard run down the left side. Javain Brown was able to cut out the ball with a nice poke before the cross was cleared away by Janio Bikel. The Whitecaps would head back the other way with a nice cross into Brian White but his header was over the target and out for a goal kick. The match remained 1-0 for the home side as we moved into the 52nd minute.
Albert Rusnak would get a yellow card in the 53rd minute and set things up for Vancouver to double their lead. Cristian Dajome would deliver in a ball that Putna wasn’t able to handle. It would squeak through to Brain White who pounced for his 4th goal as a Vancouver Whitecap in the 53rd minute. The crowd would serenade him with chants of “Brain White” as Vancouver moved back in on the attack. A yellow card to Silva would slow things down for RSL before Dajome would rush back in on the right side and fire one just wide of the post.
Vancouver was happy to sit with a deep line and a two-goal lead. Salt Lake would attack in the 60th minute but a curling shot from Justin Meram was just wide of an outstretched Crepeau and the post. RSL would look to their bench and bring on Maikel Chang to replace Justin Meram.
Vancouver would add to their lead after a great turn down the right side from Javain Brown, he would cross it in perfectly and find Ryan Gauld who would head it past Putna for the 3-0 lead for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Vanni Sartini would make changes after the 3-0 goal bringing on. Nick Bessler would be replaced in the 67th minute by Anderson Julio for Real Salt Lake.
The Whitecaps would keep on the attack in the 69th minute. After winning a corner Ryan Gauld would send in a great ball that Jungwirth was able to flick past the keeper and into the back of the net. Vancouver would make their first change of the match taking off Javain Brown who had an amazing match for Patrick Metcalfe in the 72nd minute. Things would get a bit chirpy in the 73rd minute after a high kick from * on Brian White. The referee was able to calm things down before the match restarted.
Vanni Sartini would empty the bench in the 75th minute bringing on Tosaint Ricketts for Brian White and Deiber Caicedo for Ryan Gauld. Gauld would leave to big applause from the BC Place crowd. Caicedo would almost make something happen in his first touch on the pitch but it was defended well and out for a goal kick by Real Salt Lake. The away side looked to build an attack against the Whitecaps but Ranko was fouled on a cross and Vancouver had the free-kick.
RSL would make the 3rd substitution in the 79th minute bringing on Everton Luiz for Pablo Ruiz. With 10 minutes left Real Salt Lake was trying to salvage some dignity from the result. Vancouver was doing a great job of clogging up the back and clearing it away from danger. They would make their final changes of the night in the 85th minute bringing on Ryan Raposo for Leonard Owusu and Marcus Godinho for Ranko Veselinovic. It was the Whitecaps debut for Godinho off the bench.
Vancouver would keep on the press and look for a 5th goal in the 87th minute. A 4 on 2 attack, but the cross was headed out for a corner kick. Vancouver would waste as much time before sending it into the box. It was delivered short and cleared by Real Salt Lake as we moved near the 90th minute of action. Real Salt Lake would get one back late after a shot would deflect off Patrick Metcalfe and off the crossbar. The ball would fall right to Anderson Julio who volleyed it home to break the shutout.
The 4th official would signal an additional 3 minutes of stoppage time. Vancouver was smart to keep things to the outside and when the final whistle went it was a celebration on a 3rd straight victory and a 9 game unbeaten streak.
Post Match Thoughts And Media
Acting head coach Vanni Sartini would speak with the media after the match about his team’s performance.
“I think it was very good in the sense that we tried to be always on the front foot, to press them really high, to not let them play. The three guys up top that were three players of quality, White, Gauld, and Dájome, they lead the press and they lead the defensive effort. And the others guys followed. We played in a way that can be even simple sometimes, but if you don’t have the stamina, the will and the mental disposition to do it is really hard. All the players they had it today so I’m really pleased with the performance to be honest.”
Vanni Sartini gave his thoughts on the team being right at the playoff line after tonight’s win, “The team has improved a lot. I want to say again that it’s improved a lot and also thank you to the former coaching staff that improved the team in a way that now is ready to play this battle. Of course, there was also huge investment with the new DP by the club.”
He would continue about playing at home, “And the third thing that makes me excited for the club is that we play at home. Even tonight we’re feeling the fans chanting. Having the support of the city, it really makes a difference. You don’t have to forget that we played away for more than one year so playing here, it really makes a difference.”
Striker Brian White spoke about his goal in the second half, “I think anytime you put the ball in the box, it’s going to be issues for the defense. We have guys that are attacking the ball, putting dangerous crosses in. We just put in a lot of crosses, made them uncomfortable and that led to the goal. So that’s what we need to keep doing, what we need to do in the future and just keep going.”
“We know there’s a lot of games left to play and we’re focused on the next game. Just the game we’re in, then the next game, and not looking too far ahead and not worrying about what other teams are doing and just focusing on us and getting three points.” Brian spoke about the team’s push for the playoffs.
The Unnamed Moments Of The Match
The Whitecaps dominate Real Salt Lake 4-1 Friday night which leads right into “The Unnamed Moments Of The Match”. Lots of Goals to choose from in this one, lots of excitement, and of course ending the evening with a little “Stand By Me” means a good night for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Unnamed Goal Of The Match
Ryan Goals get the Unnamed Goal Of The Match this evening, with the assists going to Javain Brown and Brian White for a great run to pull the defender. Ryan Gauld was left all alone and made no mistake heading his second of the MLS campaign past Putna for the 3-0 lead.
The Unnamed Media Of The Match
While I sacrificed being in the media zoom call to make sure I could catch my bus and the subsequent ferry home. I did catch the media call while it was being streamed on Twitter. Florian Jungwirth needs to do media every day! From JJ Adams’s first greeting to the entire interview Flo was fantastic. He is the Unnamed Media Moment Of The Match and I look forward to having him chat more.
“When someone attacks my teammate, I am going to protect them in every way I can. Like I said, it was Bruno, so someone attacks my teammate and I’m going to defend them. I think I have the experience, I’ve never received a red card in my career. So I know which kind of buttons I have to push on my opponents. Like I said, that’s the way I play, this the way I performed for years, worked out well for me and I hope the fans and the coaching staff like that.” The German defender said postgame.
The Unnamed Song Of The Match
That’s two home matches at BC place and 2 home wins. Once again the fans joined the team in singing “Stand By Me”
Sports Talk Line And The Vancouver Whitecaps
The Vancouver Whitecaps dominate Real Salt Lake 4-1 and move one step closer to the playoff line. Vancouver sits just one point behind Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers for the final playoff spots in the MLS Western Conference. The Caps will try and keep their hot streak going next week as they host Austin FC at 4:00 pm PST from BC Place.
This is a match that was rescheduled from earlier in the season so the Whitecaps could play it at BC Place instead of Rio Tinto Stadium. The Caps will lose keeper Maxime Crepeau for National team duty as Canada tries to punch their ticket to Qatar 2022. Lucas Cavallini also received a call-up for Canada but will remain with Vancouver unless he is needed to recover from his knee injury.
Make sure to check out the Sports Talk Line website for the latest news about your Vancouver Whitecaps as the season moves into September.
