For the second time at home and for the fourth time in their MLS history, Whitecaps FC overcame a large deficit to win. They last overcame a lead of many goals at home against the New England Revolution in June 2013.
Brian White, who has eight goals this season, scored his second career hat-trick for Whitecaps FC. Actually, White’s two club hat tricks have occurred in Indigenous Celebration games. White has now tied Whitecaps FC’s MLS regular season goalscoring record with 39 goals, having earlier in the year emerged as the team’s top goalscorer across all competitions.
For the second time at home this season, Whitecaps FC scored four goals.
Ryan Raposo scored his sixth goal of the year and received his fourth assist of the year.
Ralph Priso got his second-season assist.
Sebastian Berhalter earned his season’s first assist.
LuÃs Martins earned his season’s first assist.
Vancouver, British Columbia – On Saturday, there was plenty of excitement at BC Place as Vancouver Whitecaps FC overcame St. Louis CITY SC 4-3 in an incredible come-from-behind victory.
St. Louis struck first and early in the game. Njabulo Blom scored into the back of the net with a deflected shot after clearing their lines from a perilous corner.
In the eleventh minute, St. Louis scored two goals quickly thanks to a penalty kick from 12-yards out that was perfectly executed by Eduard Löwen.
Levonte Johnson had a fantastic opportunity in the 17th minute and came dangerously close to cutting the lead. Ryan Gauld found Johnson alone on the left, but St. Louis goalie Ben Lundt amazingly blocked the Canadian’s attempt to deny the ‘Caps a goal.
Thirty minutes in, Takaoka was called upon again, blocking a close-range attempt by John Klein to keep the ‘Caps within touching distance of CITY.
That stop would turn out to be critical since Whitecaps FC’s Brian White scored a goal seven minutes later. White took advantage of St. Louis’s inability to clear their lines after a long ball forward. After grabbing the ball just inside the area, the American sent a shot at goal that deflected and eventually bounced in.
The referee sounded his whistle to signal halftime, thus Whitecaps FC would have to wait for the second half to try to equalize.
Within five minutes of the start of the second half, the ‘Caps were on the verge of equalizing. From a free-kick, Gauld produced a beautiful cross that found Brown at the back post. Brown beat the goalie with a near-perfect header that was blocked by the crossbar after outjumping everyone. After Ryan Raposo attempted to grab the rebound, chaos broke out as Jake Nerwinski, a former Whitecaps FC defender, cleared the goal line to save another opportunity.
In the 54th minute, the Blue and White were able to equalize. Again, it was Brian White at the center of it all as he took advantage of a blunder at the back and produced a daring back-heel chip that soared past Lundt and tied the score at 2-2.
But White didn’t stop there; in the 61st minute, he scored his third goal to cap off the comeback for the ‘Caps. With a deadly cross from Raposo, White sprang up and flicked it past Lundt to make it 3-2.
St. Louis persisted in trying to into the game, forcing Whitecaps FC to use every resource at their disposal to keep them out, including several vital defensive blocks and tackles to preserve the advantage.
Despite the pressure from St. Louis, Fafa Picault’s goal at the very end gave the ‘Caps the victory. To guarantee all three points, LuÃs Martins broke down the left side and cut back a wonderful cross for Picault, who scored with his left foot into the side netting.
At the very end, CITY would receive a belated consolation, but it would be too little, too late, as the ‘Caps hung on for an exciting victory in front of their own supporters.
