- Whitecaps FC remain in first place in the MLS Western Conference with five matches remaining in the regular season
- Yohei Takaoka recorded his 14th clean sheet of the season across all competitions, and 12th in MLS play, one behind the league lead. Takaoka now has 49 clean sheets, just two shy of matching Paul Dolan's club record of 51
ST. LOUIS, MO – In a colossal clash of MLS Western Conference titans, Vancouver Whitecaps FC retained the top of the table with a high intensity scoreless draw on the road against second place St. Louis CITY SC.
The Blue and White (15W-7D-7L, 52 points) remain in first place in the conference with five matches remaining in the regular season.
Only three minutes in, Whitecaps FC striker Brian White was sent through into the box. His follow-through drive raced past goalkeeper Roman Bürki and wide of the far post.
Hunting for the opener, the Blue and White’s five corner kicks in 12 minutes put the home side under siege. Left back Tate Johnson smashed a diagonal cross deep into the danger area for centre back Mathías Laborda, who chested the ball forward for a better angle – his subsequent header glanced off the crossbar and out of play.
The 'Caps dominated play in the first half, but both teams went into the break scoreless.
In the second half, a trio of Blue and White passes cycled from left winger Yadaly Diaby to captain Ryan Gauld that ended in a cross for White, but his in-close volley streaked wide.
After the hour, Yohei Takaoka stood tall in net for the 'Caps. Twice to denied St. Louis winger Carlos Holse – first, he snagged a 12-yard drive. A minute later, the ’keeper won round two with a brilliant diving parry off a Holse half-volley.
Takaoka saved his best for last, as he robbed former Whitecaps FC forward Simon Becher on the doorstep.
Meanwhile, substitute winger Bruno Caicedo came inches away from playing the hero. He sprung down the wing and hit a 25-yard attempt that deflected off the near post and out.
At the death, Gauld preserved the point when he successfully sprinted back for a last-gasp slide – his desperate arrival in the nick of time broke up an odd-man rush that left Holse in a prime position.
Next up, Whitecaps FC saddle up for a Lone Star State trek to Austin FC this coming Saturday, October 17, at 5:30 p.m. PCT. You can watch on Apple TV or check out the ’Caps & Taps list to find the nearest bar showing the match.
The ’Caps return home on Wednesday, October 28 to take on San Diego FC at 7:30 p.m. PCT. Then on Sunday, November 1, Whitecaps FC host Seattle Sounders FC in their final regular season home match at 1:30 p.m. PCT. The upper bowl is open, with tickets to both matches available at whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Filip Dujic
Attendance:
ERDINGER Man of the Match: Mathías Laborda
Scoring Summary
None
Statistics
Possession: STL 53.3% – VAN 46.7%
Shots: STL 9 – VAN 17
Shots on Goal: STL 4 – VAN 1
Saves: STL 1 – VAN 4
Fouls: STL 18 – VAN 14
Offsides: STL 1 – VAN 2
Corners: STL 5 – VAN 10
Cautions
45+1’ – STL – Fallou Fall
45+2’ – VAN – Édier Ocampo
81’ – VAN – Ralph Priso
85’ – STL – Alexandru Mățan
St. Louis CITY SC
1.Roman Bürki; 21.Dante Polvara, 32.Timo Baumgartl, 27.Fallou Fall; 6.Conrad Wallem (20.Rafael Santos 40’), 8.Chris Durkin (5.Lukas MacNaughton 89’), 24.Daniel Edelman, 14.Tomas Totland; 19.Carlo Holse, 9.Rafael Navarro (11.Simon Becher 70’), 23.Alexandru Mățan
Substitutes not used
39.Ben Lundt, 7.Tomas Ostrak, 28.Miguel Perez, 42.Damion Downs, 77.Jeong Sang-bin, 99.Jaziel Orozco
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 18.Édier Ocampo, 2.Mathías Laborda, 6.Ralph Priso, 28.Tate Johnson; 8.Oliver Larraz (23.Aleksa Cvetković 77’), 20.Andrés Cubas; 11.Emmanuel Sabbi (14.Bruno Caicedo 66’), 25.Ryan Gauld ©, 77.Yadaly Diaby; 24.Brian White (19.Rayan Elloumi 77’)
Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 7.Cheikh Sabaly, 29.Mihail Gherasimencov, 41.Nikola Djordjevic, 70.Rui Modesto