Whitecaps and LAFC Draw, Play Again in Playoffs
Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 LAFC
VANCOUVER, BC–Both the Vancouver Whitecaps and LAFC were already playoff bound and had the chance to move up the table for a higher seed. In the end, neither side was able to do so and they will meet again in the first round of the playoffs with Game 1 of the Best-of-Three series at BMO Stadium with date and time to be announced at the time of this posting.
Denis Bouanga scored his 20th of the season, putting LAFC ahead in the 34th minute. Bouanga has won the Golden Boot for the season. Before that, Vancouver had a chance to go ahed in the 16th minute when VAR awarded a penalty after Richie Lareya was brought down in the area. However, Ryan Gauld would see his spot kick saved by Maxime Crepeau.
The Whitecaps would equalize in the 58th minute as Ali Ahmed who got on the end of a cross from Lareya and scored on the volley. Lareya then drew a second penalty in the 72nd minute, but Ryan Gauld would this time strike the spot kick off the crossbar.
Prior to the match, the Whitecaps announced that they have extended head coach Vanni Sartini through the 2025 season. Sartini has led the Whitecaps since August 2021 leading them to two Canadian Championships and two playoff appearances in the last two seasons.
Gerrit te Hennepe has the photos from Saturday’s action at BC Place. You can view a sample below and more by clicking on the link.
Vancouver Whitecaps