Referee Tim Ford (second from right) had an outsized influence on events in Game 2 between Vancouver and LAFC (Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe). Vancouver Whitecaps 0-1 Los Angeles FC (LAFC win series, 2-0) VANCOUVER, BC–Referee Tim Ford became the most unpopular man in Vancouver after a performance that TSN’s Steven Caldwell called ‘disgraceful’, the Vancouver Province all but blamed for the Whitecaps losing in their report, and might lead to a multiple game suspension for coach Vanni Sartini for his post-match in addition to a red card. As it was, LAFC won 1-0 and swept the series, 2-0. They will ..read more

LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps are surely getting to know each other very well. One week after closing out the regular season against each other, these two teams again faced each other on Saturday evening to open up the best-of-three MLS Cup playoff series, the first time since 2002 that MLS has gone to this format. After a shaky first half, LAFC righted the ship with three second half goals, and thus what had the makings of a dramatic contest instead became a runaway, a 5-2 win for LAFC at BMO Stadium. “Not very different performances, both halves were in control, how we wanted it, very sim ..read more

WARNING:  Article may not be suitable for Chicago Fire or Toronto FC fans! Tom Bogert and Jeff Rueter of the Athletic released an article on how every team in Major League Soccer did with designated players and the value they provided. They estimated the transfer fees for each team’s DP and added their guaranteed compensation from the MLSPA to get the discretionary spending. The team getting by far the best value for their DPs is Columbus Crew. Their total discretionary spending on Cucho Hernandez, Lucas Zelarayan (and later Diego Rossi), and Darlington Nagbe amounted to $23 million, but ..read more

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 awar ..read more

Seattle, WA – In a match that could’ve played a big role in helping to secure their seeding in the top four spots of the MLS’ Western Conference, the Seattle Sounders couldn’t do enough on the attack to take all three points against visiting Cascadia Rival, the Vancouver Whitecaps. Seattle had a ferocious attacking push towards the end of the match, but a combination of near misses and incredible saves by Vancouver keeper Yohei Takaoka resulted in the two clubs splitting points as decision day draws nearer. While the first half was largely a wash with equal statistics on both sides, the second ..read more

Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 St. Louis CITY SC VANCOUVER, BC–For the second time in three seasons, Vancouver Whitecaps are a playoff team. The Whitecaps punched their ticket with a 3-0 win over Western Conference leaders St. Louis CITY SC who had already sealed the #1-seed in the West. The Whitecaps now sit fifth, but just three points out of second place with two matches remaining. After a goalless first half, Vancouver opened the scoring in the 58th minute after Brian White picked up a long ball at midfield and blazed by the St. Louis defense playing a high line and chipped past Ben Lundt. Sebast ..read more

Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 DC United VANCOUVER, BC–The Whitecaps’ first home league match since August 20th ended in a 2-2 draw with DC United and another missed opportunity to move up the Western Conference table with results elsewhere in their favor. As it stands, the Whitecaps are in sixth place, still three points adrift of second-place Seattle, and five points clear of the playoff line. Meanwhile, DC remain on the outside looking in in tenth place in the East behind CF Montreal on wins with points identical. The Whitecaps got off to a fast start with Ryan Gauld sending a looping ball to Bria ..read more

Colorado Rapids 2-2 Vancouver Whitecaps COMMERCE CITY, CO–Vancouver Whitecaps missed out on a chance to go top four in the West going into the weekend as they played Colorado Rapids to a 2-2 draw. It was the last of their seven straight matches on the road, but they finished this run with a 4-2-1 record–which matches the win total for the Rapids all season. The Whitecaps went ahead in the 11th minute after Mathias Laborda poked in a loose ball off a corner kick. The already eliminated from playoff contention Rapids then saw that goal and raised it in the second half. Diego Rubio poked a ball i ..read more

Houston Dynamo 4 : 1 Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver Whitecaps remained on course, just about, to equal or break their MLS regular season goals tally this season. With 46 goals in the net and six games to go, they are closing in on their total of 54 set in 2018. Kei Kamara scored 17 that year. Brian White on 11 and Ryan Gauld with ten are the most realistic challengers to that although neither will eclipse Camilo’s total of 22 regular season goals set in 2013. Coach Vanni Sartini saw the relevance of the goals recird within the broader fraame of the standings and, perhaps with an eye to the comi ..read more

Chicago Fire 0-1 Vancouver Whitecaps CHICAGO, IL—The Fire came into Leagues Cup winning five of their last six. However, after their League Cup campaign, they have now lost three straight after falling to Vancouver Whitecaps, 1-0, at Soldier Field.  The Fire remain two points clear in the ninth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference, but four teams are now within three points of them with results elsewhere. The Whitecaps are in fifth in the Western Conference closer to second place LAFC (three points) than tenth place Austin FC (five points).  The Fire started the match ..read more