Vancouver Whitecaps stay alive despite LAFC loss: 'Why can't it happen again?'

Bring on the rubber match!

In what could be their final home game of the season, Vancouver Whitecaps FC put on a show with an impressive 3-0 victory over No. 1 seed LAFC at BC Place. Led by a stellar performance from Ryan Gauld, Vancouver's season and 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs hopes are still alive as they return to Los Angeles on Friday for the third game of their best-of-3 first-round series (11 p.m ET | MLS Season Pass).

“I think the performance was really good. Performance-wise it was about the same as in LA,” said head coach Vanni Sartini. “In LA we had a lot of luck and the half centimeters were against us. Today was everything for us. That's how close this game can be in my opinion. We have to go to LA with the confidence that we can try to win.”

Gauld spurred the Caps' energetic performance by opening the scoring within 10 minutes of kick-off before scoring two own goals to secure the club's first non-play-in playoff win and Sartini's first playoff win at BC Place marked.

“Did I say after last time that I don't believe (God) exists?” Sartini said: “I don't know if he wants to join the Whitecaps – or she, because maybe God is a she – if she or he If a Whitecaps fan wants to become a fan, we will give him or her an honorary card from any group that he or she will enjoy.

After his late consolation goal in LA, Gauld secured Vancouver's first win with his sixth goal contribution of the playoffs.

“Knowing that it was most likely our last home game of the year, we wanted to try to send the fans home happy and give them the 90 minutes,” said Gauld. “We are aware that we have not done particularly well at home all season. So our goal was exactly to possibly finish our home games the way we did and hopefully go home a lot happier.”

Although he is only credited with the lone goal, Gauld played a key role in all three goals on the night, with powerful crosses that resulted in “assists” for both LAFC own goals.

“If Ryan Gauld and Andrés Cubas play like Ryan Gauld and Andrés Cubas: Gold Edition, we can beat anyone,” Sartini explained.

After being eliminated from the playoffs and the Concacaf Champions Cup by LAFC last season with four losses to Steve Cherundolo's team, Vancouver was finally able to get rid of the black and gold monkey.

“We never forget,” said goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka. “We lost to them here last year, so I never forget every day. That’s why I wanted to show our performance as a team and as players, so I’m really happy.”

Now this best-of-three first-round series returns to Los Angeles for a decisive Game 3 on Friday night, as it is the only Western Conference matchup to require all three games.

“LAFC is simply the favorite on Friday,” Sartini said. “They play at home (and are one of the three most talented teams in the league). But there can be surprises. Look, today they are the MLS Cup champions.” lost. So why can't it happen again?