Season over: Whitecaps' playoff run ends with dramatic finish at BC Place
The Vancouver Whitecaps hosted their first home playoff match at BC Place in six years tonight.
It didn’t go as planned.
Their season is over after losing the second match of their best-of-three series against LAFC by a 1-0 score. They lost the first game of the series 5-2 in Los Angeles on October 28.
The only goal of the match came in the 24th minute on a penalty kick, courtesy of Denis Bouanga. Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka guessed wrong, diving to his right as the shot beat him to his left.
Smashed it with accuracy! 🎯@BouangaDenis gives his side the lead from the spot.@LAFC // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JFqc2ZV1lO
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 6, 2023
Takaoka was sensational for the remainder of the match, making six saves, and many of them were of great difficulty.
The Whitecaps poured it on late, including a glorious chance on a header by Brian White in the 85th minute, set up by Ryan Gauld. Gauld had one last chance at the death, only to be stopped by former Whitecaps goalkeeper Max Crepeau, who got the clean sheet for LAFC.
It had to be Maxime Crepeau against his old squad. 🧤
A game-sealing save to secure the clean sheet and move @LAFC on to the next round of the Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs! pic.twitter.com/7LYB896Agt
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 6, 2023
Crepeau was booed all night by Whitecaps fans. Also booed? Will Ferrell, the Hollywood actor and co-owner of LAFC.
The Whitecaps had an MLS club record attendance for the match, as 30,204 fans poured into BC Place.
Pandemonium ensued during stoppage time, as referee Timothy Ford interfered with a Whitecaps scoring chance off a corner. The referee knocked Whitecaps midfielder Alessandro Schopf to the ground, leading to a goal the other way for LAFC.
One of the most chaotic ways to end your season I've ever seen.
A well-executed pick by the referee and the Vancouver Whitecaps crash out of the MLS Cup playoffs. pic.twitter.com/4re1TBnEU5
— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) November 6, 2023
The second LAFC goal was eventually overturned by VAR, as it was deemed to be offside, but not until after Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini was tossed from the match.
Sartini described the refereeing as being a “disaster,” following the match, and compared the controversial play in stoppage time to a hockey bodycheck.
“The referee was a disaster,” says Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini pic.twitter.com/FIGiKHMHrc
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) November 6, 2023
Phenomenon stuff from Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini, who describes the controversial incident by the referee to a bodycheck in hockey.
Makes mention of #Canucks players being in the crowd and the game taking place in Canada. pic.twitter.com/gtTdQml9gW
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) November 6, 2023
It’s a disappointing end for the Whitecaps, though up against the defending MLS Cup champions, they faced a superior foe. Still, Sartini admitted the team has a lot to be proud of this season, after a return to the playoffs.
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