Whitecaps win, but lose Gauld to injury

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 CF Montreal

VANCOUVER, BC–For the first time in their 15-year MLS existence, the Whitecaps opened a season 3-0-0 thanks to a 2-0 victory over CF Montreal. However, it may have come at a cost as Ryan Gauld went out injured with a non-contact knee injury.

In the 19th minute, Gauld went up for a ball, but landed awkwardly and hurt his knee and crumbled to the ground. He was helped off by two staffers off the pitch and was replaced by JC Ngando.

Despite this, the Vancouver bench, not much thought of at the start of the season, is starting to show depth. The Whitecaps went ahead in the 32nd minute after Montreal could not clear a corner away. After some pinball action, it went to Matias Labora who knocked it in from six yards out tilting things in favor of the hosts.

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

Yohei Takaoka got help from a pair of forwards in some goal line clearances in the first half, first by Brian White and then Tate Johnson on debut. Johnson would be the one to double Vancouver’s lead in the 49th minute as he was found criminally unmarked by an Ali Ahmed cross and made no mistake from eight yards out.

The Whitecaps held on for the clean sheet despite a late stoppage time flurry from CF Montreal which included a clutch save by Takaoka and a Prince Osei Owusu header off the crossbar.

The Whitecaps travel to Mexico on Wednesday to take on Monterrey in Concacaf Champions Cup play where it is currently 1-1 on aggregate. Kickoff is at 5:30pm PT (ONE Soccer, FS1). The next league match is next Saturday at FC Dallas (5:30pm PT, Apple TV).

For more of Gerrit te Hennepe’s photos, please click on the link.