LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC Highlights – April 5, 2023
On Wednesday night at BC Place Stadium, the first leg of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals went down in a matchup between LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The Black and Gold came out victorious in a 3-0 win thanks to Carlos Vela and Dénis Bouanga.
Whitecaps forward Cristian Dájome had the first look at the back of the net but LAFC defender Jesús Murillo was at the right place at the right time to block his attempt. Just a minute after, Whitecaps’ Tristan Blackmon shot a laser but LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy came up with the deflection and a save.
Vela and Bouanga almost connected in the 31st minute of the match but Bouanga’s shot trickled wide and away from the net. With one last attempt in the first half, Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Raposo crossed to no avail.
To start the second half, Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld found forward Brian White on a long lob but McCarthy pulled up out of the goal area to get the ball wide and out of line. In the 55th minute, Bouange took a long distance shot 10 yards out of the penalty area and scored to put LAFC on the board. The goal was Bouanga’s fourth goal in the competition.
Kwadwo Opoku followed up minutes later with LAFC’s second goal of the match after Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka mistakenly back-passed to midfielder Andrés Cubas. Cubas scuffled with Bouanga and lost the ball to Opoku who took full advantage of his opportunity to put the Black and Gold up two.
Bouanga wasn’t done just yet. In the 65th minute, Bouanga made an amazing play on a cut back and secured his brace, assisted by Carlos Vela. Down 3-0, Vancouver picked up the pace but failed to convert a great look in the 72’.
LAFC’s Sergi Palencia almost snuck in his team’s fourth goal of the match during stoppage but the ball ricocheted off Takaoka and rolled just left of the net.
The two clubs will face off once again in the second leg of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 11 at BMO Stadium.
Watch More LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC Highlights:
LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 7/2/22
LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 3/20/22
