Vancouver Whitecaps have secured their spot in the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup final for the first time in the club’s history following a 3-1 victory over San Diego FC in the Western Conference final on Saturday night. Brian White netted two goals, with San Diego ‘keeper Pablo Sisniega adding an own goal before receiving a red card in the 79th minute for a challenge on Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld.
The Whitecaps will now prepare to face Inter Miami CF, led by Lionel Messi, who clinched the Eastern Conference final with a 5-1 win against New York City FC on the same day. This will be the first MLS Cup final appearance for both clubs, set to take place in Florida on December 6.
Brian White opened the scoring for Vancouver in the eighth minute, followed by another goal three minutes later as Manu Duah unintentionally deflected a shot off Sisniega for a 2-0 lead. White completed his brace just before halftime, assisted by Andrés Cubas and Ali Ahmed.
In the second half, San Diego’s Hirving Lozano managed to pull one back with a deflected shot over Yohei Takaoka, but the team was reduced to ten men after Sisniega’s red card. Takaoka made three crucial saves for the Whitecaps throughout the game.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Vancouver, who finished the regular season as the second-best team in the West with an 18-7-9 record. The Whitecaps previously defeated Miami 3-1 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal in April.
Fans at B.C. Place in downtown Vancouver witnessed the historic win, as the Whitecaps advanced to their first MLS Cup Western final after eliminating FC Dallas and Los Angeles FC in previous rounds.