The Vancouver Whitecaps are back to winning ways, securing a huge 4-1 win over San Diego FC.
Back at BC Place Stadium, the Whitecaps continued their dominant attacking style under Danish head coach Jesper Sørensen, but they chose an unusual formation.
For the first time in the Sørensen era, the Whitecaps played with a 4-4-2 formation, with young striker Rayan Elloumi getting a rare start up top, partnering up with Brian White.
The start nearly paid off within the opening ten minutes: Oliver Larraz struck a lightning bolt from around the 30-yard mark, but the effort struck the crossbar and was subsequently cleared.
On the other end, San Diego nearly scored against the run of play. After Yohei Takaoka saved a big chance from Cédric Bakambu, Mathías Laborda saved the second chance with a header off the line to keep the score at 0-0, which was appreciated by the 20,000 in attendance.
After the sustained attacking play, Vancouver were finally rewarded when Mathías Laborda played the ball across in the aftermath of a corner, and Serbian midfielder Aleksa Cvetković stabbed in his first as a Whitecap to give the hosts a crucial 1-0 lead.
It was a big moment for the U-22 Initiative Player signing, who was only in the eleven due to an ankle injury to Andrés Cubas, but took his chance and delivered.
That was just the start; Vancouver continued to pummel the San Diego defence, who didn't have a solution and had to rely on the heroics of Pablo Sisniega.
On the other side, Yohei Takaoka was making his fair share of saves and was distributing the ball at the elite level that fans have been accustomed to since his arrival.
Eventually, Vancouver got their second when a stylish cross from Oliver Larraz was met by Brian White, who headed in his 100th career MLS goal and his 98th goal for Vancouver.
Vancouver went into the break with the lead.
The second half began, and Vancouver were a little more conservative with the ball, slowly looking to open up San Diego's defence once more.
That moment came: after Édier Ocampo's cross was set to be volleyed wide by Rayan Elloumi, captain Ryan Gauld arrived on scene to put a diving header into the top right corner, sealing the three points for Vancouver.
The Whitecaps brought some changes into the game; Bruno Caicedo and Ralph Priso entered the game, with the latter playing as a midfielder.
Later in the game, both Thomas Müller and Ranko Veselinović entered the game, with the former making his first appearance since the beginning of the month.
San Diego had a major opportunity: substitute Marcus Ingvartsen found himself in a great position, but Yohei Takaoka denied him with a ridiculous save.
Vancouver didn't waste time. A long ball from Ralph Priso started a counterattack that Bruno Caicedo lashed on, using his electrifying pace to get in behind before slotting the ball into the bottom right corner past Pablo Sisniega.
Unfortunately, Takaoka wouldn't be rewarded for his saves. A David Vazquez free kick was glanced on by Onni Valakari's head, and the ball flew into the top left corner and got San Diego on the board.
The yellow-carded Tate Johnson was replaced by Moldovan international Mihail Gherasimencov to finish the game.
Rayan Elloumi had some big chances late into the game, but he wasn't able to beat Pablo Sisniega.
The game ended on a sour note for both Vancouver and Elloumi. After a decent game that went unrewarded in goals, the Tunisian international received a controversial second yellow from Joe Dickerson after kicking the ball away from a San Diego restart, putting Vancouver at a numerical disadvantage for the final two minutes of stoppage time.
That would be the final major event of the game, with the Whitecaps now holding a four-point lead over FC Dallas.
A win on Sunday would clinch the top spot in the Western Conference for Vancouver with a game to spare.
On Sunday, the Whitecaps play their final home game of the 2026 MLS Regular Season, taking on the Seattle Sounders for an early 1:30 pm PT / 4:30 pm ET kickoff.
