Latest news with #VancouverWhitecaps
Vancouver Sun
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver Whitecaps look to snap two-game skid against Los Angeles FC
The Vancouver Whitecaps are in unfamiliar territory and looking to snap a losing skid. A 5-3 defeat to expansion side San Diego FC on Wednesday marked Vancouver's second loss in a row. It's the first time this season the team has dropped back-to-back games. The result saw the Whitecaps (10-3-5) slip to the No. 2 spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. They'll strive to reclaim first place Sunday when they visit Los Angeles FC (7-4-5). Even after a pair of losses, there's no panic among the 'Caps, said head coach Jesper Sorensen. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'It's about believing in what we should be good at and what we should be doing well,' he said. 'We're in a very good position. We've earned our position. So we earned the right to step aside a couple of times. But we, of course, have to get back into winning things as well. But it's a difficult position.' There are lessons to be taken from Wednesday's loss, he added, including that the team needs to play with courage and without hesitation. 'Of course we got punished pretty hard,' the coach said. 'That's what it is. But also that we shouldn't wait to start taking initiative — we should take it right away.' LAFC is a team Vancouver knows well — Sunday's matchup will mark the 14th time the two sides have clashed since April 2023. The last bout came May 11 at B.C. Place , where the 'Caps fell behind early before rallying to earn a 2-2 draw. The Whitecaps need to play with more intensity to collect all three points this time out, said defender Mathias Laborda. 'We have to step forward and do a good game,' he said. With elite players — including striker Denis Bouanga — on the roster, L.A. presents a number of offensive threats, Laborda added. 'They're a really good team. They have really good players with quality. So we expect a really good game,' he said. L.A. is coming off a tough run at the FIFA Club World Cup where they finished at the bottom of their group with two losses and a draw, but is unbeaten in the club's last nine MLS games (4-5-0). The club is one of the better teams Vancouver has faced this season, Sorensen said, and Sunday's contest will be a difficult one. 'We know that they have some players we have to give special attention to. We know they have some things in their play that they're very good at and we have to take care of,' the coach said. 'But we also know we're a pretty good team ourselves and we have to also believe and trust in what we are doing. And then believe that that's how we're going to win the game.' NEXT GAME Sunday Vancouver Whitecaps vs. LAFC 7 p.m., BMO Stadium Goodbye Giroud: Olivier Giroud is set to play his final game for LAFC on Sunday. The club announced Friday that is has 'mutually parted ways' with the famed French striker. Giroud signed with L.A. in May 2024, but has struggled in MLS, putting up five goals in 37 games across all competitions. Home field advantage? : LAFC has been solid at BMO Stadium this year, posting a 6-1-1 record in MLS play. The Whitecaps have been one of the league's best road teams, though, and are 4-1-3 away from B.C. Place . Locked down : Despite giving up five goals on Wednesday, Vancouver has conceded the fewest goals in the Western Conference (19) and is tied with San Diego for the best goal differential (+15) in the West.
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Vancouver Whitecaps expected to extend midfielder Pedro Vite
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite (45) gains control of the ball during an MLS soccer match against Real Salt Lake, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps are planning to sign midfielder Pedro Vite to a long-term extension. The deal has not yet been officially announced, but will stretch through the 2029 campaign. Vite has 15 goals and 20 assists in 136 appearances with the 'Caps, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. The 23-year-old has also made eight appearances for Ecuador's men's national team and helped the squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup earlier this month. Vite first joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle. The Whitecaps (10-3-5) currently sit second in Major League Soccer's Western Conference and will return to play Sunday when they visit Los Angeles FC. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Olivier Giroud, France's All-Time leading scorer, mutually parts ways with LAFC
At least they'll always have their brief time together in the Club World Cup. On Friday, Los Angeles FC announced that it had mutually parted ways with striker Olivier Giroud. France's all-time leading scorer, Giroud, debuted for the MLS side on August 13, 2024, after ending his time with AC Milan. He will depart the team after this Sunday's match, with the Western Conference leading Vancouver Whitecaps visiting BMO Stadium. Advertisement 'I want to thank all of the fans, my teammates and the staff at LAFC for making this an enjoyable stop in my career,' Giroud said in the team's press release. 'I am happy to have played a part in the success of LAFC. From winning a trophy last season to participating in the Club World Cup, this has been a great experience in L.A. for me and my family.' Expectations were high when LAFC brought the striker in, as he remained in strong form with his previous employer in Serie A. LAFC was the fifth stop in Giroud's storied career, following tenures with Montpellier, Arsenal, Chelsea and Milan. At each of those previous clubs, Giroud was an ideal line-leading striker, able to link up during build-up phases while offering consistent finishing of both the routine and acrobatic varieties. Giroud made a quick first impression, scoring his team's lone goal in a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Crew in the 2024 Leagues Cup final. He also scored the opening goal in LAFC's 3-1 triumph over Sporting Kansas City in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup final, showing his big-game bona fides had followed him across the Atlantic. In the league, however, Giroud struggled to find his opportunities. Head coach Steve Cherundolo, who announced in April that he will depart LAFC at the end of this season, sets up his team to feast in transition. While Los Angeles FC isn't a possession-agnostic side that simply parks the bus, they aim to lull opponents with measured sequences of possession before quickly breaking upfield, often through dynamic winger Denis Bouanga. However, that style of play hardly suited Giroud at this advanced stage of his career. The 38-year-old struggled to keep stride with Bouanga and more youthful supporting attackers David Martínez and Nathan Ordaz, often getting touches early in these sequences — while they were in midfield — but lumbering behind the play thereafter. As such, his tally of counting stats is meager: five goals and four assists in 37 matches across all competitions. 'Olivier has been an exemplary professional during his time at LAFC,' LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said. 'He brought humility and a winning mentality that helped elevate everyone around him. Olivier has been a tremendous ambassador for the club on and off the field.' Giroud was not LAFC's first attempt to get the most out of an aging icon toward the end of their career. In 2022, their successful run to win MLS Cup included key contributions from Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale before both players called time on their careers. Before signing Giroud, Los Angeles had brought over France teammate and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at the end of his time with Tottenham Hotspur. LAFC was also long linked to another compatriot, star forward Antoine Griezmann, but the 34-year-old signed an extension that will keep him with Atlético Madrid through the 2026-27 La Liga season. Advertisement Giroud's final involvements (before Sunday's sendoff) came in the Club World Cup, which saw LAFC lose its first two games against Chelsea and Espérance de Tunis before playing Flamengo to a draw. Giroud appeared in all three matches, logging 161 minutes but getting just 50 touches of the ball. His only shot of the tournament, a second-half attempt against Espérance, was blocked before it could threaten the goalkeeper.
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Whitecaps ink midfielder Pedro Vite to extension through 2029
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed midfielder Pedro Vite to a long-term extension. The club announced the deal Friday, saying the deal stretches through the 2029 campaign. Vite has 15 goals and 20 assists in 136 appearances with the 'Caps, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. The 23-year-old has also made eight appearances for Ecuador's men's national team and helped the squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup earlier this month. Vite first joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle. Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster says in a release that Vite has since shown 'exceptional dedication to his development and that hard work has transformed him into one of the best young playmakers in Major League Soccer.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'Recently, he's also emerged as a key figure for Ecuador's national team, playing an important role in their qualification for next year's World Cup,' Schuster said. 'Pedro's success is a credit to his talent and determination, and we're excited to continue supporting him as he strives to reach his full potential.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
The Province
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Province
Whitecaps' all-star hype also an Axel Schuster story
Vancouver Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster deserves all the plaudits for the quality squad he's built. Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox Vancouver Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster. Photo by JONATHAN HAYWARD / The Canadian Press files Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Four Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS All-Star Game is a statement about team success and is yet another declaration about a soccer boss who's had a clear vision and is delivering. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Wednesday's news that goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, centre-back Tristan Blackmon, central midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and forward Brian White are all headed to the MLS's big show is a statement about how strong the Caps' season has been. They've drawn all kinds of notice around the league — and with the fans. That's outstanding. It's a great thing for a club that needs good things to happen to them. It's also a great thing for the Caps' CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster, the architect of all of this. As someone said to me Wednesday: 'Definitely give Axel his flowers.' Blackmon, Berhalter and White were all acquired inside eight months by Schuster. White was the first, in June 2021, originally brought in as cover for Lucas Cavallini, but obviously Schuster saw a player who could grow into more — the same with Berhalter, acquired on the eve of the 2022 season. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Berhalter, the son of a famed American soccer power couple, had tremendous pedigree and Vancouver has proved a fine finishing school for him as he's become a true engine in the midfield. And then there's Blackmon, as strong a positive character as you'll find in any team's dressing room. All three have proven to be the ultimate Schuster-style player; the kind of player this squad is now filled with, guys who have fantastic reserves of energy and also have remarkable smarts for the game. It shouldn't be remarkable that a sporting director can find players like this, but when you go through the years of Whitecaps managers, you see a lot of misfires. But since being handed the reins of the Caps in late 2019, Schuster has made few missteps, especially over the past two seasons. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Takaoka has proven to be a brilliant signing and, in being picked by Austin FC boss Nico Estevez to be one of his MLS all-star 'keepers, is an affirmation of the judgment Schuster showed in bringing in Takaoka, who bucks the goalie trend by not being a towering giant. Look at the rest of the key players on this roster, from Ryan Gauld down through the likes of Jayden Nelson, Pedro Vite and Edier Ocampo: Player after player has proven not just to be a quality footballer, but also a quality character as well. Too often over the past decade-plus has this team signed players who were good footballers but not good characters. Vancouver is fighting hard. Sure Wednesday's 5-3 loss to San Diego was rather concerning, given the Caps have been defensive dynamos all season, no matter who has been in the lineup, and they definitely weren't in that match. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But soon White and Berhalter and Nelson will be back — Ali Ahmed, too, though he's out six weeks with an ankle problem — and hopefully one day Gauld as well. Four all-stars, you have to think Schuster believes, are just the beginning of something big here. And for all the talk about Vite being an international transfer target this summer … how much longer will Schuster's work go unnoticed by bigger, richer clubs? That's just an idle thought from a local columnist, but I can't be alone, can I? pjohnston@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks NHL
