Vancouver Whitecaps ran rampant in a 5–0 victory over Portland Timbers in the Western Conference Wild Card match in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The comprehensive win for Vanni Sartini's team sets them up with a Round One Best of Three Series against LAFC. Vancouver should've been the hosts for the Wild Card match but a scheduling conflict at BC Place meant the match was played at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.
The visitors found the breakthrough after a bit of a pinball sequence from a corner kick. Several Portland and Vancouver players battled for the ball in the air before it dropped to Tristan Blackmon, who's shot was initially saved by Portland's James Pantemis.
The ball fell to Vancouver playmaker Ryan Gauld who made no mistake from close range as his shot bounced off Timbers defender Claudio Bravo and into the side netting. The goal was coming for the Whitecaps as they were asking questions of the Portland defense that conceded 56 goals during the regular season.
Minutes later, the Timbers found themselves in a hole after a brilliant piece of individual skill from Mathias Laborda. The Whitecaps defender got on the end of a cross in the Portland penalty area before flicking the ball up and over Bravo to square a pass across the face of goal for Brian White. It was a simple strike in the end for White who doubled Vancouver's lead with a tap-in finish.
The Whitecaps weren't done scoring in the first half, though. Gauld was in the right place at the right time once again to capitalize on a Portland error, pressing Pantemis and stealing the ball off him after a poor back pass from a Timbers defender. Gauld won possession and sent a pass back to the top of the penalty area.
Gauld received a lobbed pass from fellow Scotland international Stuart Armstrong and took a touch before chipping Pantemis—who did manage to get a glove to the shot—but it wasn't enough to keep out an unreal effort from the attacking midfielder.
Armstrong was involved in the final third once again early on in the second half. Fabrice 'Fafa' Picault sent in an inviting cross that the 32-year-old headed home from close range to make it 4–0 in favor of the hosts as he scored his second goal for the club.
The Scotland connection was on point once again as Armstrong connected with Gauld to secure the latter's hat trick. The Timbers defense didn't track Gauld's run into their penalty area and a simple pass from Armstrong sent Gauld through on goal.
Gauld then chipped Pantemis for the second time with a delicate finish into the bottom far corner to make it 5–0, wrapping up the scoring for the night.
