Whitecaps gets a point in a hard fought penalty shootout

Current status

The Whitecaps now fall into a hole as in BC Place they fall in a hard fought penalty shootout vs Club Leon and 1 point is their only reward from this game. As the Whitecaps now need to at least get a penalty shootout win in Dignity Health Sports Park to go through to the Round Of 32. As Club Leon is now ahead of the Whitecaps in the table and now the Caps in a real tough situation as they have to get a win or get a penalty shootout win to secure that Round Of 32 ticket.

Supporters

The supporters from both sides were extremely loud tonight as there was a lot of chants in BC PLace tonight, even though it was an neutral site and not in the Whitecaps advantage. The Southside was loud filled with WHITE CAPS, WHITE CAPS through my TV. Even though attendance didn't feel as high as your regular MLS match. From the opposition fans Club Leon I also heard a lot of enthusiasm and celebrations and also some LE ON chants I believe was in the crowd, with I believe an estimated 1500 Leon fans attending, thus a lot of noise from the Mexicans tonight. The total attendance was 17 391 tonight but a lot of them were certainly Leon fans.

Vanni's decisions/ analytics

So Vanni played this game starting with a 3-1-4-2 as Sartini made the controversial decision to not start Brian White and play J.C Ngando in his first ever start for the Whitecaps as the midfielder who replaces the departed Gressel in this one. Also starts Levonte Johnson the young Canadian who has been recently been signed into the first team. It's a interesting match to play so many youngsters and to not play the veterans or the more experienced first team players this season. As Vanni may have now figured out that Teibert isn't starting 11 worthy but I still believe that he should play over the inexperienced J.C Ngando but I'll admit Ngando didn't play bad in this one but maybe bringing that extra leadership in Russell Teibert in a first ever clubs Leagues Cup match. Vanni switched to a back 4 at halftime and the defence was more tight and better. Whitecaps allowed 14 shots by Leon tonight with 8 of those being on target, only shot 8 of their own and only 2 shots on target which were the two goals. Only 35% possession from the Whitecaps as I believe the press wasn't as strong tonight, especially during the first 30 minutes, Leon was looking too comfortable on the ball. That led to a lot of chances and a goal in the first 30 minutes.

Game

Leon were creating a lot of chances early on that led to a mis clearance by Cubas where they found a overlap and a cutback to Mereno and Leon strikes first.

Then in the 44th minute Berhalter with a lovely touch and through ball to get Cordova through 1v1 and he buries it!

Then shortly after that the teams are even going into halftime. Halftime kicks off and Ryan Gauld with some magic and a through ball to Sergio Cordova who scores, a brace for Sergio Cordova.

But then in the 77th minute Club Leon equalize through a beautiful long shot by Elias Hernandez that goes in the back of the net behind Yohei Takaoka.

On a set piece that was crossed in and headed back out of the box by Club Leon, Luis Martins tries a long driven shot that hits the post!

The end of the 90 minutes is over and now it's time to go to a penalty shootout to grab an extra point.

Penalties

Vancouver is shooting second in the shootout. Both teams nail the first 2 penalties. Next up is Elias Hernandez who misses, now it's advantage Vancouver! But then Andres Cubas also misses and now it's back dead even. The two teams did the same thing again! Both the goalies make a great save on both of the shots. Now Club Leon scores to make it 3-2, if Brian White misses the game is over, but of course he does not a strong driven penalty into the bottom right corner by White. Now it's sudden death and in the 8th attempt Fidel Ambriz was denied by Takaoka and now a chance for Mathias Laborda to get the 2 points for Vancouver but he hits the woodwork! Now every single penalty is drained 21 times in a row between the two teams. Even both the goalkeepers scored against the opposition goalie. Now it's Luis Martins with the 19th shot for vancouver, 38th shot in total and he hits the right post, game is over Club Leon take the 2 points and Vancouver only walks away with one.