By Canadian Press

Vancouver Whitecaps, D.C. United draw 2-2 as MLS playoff push continues

Sep 30, 2023 | 9:56 PM

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps and D.C. United battled to a 2-2 draw, with defensive miscues and close chances cancelling each other out, as the chase for a Major League Soccer playoff spot intensified on Saturday night.

The Whitecaps thought they had sealed the win when striker Brian White was brought down in the box, with a penalty awarded after video review in the 57h minute.

Ryan Gauld stepped up and cooly dispatched the spot pick for Vancouver to once again take the lead in the tightly contested match.

But D.C. caught a lucky break as Mateusz Klich took a speculative shot, with a deflection off defender Tristan Blackmon diverting it beyond a diving Yohei Takaoka.

The White and Gauld combination struck early on, as Richie Laryea broke down the left wing with his blocked cross finding an open Gauld who chipped it to the far post for White to nod home his 14th league goal of the season in the second minute.

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D.C. United struck back on a defensive mishap from Vancouver in the 11th minute. Takaoka panicked under pressure with his weak pass out intended for defender Blackmon losing out to Ted Ku-DiPietro, who slid a pass across to an open Christian Benteke who rolled it calmly into the net.

Vancouver could clinch a playoff spot in its next home game.

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Vancouver hosts Western Conference-leading St. Louis City S.C. on Wednesday, while D.C. United heads to Texas to take on Austin F.C.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2023.

Nick Wells, The Canadian Press