Whitecaps escape with shootout win over LAFC in Leagues Cup play

Jul 30, 2024 | 11:50 PM

LOS ANGELES — The Vancouver Whitecaps began Leagues Cup play on Tuesday, escaping California with a shootout victory over the host Los Angeles FC after seeing the win almost slip away during stoppage time.

Vancouver goalkeeper and Penticton, B.C., native Isaac Boehmer stopped LAFC striker Kei Kamara in the penalty shootout, and Los Angeles midfielder Mateusz Bogusz shot over the net while the Whitecaps converted on all four of their kicks to win on penalties 4-2.

The Whitecaps had looked as if they would win in regulation time after jumping out to a 2-0 lead on goals in the fifth minute by Sebastian Berhalter and in the 17th minute by Ranko Veselinović, holding that advantage until well into the second half at the 88th minute.

That was when LAFC got a goal from Kamara to pull within one, before Bogusz scored the tying marker in the 95th minute, five minutes into stoppage time.