Whitecaps 4, York United 1: Caps go away it late to advance in Canadian Championship

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For 60 minutes, the Vancouver Whitecaps couldn’t beat York United FC keeper Niko Giantsopolous.

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In order that they received York United to do it for them.

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The 9 Stripes goalkeeper confronted a barrage of 20 pictures from the Whitecaps within the first two-thirds of Wednesday evening’s Canadian Championship recreation at York Lions Stadium, however none received by him. Not from Ryan Gauld. Not from Deiber Caicedo. Not from Simon Becher.

It wasn’t till he noticed a Russell Teibert shot ricochet off the crossbar and off the again of defender Elijah Adekugbe within the 61st minute {that a} ball made it into the web behind him.

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It was all of the offence they wanted, however not all they received, because the Whitecaps went on to win their Canadian Championship quarterfinal at York Lions Stadium 4-1 on Wednesday evening.

Simon Becher and substitutes Levante Johnson and Julian Gressel additionally scored for Vancouver, who will transfer on to face the winner of TSS Rovers vs. Pacific FC.

Austin Ricci hit a 20 yard shot off the within of the put up within the ninetieth minute to spoil Yohei Takaoka’s shutout bid, but it surely was too little too late.

Giantsopolous didn’t assist his trigger with a ham-handed clearance try within the 76th minute, however his header from simply exterior the field went straight to Becher, who volleyed it casually into the empty internet.

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Becher’s Oscar-worthy dive drew a penalty kick within the 92nd minute, which Gressel stepped as much as convert.

Rovers and Pacific performed later within the night at Starlight Stadium in Victoria, however it will likely be an all-B. C. semifinals on one aspect of the bracket.

The Whitecaps performed downhill all evening, ending the sport with 27 pictures — seven on course — and their objective got here after a sustained stretch of strain.

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Midfielder Ali Ahmed, one of many three Canadians the Caps began on the evening, was the catalyst for his or her finest possibilities. It was his cross that was kicked out by Giantsopolous that led to Teibert’s crossbar try. He additionally picked out Becher minutes later, and the Caps striker redirected it off the put up.

He was subbed off by Johnson within the 82nd minute, and the Brampton native made no mistake, breaking down the left aspect to poke one over the shoulder of Giantsopolous.

Takaoka didn’t have a lot motion between the sticks for Vancouver — 5 of York’s six pictures had been on course — however was nonetheless known as upon early within the second half with a free-kick save off Lassana Faye. He additionally stopped Markiyan Voytsekhovskyy within the 88th minute, however couldn’t maintain out Ricci’s low blast two minutes later.

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