VANCOUVER — Ryan Gauld returned to the starting lineup and scored his 50th goal as a Whitecaps player as Vancouver comfortably beat LA Galaxy 3-0 on Wednesday evening at BC Place.
Gauld scored in the 57th minute, the Scotsman riding two tackles, before nestling the ball in the corner of JT Marcinkowski’s net.
With the goal, Gauld became the first Whitecaps player in the team’s Major League Soccer era to record 50 goals and 50 assists.
The goal capped a return to the starting lineup for Gauld and striker Brian White, who scored the winner in the ninth minute.
White opened the scoring off a combination from the team’s three stars: Gauld took a quick throw to Thomas Muller, who flicked it to an onrushing White who dinked the ball with his head over a charging defender before firing it in on a volley.
After a nervy start, the Galaxy came into the game forcing Whitecaps goalie Yohei Takaoka into a series of smart saves, culminating with Hirving Lozano trying to bend one into the top corner only for the Japanese netminder to palm it wide.
Muller left the match injured in the 27th minute after taking a knock from a Galaxy defender. Muller will turn 37 on Sunday, the same day Vancouver hosts Austin FC.
Bruno Caicedo wrapped up the scoring in the 89th minute with a penalty that Marcinowski got a hand to, but the ball’s rotation carried it over the line before bouncing clear.
Galaxy: Travel to Seattle to play the Sounders on Saturday.
Whitecaps: Host Austin FC on Sunday at BC Place.