The sting of defeat has lingered for Yohei Takaoka.

It香蕉视频直播檚 been a year since the Japanese goalkeeper and his Vancouver Whitecaps were bounced from the Major League Soccer playoffs by Los Angeles FC. The memory was still fresh as the club prepared to host their rivals in a do-or-die post-season bout again on Sunday.

香蕉视频直播淲e never forgot last year. We lost against them here. We never forget. I never forget,香蕉视频直播� Takaoka said. 香蕉视频直播淪o that香蕉视频直播檚 why I want to show our performance as a team, as a player.香蕉视频直播�

The Whitecaps exacted some revenge Sunday, beating LAFC 3-0 to level this year香蕉视频直播檚 best-of-three first-round matchup at a game apiece.

Ryan Gauld opened the scoring in the 10th minute, then provided a cross that led to an own goal from LAFC香蕉视频直播檚 Ryan Hollingshead four minutes later. An own-goal from Eddie Segura sealed the score at 3-0 in the 68th minute.

Yohei Takaoka stopped three on-target shots for Vancouver and L.A.香蕉视频直播檚 Hugo Lloris made one save.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the kind of performance and result we all felt we were capable of. So to go out and do it on the pitch was really good,香蕉视频直播� Gauld said.

LAFC took the first game 2-1 last Sunday. The decisive third bout is set for Friday in Los Angeles.

The 香蕉视频直播楥aps finished the regular season eighth in the West and trounced the Portland Timbers 5-0 in a wild-card match to earn their spot in the first round against No. 1-seed LAFC.

The winner of Friday香蕉视频直播檚 game will face Seattle in the Western Conference semifinals after the Sounders completed a two-game sweep of the Houston Dynamo earlier Sunday.

A playoff date with their regional rivals, the Sounders, would be a 香蕉视频直播渇antastic香蕉视频直播� prize for winning the first round, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.

香蕉视频直播淭he reward is enormous, but we need to climb the Everest,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e did the first part of the climbing today, and we need to do the second part, the hardest part, on Friday.香蕉视频直播�

A spell of solid passing plays put Vancouver in scoring position early on Sunday.

Gauld dished off to Brian White deep in the penalty area and the American striker sent it back moments later. Gauld put a shot up and in over Lloris to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute.

The Scottish midfielder has 17 goals across all competition this season, and leads the playoffs in scoring with five goals and one assist.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 good to have those contributions up top,香蕉视频直播� he said of the stretch. 香蕉视频直播淚 think overall my link up and my overall play could be better. But at least I香蕉视频直播檓 helping to make the final product at the end, which is kind of the most important thing.香蕉视频直播�

Gauld struck again in the 14th minute, slicing a ball into the box where it redirected in off the foot of LAFC香蕉视频直播檚 Hollingshead to give the 香蕉视频直播楥aps a 2-0 advantage.

L.A. controlled 51.9 per cent of the possession across the first half, but Vancouver outshot the visitors 9-3, and 2-0 in on-target shots.

Takaoka wasn香蕉视频直播檛 challenged until the 51st minute when Mateusz Bogusz fired a right-footed attempt from the centre of the box. The Japanese 香蕉视频直播榢eeper calmly plucked the ball out of mid-air for the stop.

He had to work harder in the 60th minute when L.A.香蕉视频直播檚 star offensive piece Denis Bouanga got a breakaway and sprinted toward the Vancouver net. Takaoka came up above the six-yard box to challenge and caught the shot in the left shoulder, sending it out of play.

香蕉视频直播淚 was able to expect that it was going to be one-versus-one in the moment. So I stayed patient,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t was a bit lucky. But the decision was good and I香蕉视频直播檓 happy to help the team.香蕉视频直播�

LAFC pushed in the second half, outshooting the home side 14-4 over the frame.

Vancouver now has two clean sheets in three playoff games this season.

香蕉视频直播淚 think we just worked on our shape to make sure we香蕉视频直播檙e a little harder to break down and not letting teams play so easily,香蕉视频直播� Gauld said of the defensive shift. 香蕉视频直播淚 think we were pretty good tonight, really good in Portland. 香蕉视频直播� It香蕉视频直播檚 something we香蕉视频直播檝e put a lot of work on in the training grounds.香蕉视频直播�

The 香蕉视频直播楥aps added to their tally in the 68th minute when Canadian defender Sam Adekugbe threw the ball in to Gauld, who charged forward and put it into the L.A. net off Segura香蕉视频直播檚 foot.

香蕉视频直播淲e said we thought we were due some good luck. And it was nice that it came tonight with a couple own goals and a couple of breaks here and there,香蕉视频直播� Gauld said of the breaks his team got on Sunday. 香蕉视频直播淪o hopefully the luck doesn香蕉视频直播檛 run out before Friday.香蕉视频直播�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2024.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press