Latest news with #MLSWesternConference
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Vancouver Whitecaps sell dynamic midfielder Pedro Vite to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM
The Vancouver Whitecaps will be without one of their top scorers this weekend as they seek to retake the No. 1 spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. The club announced Friday that 23-year-old midfielder Pedro Vite has been transferred to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM. Terms of the deal were not released, but Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement that the club will invest the transfer fee to 'strengthen our roster, for both immediate impact and long-term success' and Vancouver will receive a percentage of any future transfer fees. 'Pedro arrived in Vancouver at 19, living outside of Ecuador for the first time. Year after year, he continued to progress, and this season he's emerged as one of the top midfielders in MLS and a key contributor to his national team,' Schuster said. 'We explored several options with Pedro and, ultimately, we respect his decision. We're grateful for everything he brought to the club and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.' Vite joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle. During his time in Vancouver, he tallied 15 goals and 20 assists in 140 appearances, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. Last month, he helped Ecuador's national squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Vite has been an important part of the Whitecaps this season, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said Friday. 'He's honestly been amazing,' he said. 'One of the first moments I played with him, I realized, 'Wow, this kid is special.' He wasn't getting the game time, but you could see just his touch and technique on the ball was something I hadn't really played with before.' The move means the 'Caps (12-5-5) will have a hole in their lineup Saturday when they take on San Diego FC (13-7-3) in California. '(Vite's) a guy who can make very difficult things look very easy and I think that he has had a great season so far,' said Jesper Sorensen, Vancouver's head coach. 'Of course we will miss him. We will always miss a good player and a good guy as well. But on the other hand, this is the name of the game and this is how football works. And we will be ready to fill out the spot that he leaves.' Saturday's match will be a battle for best of the West, with expansion side San Diego currently sitting one point ahead of Vancouver and in the No. 1 spot in the MLS Western Conference standings. The stakes were similar back on June 25 when San Diego came to Vancouver for the first-ever matchup between the two sides. The new franchise waltzed away with a 5-3 victory. Milan Iloski scored four goals for the visitors that night, but won't be in the lineup on Saturday. The midfielder left San Diego earlier this week to rejoin Danish Superliga side FC Nordjaelland. Sorensen, for one, isn't disappointed to see Iloski go. 'He was pretty hard on us last time. I'm happy he's not there today,' the coach said with a laugh. 'No matter who (San Diego) play, they all play the same way. Of course it's not the same player they have but they have good players around and they'll also find a replacement that will make things difficult for us.' VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-5) AT SAN DIEGO FC (13-7-3) Saturday, Snapdragon Stadium POTENT OFENCE: San Diego continues to be an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in both goals (46) and assists (55). The team is also second in passes completed (13,731). QUEST FOR 100: Striker Brian White scored his 99th career goal on Wednesday. He leads the 'Caps in scoring this season with 16 goals across all competitions. KEEP IT CLEAN: Vancouver 'keeper Yohei Takaoka leads the league with 10 clean sheets after backstopping the Whitecaps to a 3-0 victory over the Dynamo. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Whitecaps sell dynamic midfielder Pedro Vite to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM
The Vancouver Whitecaps will be without one of their top scorers this weekend as they seek to retake the No. 1 spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. The club announced Friday that 23-year-old midfielder Pedro Vite has been transferred to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM. Terms of the deal were not released, but Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement that the club will invest the transfer fee to 'strengthen our roster, for both immediate impact and long-term success' and Vancouver will receive a percentage of any future transfer fees. 'Pedro arrived in Vancouver at 19, living outside of Ecuador for the first time. Year after year, he continued to progress, and this season he's emerged as one of the top midfielders in MLS and a key contributor to his national team,' Schuster said. 'We explored several options with Pedro and, ultimately, we respect his decision. We're grateful for everything he brought to the club and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.' Vite joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle. During his time in Vancouver, he tallied 15 goals and 20 assists in 140 appearances, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. Last month, he helped Ecuador's national squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Vite has been an important part of the Whitecaps this season, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said Friday. 'He's honestly been amazing,' he said. 'One of the first moments I played with him, I realized, 'Wow, this kid is special.' He wasn't getting the game time, but you could see just his touch and technique on the ball was something I hadn't really played with before.' The move means the 'Caps (12-5-5) will have a hole in their lineup Saturday when they take on San Diego FC (13-7-3) in California. '(Vite's) a guy who can make very difficult things look very easy and I think that he has had a great season so far,' said Jesper Sorensen, Vancouver's head coach. 'Of course we will miss him. We will always miss a good player and a good guy as well. But on the other hand, this is the name of the game and this is how football works. And we will be ready to fill out the spot that he leaves.' Saturday's match will be a battle for best of the West, with expansion side San Diego currently sitting one point ahead of Vancouver and in the No. 1 spot in the MLS Western Conference standings. The stakes were similar back on June 25 when San Diego came to Vancouver for the first-ever matchup between the two sides. The new franchise waltzed away with a 5-3 victory. Milan Iloski scored four goals for the visitors that night, but won't be in the lineup on Saturday. The midfielder left San Diego earlier this week to rejoin Danish Superliga side FC Nordjaelland. Sorensen, for one, isn't disappointed to see Iloski go. 'He was pretty hard on us last time. I'm happy he's not there today,' the coach said with a laugh. 'No matter who (San Diego) play, they all play the same way. Of course it's not the same player they have but they have good players around and they'll also find a replacement that will make things difficult for us.' VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-5) AT SAN DIEGO FC (13-7-3) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Saturday, Snapdragon Stadium POTENT OFENCE: San Diego continues to be an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in both goals (46) and assists (55). The team is also second in passes completed (13,731). QUEST FOR 100: Striker Brian White scored his 99th career goal on Wednesday. He leads the 'Caps in scoring this season with 16 goals across all competitions. KEEP IT CLEAN: Vancouver 'keeper Yohei Takaoka leads the league with 10 clean sheets after backstopping the Whitecaps to a 3-0 victory over the Dynamo. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld doesn't want to rush return from injury
VANCOUVER - Being back on the pitch doing some light training is a step forward for Ryan Gauld, but the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder isn't rushing his return to playing. The 29-year-old from Aberdeen, Scotland, has been sidelined since March 8 with a knee capsule sprain. He was greeted with cheers from some of his teammates when he stepped on the field for a practice this week. 'It's nice to have the boots back on, be outside,' said Gauld. 'I still got a long ways to go, but it's a step forward.' Gauld was hurt in a March 8 game against CF Montreal. His recovery has been slower than expected and he doesn't want to hurry his return. 'I've got in my head how I hope things go, what it looks like, but there's no point getting too stressed on it,' said the Whitecaps captain who had a career-high 17 goals and led the team with 16 assists in 37 starts and 41 appearances across all competitions last season. 'I've got a timeline in my head but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I've got to make sure I come back at 100 per cent and don't suffer any more setbacks.' Two players who will be in the lineup Saturday when the Whitecaps visit the Colorado Rapids in a Major League Soccer match are midfielder Sebastain Berhalter and forward Brian White. The two MLS all-stars had been playing with the United States at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. 'It's great just seeing the guys again and being back in this environment,' said Berhalter. 'I realized how much I love playing with these guys.' The Whitecaps (11-4-5) and Rapids (7-10-5) are both looking to shake themselves out of a losing skid. The Whitecaps head into the weekend second in the MLS Western Conference with 38 points but are 2-3-1 in their last five league games. Vancouver needed a goal in the 90th minute Wednesday night to beat Winnipeg-based Canadian Premier League side Valour 2-1 to win their Telus Canadian Championship quarterfinal. Colorado sits 10th in the West, tied with two other teams with 26 points. The Rapids are 1-5-1 in the last seven games and have been held scoreless four times in that stretch. Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said playing at altitude and expected heat will be a challenge for his team. 'The conditions will be a little different than we are used to,' he said. 'Colorado is a good team, they have some good players that can change the game on their own. 'We have to be ready for whatever faces us.' The Whitecaps play their next three games on the road. After Saturday they travel to Houston on Wednesday, then San Diego July 19. 'It's a tough stretch of away games against good teams,' said White. 'Everyone is going to be locked in, switched on. Hopefully you can come away with as many points as possible.' Sorensen said having Berhalter and White back in the lineup will make a difference for team chemistry. 'It's been a little bit frustrating because we haven't had them the entire time,' he said. As for when Gauld might return, Sorensen urged patience. 'It's not important for me when he's back, it's important for me how he's back,' he said. 'It's very important he has gained the strength he needs to play. It very important that he comes back strong.' White said it was good to see his friend practising. 'It's been difficult not being able to have him out here,' said White, who leads the Whitecaps with 15 goals in all competitions. 'You miss a player like Ryan, his quality, the leadership, what he can bring to the team.' —- VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (11-4-5) at COLORADO RAPIDS (7-10-5) Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. PDT SHARING THE LOAD: With the winning goal in Wednesday's Canadian Championship game against Valour, Bjorn Inge Utvik became the 19th Whitecap to score across all competitions this season. LENDING A HAND: Defender Ranko Veselinovic became the 17th Whitecap to earn an assist this season on Wednesday. OFF THE PITCH: Forward Jayden Nelson will miss the game after receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time for kicking the ball into the stands in frustration during Vancouver's 3-0 loss to the L.A. Galaxy July 4. SICK BAY: Midfielder Ali Ahmed (sprained ankle) expected return to play in six to eight weeks. Midfielder Andrés Cubas (sprained ankle) expected to return in one to two weeks. Defender Giuseppe Bovalina (illness) day-to-day LAST MEETING: The Whitecaps defeated the Rapids 2-0 at BC Place Stadium April 5. GOALS AGAINST: The 22 goals Vancouver has allowed in MLS play is tied for second least in the league and best in the Western Conference. Philadelphia has allowed 21 goals while New York City has also given up 22. NEED A STOP: The Whitecaps have been outscored 10-4 over their last three MLS losses. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025.
Los Angeles Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
LAFC defender Aaron Long to miss rest of season after rupturing Achilles
LAFC defender Aaron Long will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles. The team — which said the surgery was successful — made the announcement on Tuesday, three days after Long was injured in the 76th minute of a 2-0 win over FC Dallas. The 32-year-old Long is in his third season with LAFC and has started all 15 games this year, scoring one goal. He's started 60 games for the club over the last three seasons. LAFC is currently in sixth place in the MLS Western Conference standings with a 9-5-5 record.
Fox Sports
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
LAFC defender Aaron Long out for the season, has surgery on ruptured left Achilles
Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles FC defender Aaron Long will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles. The team — which said the surgery was successful — made the announcement on Tuesday, three days after Long was injured in the 76th minute of a 2-0 win over FC Dallas. The 32-year-old Long is in his third season with LAFC and has started all 15 games this year, scoring one goal. He's started 60 games for the club over the past three seasons. LAFC is currently in sixth place in the MLS Western Conference standings with a 9-5-5 record. ___ AP soccer: recommended Item 1 of 1 in this topic
