The Whitecaps rally to defeat LAFC on penalties to win the conference semi-finals

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps have secured their first berth in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference Finals.

The ‘Caps and Los Angeles FC battled to a 2-2 draw on Saturday before Vancouver emerged victorious on penalties 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals.

Emmanuel Sabi scored in the 39th minute and defender Mats Lebarda doubled the lead in first-half injury time.

South Korean superstar Heung-min Son gave LA life with a goal in the 60th minute, then equalized in the fifth minute of injury time when Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon was shown his second yellow card of the night.

Lebarda then played the hero in the penalty shootout, beating LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris to seal the win.

It was the third consecutive year in which the two sides have met in the playoffs. LA defeated Vancouver the previous two seasons.

The ‘Caps will face the winner of Monday’s Western Conference semifinal match between San Diego FC and Minnesota United next week.

The Whitecaps finished the regular season sitting in second place in the Western Conference standings with an 18-7-9 record and defeated FC Dallas in the first round playoff series to advance.

LAFC went 17-8-9 to finish in third place, then eliminated Austin FC to set up Saturday’s battle.

Vancouver took control early in the semi-final match, dominating possession, piercing LA’s backline and testing ‘keeper Hugo Lloris in front of an announced crowd of 53,957 at BC Place.

The Caps finally broke through in the 39th minute thanks to Yohei Takaka’s goal kick. The netminder sent a long ball across midfield to Emmanuel Sabi at the top of the penalty area and the right midfielder got a touch on it to send it past Lloris to make it 1-0 with his ninth goal of the year.

The home side doubled their lead in first-half injury time.

Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter sent a corner kick wide of the penalty area to Thomas Müller, who headed it home. Lloris blocked the shot, but couldn’t control the ball and it went to Lebarda, who fired a quick shot for Vancouver’s 100th goal of the season in all competitions.

Vancouver controlled 63.7 percent of possession in the first half and outshot the visitors 7-1, with a 5-0 advantage in on-target chances.

LA made a pair of half-time substitutions in an attempt to spark the offense, bringing in central midfielder Andrew Moran and young striker David Martinez.

The Black and Gold responded and had their first on-target shot of the night in the 53rd minute when Denis Buanga collected a misplaced pass and sprinted upfield on a breakaway.

The star winger had a shot blocked from the top of the penalty area, but Takaka comfortably left to make the stop.

LAFC continued to press and were rewarded for their tenacity.

Pitt unleashed a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the 60th minute and Takaka rose to make the stop. The ball fell back to Son’s feet and he had another chance, only to be thwarted by Lebarda on the goal line. Pitt made a third attempt and sent a shot bouncing off Caps defender Ralph Presso, cutting LA’s deficit to 2-1.

The play was reviewed for a possible offside but held after a video review. The decision was greeted loudly by Vancouver fans.

Vancouver came close to adding to their lead in the 78th minute on a free kick just above the penalty area.

Berhalter deflected a ball into the back post and Blackmon raised his right foot just in time to send the ball flying into an open net. Lloris dove and made a seemingly impossible save.

The Whitecaps went a man down in the third minute of injury time when Blackmon was shown his second yellow card of the night for a foul on Boanga.

Vancouver tried to shore up their defense, bringing on Central back Bilal Halboni for striker Ryan Eloumi, but Pitt could not be contained.

The prize forward lined up for a free kick just above the penalty area and sent the shot curling between Takaka’s outstretched arm and the post in the fifth minute of injury time to level the score at 2-2.

LA took the momentum into overtime. The visitors kept the ‘Caps in their own end and repeatedly tested Takaka.

Vancouver suffered yet another blow midway through overtime when Halbone suffered an apparent lower-body injury and was helped off the field by medical personnel. Because the ‘Caps used all their substitutes in regulation time and by sending Blackmon off, they were forced to play the game under two bodies.

The home side found some luck, sending a shot inches wide of the LA post and off the crossbar as time ticked down, sending the game to penalties.

By the time the whistle blew, LAFC had outshot Vancouver 23-9 and were up 7-6 in shots on target.