Whitecaps dominate, cruise to MLS Cup final over San Diego FC

Now do you believe in the Vancouver Whitecaps?

Before the start of the regular season, the MLS website assembled a special panel of experts — writers, TV commentators and former players — who offered their predictions for the campaign. Eight of the nine panelists predicted the Whitecaps would fail to make the playoffs, with one saying they would finish last in the Western Conference.

The Whitecaps responded by finishing second in the West, setting club records for most points (63) and most wins (18) in an MLS season.

Vancouver will follow that up by dispatching FC Dallas and LAFC through the first two rounds of the playoffs before taking on San Diego FC in the Western Conference final on Saturday to advance to the MLS Cup next weekend. Vancouver is now just 90 minutes away from being crowned MLS champions for the first time in their history.

Here’s what you need to know about the Whitecaps’ big game win over San Diego.

Main talking points

A brilliant attacking display from Vancouver in the first half

Vancouver had the third best offense in MLS with 66 goals during the regular season. San Diego (64 goals) was just two spots behind them, so you had to figure this was going to be a very open game. What was not expected was the manner in which the Whitecaps dominated the expansion club for the first half. Vancouver dealt with San Diego’s pressure game quite comfortably, playing through the pressure and getting to the other end quite efficiently as it transitioned seamlessly from defense to attack.

The Whitecaps were active in controlling the pace of the match both in and out of possession for the first 45 minutes, and kept the hosts off balance with their quick play down the wings. In particular, Canadian international Ali Ahmed (who was awarded man of the match) down the left and Emmanuel Sabi were dangerous on the right. Meanwhile, Andres Cuban and Sebastian Berhalter worked in perfect unison on both sides of the ball between Parks, playing a key role in helping Vancouver break down San Diego’s back line on numerous occasions.

Vancouver’s opening goal in the eighth minute capped off a stunning sequence that saw the Cuban make a great play to gain possession deep inside San Diego’s half and then make two brilliant passes before Brian White scored at the far post. An own goal just three minutes later that sealed the Whitecaps’ advantage was the result of a break into the penalty area by Sabi that San Diego couldn’t contain all night.

The crowd at Snapepragan Stadium was stunned into silence, unable to fathom how the home side, which topped the Western Conference standings at the end of the regular season, could fall into such a deep hole so quickly. With blood in the water, Vancouver continued to press hard rather than sit back. A third goal in first-half extra time effectively ended the game when White’s chest effort deflected Ahmed’s cross over the box into the San Diego’s chest.

Near flawless game management by the Whitecaps in the second half

The Whitecaps looked home and dry in last Saturday’s Western Conference semi-final when they led 2-0 over LAFC at BC Place before the half-time break. But the visitors fought back and tied things up with a pair of goals, including one at the death, before losing a heartbreaker in a penalty shootout. As impressive as Vancouver was in the first half, its win was just as fortunate as a wild sequence in overtime where LAFC hit the woodwork three times in a row.

As they did last week, the Whitecaps went into half-time with a huge lead on Saturday, but this time there was no valiant comeback by their opposition. The second half was a masterclass in game management by Vancouver, which picked up where it left off in the first half by continuing to run at San Diego and forcing them on the back foot.

The hosts saw more of the ball in the final 45 minutes, but the Whitecaps comfortably kept them at arm’s length and helped snuff out the slightest sniff of danger before it became an issue. Even after Herung Lozano’s lucky goal against the run of play in the 60th minute gave San Diego a lifeline, Vancouver didn’t panic and kept the match from going completely in favor of the home side. German star Thomas Müller headed it up shortly after Lozano’s goal, making the Whitecaps’ second-half display all the more impressive.

San Diego star Danish winger Anders Dreyer, voted MLS Newcomer of the Year 2025, was kept quiet by Vancouver thanks to solid defensive play in central midfield by the pair of Kuba and Berhalter. Great Dane, who was a finalist for the league’s MVP honor this year, managed only one shot on target.

The floodgates opened for Vancouver in the seventh minute of the match when he scored the first of three goals in the first half. San Diego was trying to play out from the back when Cuban effectively pressed fullback Ian Pilcher and won the ball. The Paraguay international latched on to a return pass from Berhalter before playing a quick-and-go with Ahmed in the penalty area. The Cuban took a touch after receiving the ball back from Ahmed and then headed it across the box to the back post where he slid it home.

Mexico star Lozano came off the bench early in the second half and got San Diego on the scoreboard on the hour mark. Three minutes later, Vancouver looked as though Sabi’s left-footed shot from just inside the penalty box was cleared off his line by goalkeeper Pablo Cisneaga to restore a three-goal lead. But San Diego defender Manu Duah came up with a brilliant header clearance to rob Sabi of a sure goal on the goal line.

Three stars of the day

1. Ali Ahmed (Vancouver): The Canadian international midfielder caused San Diego all sorts of problems, with his probing runs down the right, and effective link-up play when cutting through the middle. White collected assists on both goals.

2. Brian White (Vancouver): The American forward was sensational in leading the ruthless Whitecaps attack with a clutch first half, making a key pass and winning three aerial duels.

3. Andres Cuban (Vancouver): Two assists on the night from the Paraguay international who was impressive on both sides of the ball with Berhalter as part of a double midfield pivot.

Looking forward to the MLS Cup

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi cruised to an easy 5-1 home win over New York City in Saturday’s Eastern Conference final. As the top remaining seed, Miami will host Vancouver in the MLS Cup at Chase Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6. (2:30 p.m. ET). This is the first time both teams have advanced to the championship game in MLS.

While Messi’s side will have home ground advantage and are considered favourites, the Whitecaps cannot be overlooked as the Eastern Conference champions. The Whitecaps beat Miami in both legs of their CONCAF Champions Cup semifinal in April by a 5-1 aggregate score. If Vancouver wins, it will join Toronto FC (in 2017) as the only Canadian teams to play in the MLS Cup since the league’s inaugural season in 1996.