Gauld's penalty shot lifts Whitecaps to victory over Real Salt Lake

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps showed their "never say die" attitude once again Saturday, says goalkeeper Cody Cropper.

After battling Real Salt Lake through a tough second half, the 'Caps appeared poised to accept a 1-1 draw until defender Luis Martins was cut down while streaking into the penalty area in injury time.

Vancouver was awarded a penalty shot and attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld sent a ball soaring into the top-right corner of the RSL net, clinching a 2-1 victory three minutes into added time.

"This team has an incredible belief," Cropper said. "And I think that that's showing.

"We have great team camaraderie. Doesn't matter if we're down a goal. If we're up a goal if we, you know, give away a bad goal. This team has an ability to respond and we're going to continue to stay together, to stick together and carry this momentum forward."

The result moved the 'Caps (5-7-2) to a single point below the playoff bar in Major League Soccer's Western Conference.

A month ago, the club was cemented at the bottom of the league's standings.

"We pushed a lot," head coach Vanni Sartini said of his team's recent run. "I want to remind you that we did 13 points in the last six games. So we did very good. The problem is we started (the season) very bad."

Saturday's game turned in the 'Caps favour, Sartini said, with the club collecting all three points despite a disappointing second half.

"Let's be completely honest, we didn't deserve to win," the coach said "Salt Lake, they go away now today with a bitter taste in their mouth because it is a good game. But it's a testament of how the group is really fighting and working at the moment."

Salt Lake controlled 59.6 per cent of the possession across the first half but