Vite scores 1st MLS goal as Whitecaps blank Galaxy to keep playoff hopes alive

The Vancouver Whitecaps kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 victory over the L.A. Galaxy on Wednesday.

Ryan Gauld opened the scoring in the 58th minute, Pedro Vite added to the advantage in the 68th with his first goal in Major League Soccer play, and Tosaint Ricketts came off the bench to add a final strike in the 86th.

It was a tough outing for L.A. (11-8-7), who came into Vancouver on a six-game unbeaten streak (2-0-4) and sit three points out of a post-season berth.

The Galaxy controlled 67.8 per cent of the possession across the game but the 'Caps came on strong in the second half, outshooting the visitors 6-2 in shots on target.

Vancouver 'keeper Thomas Hasal made two saves to collect his third clean sheet of the season while Jonathan Bond had three stops for L.A.

WATCH | Whitecaps shutout Galaxy:

After a quiet first half, Vancouver's offence erupted in the second.

Julian Gressel sprang Ricketts with a high ball 86 minutes in. The 35-year-old Canadian striker went one-on-one with Bond, sending a low, rolling shot past the 'keeper for his fourth goal of the season.

Vite boosted Vancouver's lead to 2-0 in the 68th minute.

Striker Brian White sliced a ball to Luis Martins and the midfielder sent it across the box to the back post, where Vite tapped it in for his first MLS goal.

Vancouver signed the 20-year-old Ecuadorean midfielder in August 2021 but did not see his first appearance for the club until this season.

A Whitecaps' corner in the 58th minute set up the game's opening strike.

The first on-target shot of the game didn't come until the 47th minute when L.A.'s Riqui Puig unleashed a right-footed shot from outside of the box, forcing Hasal to make his first save of the night.

L.A. dominated 71 per