VANCOUVER — Like a rock rolling down a hill, the Vancouver Whitecaps keep gaining momentum.
Winger Jayden Nelson notched a pretty goal in the 20th minute and centre back Tristan Blackmon scored in the 70th as the Vancouver Whitecaps used a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake Saturday night to add their names to the history books.
The win makes the Whitecaps (8-1-2) only the sixth team in Major League Soccer history, and the first in 15 years, to reach 26 points in 11 games. Vancouver is also undefeated in 10 matches (6-0-4) across all competitions.
“We’re just cherishing the moment,” said Nelson, a Brampton, Ont., native, who scored his second goal of the season before a crowd of 19,762 at BC Place Stadium. “We know we’re doing a lot of good things.
"There’s no memory in football. Each game is a different time to make history. That’s what you want to do because at the speed we’re going right now, we’re doing something big. You just need to keep going and keep having this killer mentality.”
Salt Lake’s Diego Luna scored on a penalty kick in the sixth minute of extra time to break the shutout bid.
The Whitecaps win came on the heels of their 3-1 road victory against Inter Miami CF Thursday night that moved them into the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time.
Head coach Jesper Sorensen said the team has stayed focused on winning, no matter the travel requirements or magnitude of the game.
“It’s been important for us to not focus on the schedule or talk about being tired,” said the first-year coach. “What has been important for us is we have pushed all along and set high demands for the players.
“It’s not that today is a free ride when you play. We have to perform and we have to perform together. We are ambitious. We believe we can go out and push the buttons physically.”
The Whitecaps have the best record in MLS. Their 26 points is two more than Columbus who drew 1-1 with Seattle.
The last MLS team to reach 26 points in 11 games was the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2010.
Vancouver leads the Western Conference by seven points over Minnesota.
The loss dropped Real Salt Lake (4-7-0) to 11th in the Western Conference.
Nelson was a thorn in Salt Lake’s side all night.
His goal came on a dazzling individual effort. The speedy winger took a pass from midfielder Ralph Priso and sprinted down field. He weaved between two Salt Lake defenders then tucked a right-footed shot just inside the corner of the net.
“For me, from the start of the season, it’s just been the same mentality,” said Nelson, who missed six games with a hamstring injury. “I just try to come into the game trying to be a threat.
“Today the universe gave me the opportunity to go out, beat my guy and score a goal.”
Nelson had another chance in the 15th minute.
After taking a pass from midfielder Jean-Claude Ngando, Nelson had nothing but green grass between him and the goal. He elected to pass to Edier Ocampo breaking in on the other wing but Salt Lake goalkeeper Rafel Cabral made a sliding block on the ball.
Blackmon made no mistake on his goal, taking a pass from midfielder Sebastain Berhalter and blowing a shot past Cabral. Berhalter has three goals and three assists in his last four games.
That goal came just minutes after Vancouver’s Daniel Rios was stopped on a penalty kick with Cabral making a great one-handed stop.
Salt Lake was awarded the penalty kick after Berhalter was called for stepping on winger Justen Glad’s heel.
The Whitecaps played the game without striker Brian White, who was named MSL player of the month after scoring eight goals in seven appearances in April. He didn’t dress due to hamstring tightness.
Real Salt Lake looked to have earned a penalty kick in the 59th minute when Vancouver’s Andres Cubas was called after Gozo sprawled to the ground in the box. With the crowd booing the call an instant replay showed Cubas didn’t touch Gozo.
It’s been a busy 10 days for the Whitecaps. Vancouver defeated Inter Miami CF 5-1 over two games to advance to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup plus beat Minnesota United FC 3-1 in a MLS road game.
FOOT NOTES
Before Saturday's match there was a minute of silence for those killed and injured last weekend when a man drove a vehicle through a Filipino heritage festival crowd in Vancouver. … The Whitecaps play three of their next five MLS matches at home. … The Whitecaps face LIGA MX side Cruz Azul on June 1 in the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. … Vancouver is unbeaten on the road in MLS play this season (3-0-2). … Real Salt Lake played without midfielder Matthew Bell (hamstring), goalkeeper Zac MacMath (back), and defenders Javain Brown (knee), Kobi Henry (hamstring) and Bode Hidalgo (suspended due to yellow card accumulation).
UP NEXT
Salt Lake: Visits FC Dallas on Saturday, May 10.
Vancouver: Hosts Los Angeles FC on Sunday, May 11.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2025.
Jim Morris, The Canadian Press
