Whitecaps score in 87th minute, settle for draw with Nashville SC

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:55 am

Javain Brown scored in the 87th minute to allow the Vancouver Whitecaps to post a 1-1 draw with host Nashville SC on Saturday night.

Down in the match, but the aggressor for most of the second half, Vancouver (7-10-6, 27 points) finally tied the game when Brown, while in traffic, got a knee on Ryan Gauld's ball into the box and past Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis for his first MLS goal.

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The Whitecaps are 0-2-3 in their last five matches, but they're unbeaten (1-0-3) in their last four road contests. They managed a point after this week's triumph over Toronto FC for the Canadian Championship Voyageurs Cup -- while also playing without injured leading scorer Lucas Cavallini (quad).

Meanwhile, Teal Bunbury scored in a second straight match for Nashville (8-7-8, 32 points), which had a brilliant chance in the final moments when Luke Haakenson's point-blank chance was stopped by Vancouver goalkeeper Cody Cropper.

Hany Mukhtar then missed high for Nashville, which has not won in three games (0-1-2).

From the get-go, it seemed only a matter of time before Nashville opened the night's scoring. The home side pressed and pressed, and was ultimately rewarded via Bunbury in the 17th minute.

The goal was set up via Mukhtar, who returned after missing the club's previous contest, after a Whitecaps' turnover in their own end.

Vancouver woke up its offense in the 28th minute when Brian White's shot was pushed away by a diving Willis, who then got a hand on Gauld's ball a minute later. However, the Whitecaps went to halftime down 1-0.

The Whitecaps got a prime chance on the hour mark from Cristian Dajome, but Willis snagged the point-blank attempt. Vancouver continued to press as the second half wore on, and was ultimately rewarded through Brown's heroics.

Right back Shaq Moore, a defender on the U.S. Men's National Team, made his MLS debut in a starting role for Nashville SC on Saturday. He was acquired on July 19.