VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Vancouver got an early goal from a red-hot Ryan Gauld and two own goals from LAFC, top seed in the Western Conference, Yohei Takaoka posted his third sheet White in five playoff starts, and the Whitecaps reached a 3.-0 victory Sunday night to even their best-of-three first-round MLS Cup series.

Vancouver, the eighth seed in the West, took a 2-0 lead 13 minutes into the match and carried it into halftime on a goal from Gauld and an own goal from the defender from LAFC Ryan Hollingshead.

Gauld gave the Whitecaps the lead with an unassisted goal on a deflection in the 10th minute. Gauld has five playoff goals after not scoring in his first three playoff appearances. He scored a hat trick in a 5–0 home win over the Portland Timbers in the wild card round and scored Vancouver’s only goal in a 2–1 loss to LAFC in the first match of the series.

The only goal scored in the second half came from an own goal by LAFC defender Eddie Segura in the 68th minute, four minutes after replacing Maxime Chanot.

Takaoka finished with three saves for the Whitecaps.

Hugo Lloris saved a shot in his second playoff start for LAFC in his first season in the league.

LAFC beat the Whitecaps in Vancouver to complete a sweep in the same round last season en route to the conference championship.

LAFC entered having won seven straight in all competitions, outscoring their opponents 16-5.

The Whitecaps were just 6-7-4 at home during the regular season and were winless in their last four games – including a 2-1 loss to LAFC – but dominated their two playoff opponents 8-0 in wins.

Vancouver held LAFC’s Denis Bouanga to a draw after scoring four goals in his first three playoff games against the Whitecaps.

LAFC will host the rubber match of the series on Friday.

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