The Vancouver Whitecaps season ended with bookings, boos and cups raining down on the referee as a do-or-die playoff home match against Los Angeles F.C. turned fiery.

LAFC, the reigning MLS Cup champions, advanced to the Western Conference semifinals courtesy of a penalty converted by Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga in the 24th minute.

With the 1-0 win, Los Angeles swept the Whitecaps in the first round, best-of-three series.

But the match featured controversy as the Whitecaps questioned the decision to award a penalty after defender Tristan Blackmon was judged to have fouled LAFCB次元官网网址檚 Mario Gonzalez.

VancouverB次元官网网址檚 players surrounded referee Tim Ford decrying the decision and would do so again roughly 15 minutes later after Gonzalez slid in hard on goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka earning a yellow card as fans called for a sending off.

B次元官网网址淭he referee was a disaster, we have to be completely honest,B次元官网网址� said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini. B次元官网网址淓veryone can have a worst performance, they probably had their worst performance of their season.B次元官网网址�

Head coach Vanni Sartini speaks to the media following SundayB次元官网网址檚 loss against LAFC.
|

B次元官网网址� x - Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC)

The goal from the spot was LAFCB次元官网网址檚 first shot of the game.

Vancouver increasingly threw caution to the wind as the match wore on, with Sartini bringing on striker Simon Becher and attacking midfielder Junior Hoilett in an attempt to produce the tying goal.

B次元官网网址淲e put everything in in order to tie. I donB次元官网网址檛 think we shouldB次元官网网址檝e won. I think the tie wouldB次元官网网址檝e been the real fair result,B次元官网网址� Sartini said.

The Italian coach was sent off deep into stoppage time after the referee collided with Whitecaps midfielder Alessandro Schopf, who was lining up to take a shot, leading to what appeared to be a second goal for LAFC.

Several Vancouver players were also booked for arguing before the empty-net goal was called back for offside.

B次元官网网址淎t the end, we didnB次元官网网址檛 have a fair chance. Because today the referee had a bad game,B次元官网网址� Sartini said.

Whitecaps top scorer Brian White had the best opportunity of the game in the 85th minute after Ryan GauldB次元官网网址檚 cross found the American open in the box, only for his header to go straight into the hands of former Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

The Whitecaps struggled to find a way past LAFCB次元官网网址檚 compact defensive unit, with Crepeau aggressively patrolling his box to claim crosses.

B次元官网网址淲e just didnB次元官网网址檛 really get it to click in the final third,B次元官网网址� said Gauld. B次元官网网址淚 think up until the final third we were decent but we just couldnB次元官网网址檛 get that final pass right. The second half as well, we put a lot of pressure on them but we struggled to get that final pass.B次元官网网址�

Ford and his assistant referees left the field after the final whistle blew to a chorus of boos from the 30,204 strong crowd, with streamers and cups thrown their way from fans as they entered the tunnel.

The attendance is a record for the club in Major League Soccer.

READ MORE:

B次元官网网址淚 had chills walking out. IB次元官网网址檝e never seen such a boisterous, loud, packed stadium,B次元官网网址� said White.

The Whitecaps finish the season having yet to win a playoff game under Sartini but with a second consecutive Canadian Championship trophy.

B次元官网网址淚 told the players they need to be proud of the season,B次元官网网址� Sartini said. B次元官网网址淭he biggest take from this season is that we are a team that can easily start the season next year and say B次元官网网址榳e want to win this thingB次元官网网址�. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the biggest thing.B次元官网网址�

White and Gauld agreed with their coachB次元官网网址檚 view, with Gauld adding that the way the season ended can be a catalyst for next season.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been here two-and-a-half years, and (itB次元官网网址檚 my) third post-season and we still have not won a game in the playoffs,B次元官网网址� Gauld said. B次元官网网址淚t gives us that extra little bit of fire and motivation to do better next year.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps have only made it past the first round of the MLS playoffs in two season: 2015, 2017.

Nick Wells, The Canadian Press