Jesper Sorensen is confident Ryan Gauld’s return from injury will only further improve the Vancouver Whitecaps’ chances of finishing first in the Western Conference.
Gauld returned from a long-term knee problem in Vancouver’s 4-3 loss to FC Cincinnati in midweek, making his first MLS start in 501 days.
The 30-year-old also finished with the team’s highest total of shots (four) and touches in the opposition box (six), but it was not enough to seal the three points at the TQL Stadium.
Now in his sixth season with Vancouver, Gauld scored at least 17 goals in three consecutive years until suffering his first long-term knee injury early last year.
He was able to return for the Whitecaps’ playoff campaign, but then suffered another issue that caused him to miss the start of 2026.
And, with MLS resuming after the World Cup break, Sorensen is thrilled to have him back in the fold.
“I think overall we had no problems creating opportunities when we played with patience and pace on the ball, and we had good build-up phases,” Sorensen said.
“Ryan, of course, we won’t take anything away from him. He played brilliantly, scored a couple of goals and it was amazing to have him back.
“And obviously, it was great for everyone that he scored too, and we’re all happy for him in that sense. It’s definitely positive.”
New city, new opportunity #VWFC | @parquenflyca pic.twitter.com/lhDKt9ri41
– Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) July 23, 2026
Gauld hopes to have a similar impact this weekend at Allianz Field, with Minnesota United being Vancouver’s next opponent.
Minnesota returned to MLS action following the World Cup break with a 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City, and they are now winless in five league games.
That run of results has seen them drop to ninth in the standings, although head coach Cameron Knowles believed his team deserved more at Sporting Park.
Minnesota’s loss to Sporting KC was the first against them since October 2023 in MLS, although Knowles insists his players are ready to bounce back.
“Look, I think any time you lose a game that you feel like you have a chance to win, it’s really tough,” Knowles said. “This was a good way to reset ourselves.
“We knew we were coming to visit and we knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we knew it would definitely be a good matchup and we would go there and compete for a result.
“It’s not just one team or one thread of history that runs through it, it’s about starting over, starting over and really attacking this last stretch of games.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Minnesota United-Devin Padelford
Padelford scored Minnesota’s only goal with a header in the 75th minute of Wednesday’s loss, scoring for just the second time in his professional career.
The only other time he found the back of the net in MLS was also with a header, as the Loons’ only goal in the loss to Austin FC in July 2023.
Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld
Gauld’s brace against Cincinnati was his sixth multi-goal game in MLS, but his first in more than two years, since doing so against the New England Revolution in June 2024.
His two goals brought him to 80 MLS goal contributions (36 goals, 44 assists), second in Whitecaps history only to Brian White (88).
MATCH PREDICTION: THE VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN
Vancouver has won four of its last six games against Minnesota (D1 L1), including a pair of 3-1 wins at Minnesota.
The Whitecaps have scored 15 goals in their four wins against the Loons in their last six meetings, while failing to score in the other two games.
The Whitecaps, however, have won just two of their last six regular season games (D2 L2) after winning eight of their first nine to start the season (L1). All of those games have been away from home, as this trip to Minnesota will be their seventh consecutive road game in the league.
Meanwhile, Minnesota hopes to improve in the final third. They had 10 shots on goal in their road loss to Sporting KC. Before the loss, the Loons had won all seven MLS games in which they had at least 10 shots on goal.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Minnesota United – 26.6%
Tie – 23.7%
Vancouver Whitecaps: 49.7%
