Whitecaps ride Ryan Gauld, Yohei Takaoka, and two own goals to series-tying 3-0 victory over LAFC

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

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

Gauld gave the Whitecaps the lead with an unassisted goal off a deflection in the 10th minute. Gauld has five goals this postseason after not scoring in his first three playoff appearances. He had a hat trick in a 5-0 victory at home over the Portland Timbers in the wildcard round and scored the only goal for Vancouver in a 2-1 loss to LAFC in the series opener.

The only scoring in the second half came courtesy of an own goal from LAFC defender Eddie Segura in the 68th minute, four minutes after he subbed in for Maxime Chanot.

Takaoka finished with three saves for the Whitecaps.

Hugo Lloris saved one shot in his second postseason start for LAFC in his first season in the league.

LAFC beat the Whitecaps in Vancouver to finish off a sweep in the same round last season on its way to the conference championship.

LAFC entered having won seven in a row across all competitions, outscoring its opponents 16-5.

The Whitecaps were only 6-7-4 at home during the regular season and winless in their last four — including a 2-1 loss to LAFC — but outscored their two playoff opponents 8-0 in the victories.

Vancouver held LAFC's Denis Bouanga in check after he scored four goals in his first three playoff matches against the Whitecaps.

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

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer

Fromleft to right, Vancouver Whitecaps' Ranko Veselinovic, Ali Ahmed, Tristan Blackmon, Sebastian Berhalter, back right, and Ryan Gauld celebrate after Gauld's goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Fafa Picault, front left, and Los Angeles FC's Timothy Tillman, back, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

From top left to right, Los Angeles FC's Aaron Long, Maxime Chanot, Ryan Hollingshead, Olivier Giroud, Timothy Tillman, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O'Brien, bottom left, defend against a free kick by Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld (not shown) as Whitecaps' Tristan Blackmon, second from front right, and Ranko Veselinovic, front right, watch during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps players are silhouetted as smoke from pyrotechnics hangs in the air before Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, right, dives to grab the ball that got past him during the first half of Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga, center, vies for the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld, left, and Sebastian Berhalter, right, during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld, front right, takes a free kick as, from top left to right, Los Angeles FC's Aaron Long, Maxime Chanot, Ryan Hollingshead, Olivier Giroud, Timothy Tillman, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O'Brien, bottom left, defend during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps players are silhouetted as smoke from pyrotechnics hangs in the air before Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld, right, jumps to get his head on the ball during the first half of Game 2 against Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White (24) celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, front right, during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld (25), Ranko Veselinovic (4), Brian White (24), Stuart Armstrong, back left, and Alessandro Schopf (8) celebrate after White's goal against Los Angeles FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White, left, scores against Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, front center, as Los Angeles FC's Eddie Segura, bottom right, looks on during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld, left, reacts after being tackled by Los Angeles FC's Eddie Segura during the second half of a first-round MLS Cup playoffs soccer match, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles FC's Mateusz Bogusz, front left, knocks Vancouver Whitecaps' Sam Adekugbe off the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Tristan Blackmon, front, and Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga, top, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld, left, celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld, left, celebrates after his goal against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles FC's Maxime Chanot, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White, right, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles FC's Maxime Chanot, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White, right, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump and top Iranian officials exchanged dueling threats Friday as widening protests swept across parts of the Islamic Republic, further escalating tensions between the countries after America bombed Iranian nuclear sites in June.

At least eight people have been killed so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, which were sparked in part by the collapse of Iran’s rial currency but have increasingly seen crowds chanting anti-government slogans.

The protests, now in their sixth day, have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations. However, the protests have yet to be as widespread and intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was detained over not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities.

Trump initially wrote on his Truth Social platform, warning Iran that if it “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States “will come to their rescue.”

“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote, without elaborating.

Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker who serves as the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, alleged that Israel and the U.S. were stoking the demonstrations. He offered no evidence to support the allegation, which Iranian officials have repeatedly made during years of protests sweeping the country.

“Trump should know that intervention by the U.S. in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests,” Larijani wrote on X, which the Iranian government blocks. “The people of the U.S. should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers.”

Larijani’s remarks likely referenced America’s wide military footprint in the region. Iran in June attacked Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar after the U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites during Israel's 12-day war on the Islamic Republic. No one was injured, though a missile did hit a structure there.

As of Friday, no major changes had been made to U.S. troop levels in the Middle East or their preparations following Trump’s social media posts, said a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans.

In a letter late Friday to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the U.N. Security Council, Iran's envoy asked the world body to condemn the rhetoric and reaffirm the country's "inherent right to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security, and to protect its people against any foreign interference.”

“The United States of America bears full responsibility for any consequences arising from these unlawful threats and any ensuing escalation," said Amir Saeid Iravani, Iranian ambassador to the U.N.

Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who previously was the council’s secretary for years, separately warned that “any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut.”

Trump's online message marked a direct sign of support for the demonstrators, something other American presidents have avoided out of concern that activists would be accused of working with the West. During Iran's 2009 Green Movement demonstrations, President Barack Obama held back from publicly backing the protests — something he said in 2022 “was a mistake.”

But such White House support still carries a risk.

“Though the grievances that fuel these and past protests are due to the Iranian government’s own policies, they are likely to use President Trump’s statement as proof that the unrest is driven by external actors,” said Naysan Rafati, an analyst at the International Crisis Group.

“But using that as a justification to crack down more violently risks inviting the very U.S. involvement Trump has hinted at,” he added.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei recently cited a list of Tehran’s longtime grievances regarding U.S. intervention, including a CIA-backed coup in 1953, the downing of a passenger jet in 1988 and the strikes in June.

Protests continued Friday in various cities in the country, even as life largely continued unaffected in the capital, Tehran. Demonstrations have reached over 100 locations in 22 of Iran's 31 provinces, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported. It said the death toll in the demonstrations rose to eight with the death of a demonstrator in Marvdasht in Iran's Fars province.

Demonstrators took to the streets in Zahedan in Iran's restive Sistan and Baluchestan province on the border with Pakistan. The burials of several demonstrators killed in the protests also took place Friday, sparking marches.

Videos purported to show mourners chasing off security force members who attended the funeral of 21-year-old Amirhessam Khodayari. He was killed Wednesday in Kouhdasht, over 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Tehran in Iran's Lorestan province.

Footage also showed Khodayari's father denying his son served in the all-volunteer Basij force of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, as authorities claimed. The semiofficial Fars news agency later reported that there were now questions about the government's claims that he served.

Iran’s civilian government under reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has been trying to signal it wants to negotiate with protesters. However, Pezeshkian has acknowledged there is not much he can do as Iran’s rial has rapidly depreciated, with $1 now costing some 1.4 million rials. That sparked the initial protests.

The protests, taking root in economic issues, have heard demonstrators chant against Iran’s theocracy as well. Tehran has had little luck in propping up its economy in the months since the June war.

Iran recently said it was no longer enriching uranium at any site in the country, trying to signal to the West that it remains open to potential negotiations over its atomic program to ease sanctions. However, those talks have yet to happen as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warned Tehran against reconstituting its atomic program.

Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin in Washington and Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report.

A woman shows a portrait of the late commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard expeditionary Quds Force, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone attack in 2020 in Iraq, on her smartphone during a ceremony commemorating his death anniversary at the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

People wave Iranian flags as one of them holds up a poster of the late commander of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard expeditionary Quds Force, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone attack in 2020 in Iraq, during a ceremony commemorating his death anniversary at the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

This combo shows President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. and Iranian Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Bilal Hussein)