Whitecaps win opener over Real Salt Lake behind Aziel Jackson goal

The Vancouver Whitecaps topped visiting Real Salt Lake 1-0 behind a goal from Aziel Jackson on Saturday night to open the MLS regular season.

Jackson scored early in the second half for Vancouver, which has won three straight over Salt Lake dating back to last season and is 13-5-1 at home against its Western Conference foe.

Whitecaps keeper Yohei Takaoka made two saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Vancouver is now 16-15-5 all-time against Salt Lake, having won consecutive home openers for the first time since 2014.

Salt Lake has now dropped three straight road regular-season openers.

Jackson put Vancouver on the board in the 57th minute, picking up the deflection off Tate Johnson's cross and putting his left-footed strike from the center of the box past a diving Rafael Cabral.

Zavier Gozo had an excellent chance to get the visitors the opening goal in the 53rd minute, but his left-footed shot from outside the area curled wide of the goal.

Vancouver controlled possession in the first half and had two shots on target in the opening 45, with its best scoring chance coming in the 16th minute as Thomas Muller put his strike from the middle of the box past a diving Cabral, but hit the woodwork.

Nine minutes later, off a Jackson free kick, Ralph Priso's strike in the area was blocked.

Salt Lake's best chance of the first half came in the 38th minute as Alexandros Katranis thought he'd put the visitors on the board, but the Greek defender was whistled for offside.

On Friday, the Whitecaps announced head coach Jesper Sorensen has agreed to a contract extension through the 2027-28 season. Sorensen guided Vancouver to an MLS Cup final appearance last season and was a finalist for the MLS Coach of the Year award.

Up next in MLS play, Vancouver hosts Toronto FC next Saturday after a CONCACAF Champions Cup match Wednesday. Salt Lake entertains Seattle next Saturday in its home opener.

--Field Level Media