The Vancouver Whitecaps will have another opportunity to claim their first road victory of the 2023 MLS campaign when they battle Los Angeles FC on Saturday at BMO Stadium.
On Wednesday, the Black and Gold moved back into first place in the Western Conference thanks to a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders, while the Caps' match versus the Colorado Rapids was postponed because of thunderstorms in the area.
Match preview
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Since late May, Los Angeles FC had been going through a rough patch, losing the CONCACAF Champions League final and going winless in six successive matches in all competitions from May 23 to June 14.
Like a true champion though, Steve Cherundolo has seen his players snap out of that funk, scoring a winner in the 90th minute in a comeback win over Sporting Kansas City (2-1) and following that up with a goal in the opening minute on Wednesday to defeat the Sounders.
Throughout most of this campaign, LA have been sharp on the back end with four clean sheets on home soil and are currently tied with FC Cincinnati for the second-fewest goals conceded in MLS this year (16).
Los Angeles have been exceptional at attacking set pieces in 2023 and have looked particularly dangerous in transition, as they are among the best in the league at creating turnovers.
They have never lost a home game against the Whitecaps, scoring three or more goals in four of those seven matches in LA, defeating them 3-0 in the second leg of their Champions League tie earlier this year.
LAFC have only suffered one defeat in the regular season and playoffs at BMO Stadium since June of last year, falling 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo a couple of weeks ago.
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Vancouver came into their midweek encounter on the back of a four-match unbeaten run, but unfortunately, mother nature prevented them from potentially making it five.
They will enter this game without an away victory in 15 successive regular season fixtures, a streak that goes back to July 2022.
This team have been down numerous times throughout the campaign but rarely out, coming back to earn a result in four of their matches this year when conceding the opening goal.
Vanni Sartini's men have lost three straight away contests in this competition and have looked poor defensively in each of those defeats, conceding eight goals along the way.
The Caps have earned points in four matches this season versus sides currently above them in the table, including a 1-1 draw in their previous home contest versus the Supporters' Shield leaders FC Cincinnati.
California has not been kind to Vancouver lately, as the Whitecaps have not won a road fixture in the Golden State since defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2020 (1-0).
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Team News
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Timothy Tillman, Kellyn Acosta, Jesus Murillo and Sergi Palencia all missed the previous LAFC clash because of problems with their lower extremities, while former Whitecaps goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau is still out after breaking his leg in the 2022 MLS Cup final.
Diego Palacios, Kwadwo Opoku, Jose Cifuentes, and Denis Bouanga were all back in the lineup against Seattle following the international window, while Aaron Long and Denil Maldonado will not be available for the foreseeable future, having been called up to the American and Honduran national teams respectively for the Gold Cup.
Mateusz Bogusz had the only LAFC goal on Wednesday, his second of the campaign, while John McCarthy made two stops for the clean sheet.
Vancouver could be without Russell Teibert on Saturday as he is struggling to recover from a left knee pain, Pedro Vite should be back after being called up to the Ecuadorian national team during the international window, Julian Gressel has joined the US for the upcoming Gold Cup, Ali Ahmed will be dawning the red and white of Canada and Javain Brown will be a part of the Jamaican squad at that tournament.
Ryan Gauld has scored a late goal from the penalty spot in each of their previous two draws, while Brian White has netted in three of his last five matches in all competitions as he leads the Caps with six this year, two more than Simon Becher.
The last Vancouver goal scored against LAFC came off the foot of Andres Cubas, who has been invaluable in the middle of the field, while Yohei Takaoka has not fared well against Los Angeles since joining the Caps from Japan, conceding six goals in two Champions League encounters versus the Black and Gold earlier this year.
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Hollingshead, Duenas, Chiellini, Palacios; Bogusz, Sanchez, Cifuentes; Biuk, Vela, Bouanga
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Blackmon, Veselinovic, Laborda; Raposo, Cubas, Schopf, Martins; Gauld; White, Vite
We say: Los Angeles FC 3-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Throughout the 2023 campaign, the Caps have had no answer when facing the high-octane LAFC offence, as they seem intimidated by the physicality and quality of the Black and Gold.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
