After making some blockbuster signings in recent weeks, Los Angeles FC return to the field on Saturday when they travel to BC Place Stadium for a date with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Vancouver extended their home unbeaten run to seven straight matches in all competitions, drawing the New England Revolution 0-0 last Sunday, while the Black and Gold remain the top side in Major League Soccer, defeating FC Dallas 3-1 on Wednesday.
Match preview
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The 2022 campaign has been an adventure, to say the least, for Vanni Sartini and his team, who continue to chip away at their postseason deficit, trailing the Seattle Sounders by two points for that final position in the Western Conference.
Sartini was not pleased with many of the decisions that his players made in the attacking third last weekend, as they were far too passive and at times overzealous in that area of the field.
If they are to climb back into a top seven position, the Caps will need to do a better job when it comes to attacking those open spaces and showing more composure in scoring positions.
We have seen them display plenty of calmness and patience in the midfield, thanks in large part to the addition of Designated Player Andres Cubas, who has helped them win more loose balls and create turnovers.
Historically, the Caps have fared well against the Black and Gold under the dome of BC Place, winning three of their four regular-season affairs against them at home, losing only once in 2018.
A year ago, their come-from-behind victory against LA (2-1) gave them the shot in the arm needed to transform their campaign, losing only two of their final 14 regular-season encounters of 2021 after that triumph last August.
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Having the best attack and defence in the Western Conference was evidently not enough to convince the management team at LAFC that they are legitimate cup contenders.
Now that Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale will officially be playing in the City of Angels, along with the club resigning top goalscorer Carlos Vela until 2023, it is safe to say that the Supporters' Shield leaders are the team to beat in 2022.
On the one hand, it may look like a massive luxury for manager Steve Cherundolo to have so many veteran and skilled leaders with championship experience to count upon. However, the challenge he faces now will be to manage the egos of a side littered with even more quality than they had just a couple of weeks ago.
Before the Bale signing, this was already a side possessing a ton of depth in the attack, with 14 different players finding the back of the net through the first half of the regular season, but adding the Welsh captain could transform the Black and Gold into an offensive juggernaut.
LA have scored in 35 consecutive regular-season affairs at home, though they have not looked as clinical on the road, scoring a goal or fewer in three of their previous four fixtures in all competitions.
They have not lost a regular-season encounter in which they have tallied first since their last visit to BC Place in 2021, when a Diego Rossi penalty late in the opening half was wiped out by two Whitecaps goals in the final half-hour.
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Team News
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Cody Cropper now has three clean sheets at home for the Whitecaps in all competitions, as he got a lot of help from his back three of Javain Brown, Ranko Veselinovic and Tristan Blackmon, who did a great job of closing down New England in the attacking third, limiting them to two shots on target.
Goals from Brian White and Ryan Gauld helped the Caps come back to beat LA in their first home game at BC Place last season, while their leading goalscorer in 2022, Lucas Cavallini has tallied twice in his career against the Black and Gold.
Sebastian Berhalter is out with a right foot stress fracture, while Erik Godoy and Cristian Gutierrez are unlikely to feature because of left calf strains.
Jake Nerwinski has a problem in his left eye, Thomas Hasal has an issue with his hand and Michael Baldisimo will be questionable because of a concussion.
Danny Musovski got the ball rolling for LA on Wednesday, scoring the opener in the 23rd minute, Cristian Arango moved into a tie with Vela for the team lead in goals with his sixth, while Kwadwo Opoku picked up his fourth to leapfrog Jose Cifuentes into third on the team in that category.
Ryan Hollingshead notched a brace in their come-from-behind 3-1 win against the Caps earlier this season, while Maxime Crepeau, the Vancouver team MVP from a year ago, is expected to play his first game back at BC Place since being traded over the off-season.
Erik Duenas remains on the sidelines with a left knee problem, Julian Gaines has an issue with his pelvis, Tomas Romero could be out due to health and safety protocols, while Ismael Tajouri-Shradi might be a game-time decision because of a left quad injury.
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Cropper; Jungwirth, Veselinovic, Blackmon; Brown, Cubas, Teibert, Raposo; Caicedo, Dajome; Cavallini
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Hollingshead, Segura, Ibeagha, Palacios; Blessing, Sanchez, Cifuentes; Vela, Arango, Opoku
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 Los Angeles FC
Desperation can be a massive X-factor that many do not consider, and even though LA, on paper, have a lot more depth than Vancouver, they may be a little more passive than we anticipate, given their standing.
Even without Bale in the fold, the Black and Gold have many weapons, and it is a big ask for anyone to shut them out over 90 minutes.
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