Aiming to overturn a 2-1 defeat in the reverse leg, Vancouver Whitecaps are set to host Los Angeles FC at BC Place on Monday morning in the second game of the best-of-three series in the first round of MLS Cup playoffs.
The hosts qualified for this round with a 5-0 victory over Portland Timbers in the wildcard round, while the visitors qualified directly to this stage after finishing top of the Western Conference.
Match preview
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The Vancouver Whitecaps had a dreadful end to the 2024 campaign, failing to win any of their last seven MLS fixtures, a run of results that saw them drop into eighth place in the Western Conference, meaning they would compete in the wildcard round for a place in the MLS Cup.
Fortunately for Vanni Sartini, who has been in charge since August 2021, the Caps turned on the style for the first time in eight outings as they destroyed Portland Timbers 5-0 in the single-leg wildcard round.
That victory secured their place in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs, where they have been drawn against Los Angeles for the second time in as many seasons.
Despite a relatively even matchup in the first leg in LA, the Caps found themselves trailing 2-0 just before the hour mark. However, a 94th-minute goal from Ryan Gauld has given Sartini's men a glimmer of hope heading into the second leg of the tie.
Now with the boosted self-assurance that comes with the knowledge that they can harm the Western Conference's top dogs, Vancouver will have to put everything on the line at BC Place if they are to have any chance of continuing in the MLS Cup playoffs.
With a stalemate not being a possibility, as the game will go straight to penalties, Vancouver must win to send the tie to a third game, where the Caps would be full of confidence knowing they have taken the top contenders to a tiebreaker, while Los Angeles would feel the pressure that comes with the huge expectations on their shoulders.
Sartini's men will have to pull off the seemingly impossible task though, with the Caps failing to make it past this stage of the competition since defeating San Jose Earthquakes 5-0 in 2017, when they went on to lose 2-0 to Seattle Sounders in the quarterfinals.
As for the Black and Gold, they looked far from their assured selves at times in the first leg, but goals from Cristian Olivera and Denis Bouanga ultimately gave them the advantage heading into Monday's fixture.
Steve Cherundolo's men must avoid defeat if they are to continue marching towards a third successive MLS Cup final, having triumphed in 2022 before losing 2-1 to Columbus Crew last year.
Los Angeles have been dominant in this fixture in recent encounters, winning 11 of their 21 competitive meetings, suffering just six defeats and four draws in that time.
With goalscorers such as Bouanga and Mateusz Bogusz in the side, it is clear to see why they are the favourites heading into the encounter, but they will have to be cautious of letting their narrow lead slip and risking a dramatic third match.
Team News
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Jeevan Badwal and Max Anchor are both ruled out of Monday's meeting due to injury issues that they are not likely to return from until at least later this month.
Gauld has enjoyed his best season since joining the Caps this year, scoring 16 and assisting 12 goals across all competitions, including netting four in the last two MLS Cup matches, and the forward will likely play a key part here.
As for the visitors, Lorenzo Dellavalle has been out of action since February and will not return in time for this match, with his return date scheduled for later this month.
Bouanga finished the MLS as the league's second top scorer with 21 goals, joint with Luis Suarez, and the forward could prove vital if Los Angeles are to advance from this stage.
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Laborda, Veselinovic, Blackmon, Adekugbe; Vite, Cubas, Armstrong; Picault, White, Gauld
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Palencia, Chanot, Long; Olivera, Tillman, O'Brien, Hollingshead; Bogusz, Giroud, Bouanga
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 1-2 Los Angeles FC
While the hosts demonstrated their ability to pose a threat to the visitors in the first leg, the Black and Gold are undoubtedly the superior team, and we anticipate they will secure a victory here to advance to the next round.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
