The Vancouver Whitecaps and LAFC have played each other what feels like a thousand times over the last couple of years.
The two teams have met in MLS action, the MLS Cup Playoffs, Leagues Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup dating back to the start of 2023. A rivalry has brewed up between the Whitecaps and LAFC. Maybe it should be called the “These Guys Again Derby” or the “We Meet Again Derby.”
For the second straight year, LA and Vancouver meet in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Like last season, LAFC are up 1-0 in the best-of-three series.
Also like last season, the Whitecaps have their backs against the wall. It’s do or die, now or never, whatever you want to call it. Halloween may be over but the Whitecaps will look to start an exorcism on Sunday at BC Place.
Vancouver has beat LAFC twice in the past two seasons but both wins were at BMO Stadium. The last time the Whitecaps beat LAFC at BC Place was on July 2, 2022. Andres Cubas scored his first and only goal for the club to date in that game. That was an 88th-minute winner in a 1-0 win.
Finishing and Limiting Transitions
The Whitecaps played well in game one and a 2-1 scoreline is justifiable.
Vancouver won the possession battle with 52%. Both teams registered 15 shots and four on target. However, giveaways and letting LAFC on the transition. LAFC’s transitions were dangerous and led by star winger Denis Bouanga and midfielder Mateusz Bogusz.
The Whitecaps had their chances but Brian White hit the post early in the match and Ryan Gauld hit the crossbar from a late first-half free kick. Who knows how Game One would have turned out if one or both of those chances went in?
“We’ve just realized that it’s not enough to play well against these guys,” said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini on Friday per The Canadian Press. “If we just play well, it’ll finish like the last two games – we’re very close, and we lose. So we need to play well and to have a little bit of killer instinct.”
The Whitecaps scored in stoppage time in Game One courtesy of Gauld. Sartini talked about the importance of being clinical.
“I think the most important thing is to play a better offensive game than we did in L.A,” he said. “I think we did a very good defensive game. We could have done maybe a little better offensively, not only for the chances that we missed, we could have more chances.”
Putting it all together at home
Vancouver’s wild-card win over the Portland Timbers displayed what happens if they put it all together. Despite the quality of the roster, there were very few games where the Whitecaps had a complete game.
“I think not many times this year we’ve managed to piece everything together, defend well, attack well, keep the ball and be good on set pieces,” said Gauld to Har Johal of Canadian Soccer Daily. “Portland was the one time that we’ve seen it and you got our best performance of the season. We need to make sure we’re on it in every stage of the game.”
The Whitecaps not have won a home game since September 14 against the San Jose Earthquakes and had a 7-4-7 record at BC Place, 20th in MLS.
They have also lost their last three games at BC Place and the only team they defeated at home that finished above them in the standings was the Colorado Rapids. The Whitecaps beat them 2-1 with a late winner from Damir Kreilach.
“All year we’ve not been as good at home as we’ve wanted to be,” said Gauld. “Not only have we not gotten the results, we’ve not put in great performances to get the crowd going. Hopefully, there’s going to be a big crowd on Sunday. We’ll try and excite as many people as we can and show that there’s a lot of promise and we can go and make something to build on.”
The Whitecaps have had many big crowds this season including games against Charlotte FC, Austin FC, Inter Miami and LAFC. They have not gotten wins in front of the big crowds.
Vancouver saw a big crowd in their first-ever home playoff game in 2015 but lost 2-0 to the Portland Timbers. In 2017, they defeated the Earthquakes 5-0 in the knockout round but drew the Seattle Sounders 0-0 before losing the second leg in Seattle 2-0. The Whitecaps wouldn’t host a playoff game until 2023 when they lost 1-0 in Game Two against LAFC which saw a refereeing disasterclass from Tim Ford and an anemic Whitecaps attack.
Big Opportunity for Whitecaps
This game is very important for the Whitecaps. They have struggled to gain the attention of a hockey-crazed market and the “same old Whitecaps narratives” remain strong. A win would not only force a decisive Game Three but also get the attention of the city but in a good way. This year, there was more attention on the whole Lionel Messi no-show and having to play the wild card match in Portland over their Canadian Championship win.
The Whitecaps also have an opportunity to prove that they are a team that can go toe to toe with the MLS elite. LAFC has had Vancouver’s number over the last couple of years and pretty much since they came into MLS. This is a chance to prove that they aren’t LAFC’s chew toy.
Forcing a Game Three would add more pressure on LAFC as the number one seed in the Western Conference would be on the brink. A loss would mean it would be Groundhog Day again. The Whitecaps season would end after it started with so much promise and the Voyageurs Cup would be the only appetizer once again.
The Whitecaps winning Game Two could potentially be the start of changing the narratives in the market and around the league. Of course, it won’t be easy.
“We know inside this group that we’ve got good players and we’re a good team,” said Gauld. “We’ve got the belief that we can do it and that’s what matters.”
