The Vancouver Whitecaps had their backs against the wall. But on Sunday night, it was their turn to push LAFC against the wall.
It was a statement victory in front of the BC Place crowd of 20,695. They weren’t here just because they were happy to, they wanted to make noise. Vancouver did that in front of a raucous crowd that saw a really cool tifo before the match.
This will be one of the most memorable games of the Whitecaps MLS era but a win in Game Three would make it more memorable. Just like against the Portland Timbers in the wild card match, Vancouver stuck to their game plan and did not stop pushing.
Match musings
The key to this one was having a strong start. Another key was to bury their chances. The Whitecaps did those in the first half. They started the game like they were charging the Black Gate.
With Vanni Sartini going with a very attacking lineup, he knew he had to take LAFC out of it early. The Whitecaps moved the ball as well as Eddie Van Halen moved his fingers playing the Eruption solo.
Ryan Gauld, Brian White and Stuart Armstrong showed some great ball control in the box and it was Gauld who finished it. The man had his fifth goal of the playoffs and was hotter than the lava on Mustafar.
Ryan Hollingshead has often been a thorn in the side of the ‘Caps. He has scored goals against them in the past, including one down at BMO Stadium back in May. Hollingshead did score but in his own net. They don’t give assists to own goals but Gauld’s ball into the box made it happen.
LAFC did not register a single shot on target in the first half. It is harder to believe than the fact Linkin Park is touring and has a new album coming out in less than two weeks. But it was true.
A lot of credit goes to Sam Adekugbe and Fafa Picault. They were doing a great job winning duels and moving the ball up the pitch overlapping with each other and Ali Ahmed. Speaking of Ahmed, he was back in the midfield for the first time in what feels like forever. He looked more comfortable there and his progressive passes and tackling ability were put on display.
It was eyebrow-raising to see Sebastian Berhalter at right-back. Right wing-back was normal for him but right-back was interesting. However, he did his job with some great tackles on Denis Bouanga.
The Whitecaps did not let Olivier Giroud get any service and kept Bouanga, Timothy Tillman and Mateusz Bogusz quiet as mice. Their 4-3-2-1 morphing into a 3-4-3 in attack was working but they needed to make sure LAFC didn’t get back into the game.
Well, they nearly did. But the Whitecaps held on.
There were a lot of nervy moments. Ahmed fell off in the second half gave the ball away multiple times and made some poor decisions. Maybe aliens stole his superpowers at halftime.
LAFC started getting back in the game. The biggest chances were Bouanga denying Yohei Takaoka on a breakaway and Bjorn Inge Utvik (who came on for Sam Adekugbe in the 74th minute) making a goal-line clearance with his knee.
If either of those went in, who knows what would’ve happened?
It looked like White got the insurance marker with a nice backheel pass but it turned out to be an own goal by Eddie Segura. The Euros MVP Own Goal struck again.
Despite the giveaways and minor defensive lapses, it was a performance to be proud of for Vancouver. The Whitecaps didn’t want to show any mercy and they played a full 90-minute game.
However, the job isn’t done and this was just one bridge but one more needs to be crossed.
Stat of the match
Ryan Gauld has now put up six goal contributions in three MLS postseason games. Now talk about clutch.
What was said
“First half was really good, second half they pushed a lot and we suffered a lot but first half was amazing,” said Sartini on the performance.
He also commented on his defence and the play of Takaoka.
“They were really, really good.”
The Whitecaps head coach spoke about how important the performance was heading into game three. That was especially because the winner of this series will face the Seattle Sounders, who swept the Houston Dynamo.
“The reward is enormous (the possibility of playing Seattle.) but we need to climb Everest,” said Sartini. “You always busted my balls because I never won a playoff game, well now I won two!”
Takaoka spoke about his save on Bouanga.
“I expected a 1 v 1 in that moment but I stayed patient and made a decision…it was a bit lucky but I’m happy to help the team,” he said.
I asked him about the crowd at BC Place.
“They were amazing, they did the tifo and it gave me goosebumps,” said Takaoka.
“It’s the kind of performance and result we are all capable of,” said Gauld on the win.
The captain was also asked about his stellar individual performances.
“It’s good to have… link-up play and the final third could be better but glad they are going in the back of the net,” he said.
“It’s gonna be the same on Friday,” he said on Game Three. “We have to start very well. (But) the game might be different there.”
Tweet of the night
Steve and Martin Nash were at the game and in a suite. Will Ferrell didn’t show up to support his LAFC, unlike last year. Maybe the Hanging Tough era is over…maybe.
Wrap-up
Game Three between the Whitecaps and LAFC is on Friday at 8 PM Pacific. Vancouver will look to build the momentum from Sunday’s massive win go for the upset and move on to the second round.
It won’t be easy for either team and it looks like it could be another chess match in a brewing rivalry.
