Vancouver Whitecaps play host to LAFC in game two of their MLS Cup playoffs best-of-three series in round one, with the Black and Gold up 1-0 in the series.
A frantic game one saw LAFC go in front twice in the first half only to be pegged back twice by Vancouver, going into the break all knotted up at 2-2. The reigning MLS Cup champions showed their quality in the second 45, though, as Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga and full-back Ryan Hollingshead ended the night with braces, while center-back Jesus Murillo rounding off the scoring to make it 5-2 at BMO Stadium.
The Whitecaps proved they could keep up with LAFC in the first half, but faltered in the second half due to their lack of concentration on the defensive end. Will Vancouver snatch game two to tie the series up, or will LAFC sweep their Western Conference foes?
Vancouver Whitecaps vs LAFC H2H record
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Country |
TV Channel / Live Stream |
|---|---|
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United States |
Apple TV – MLS Season Pass, FS1, FS2 |
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United Kingdom |
Apple TV – MLS Season Pass |
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Canada |
Apple TV + |
Whitecaps boss Vanni Sartini will be without backup goalkeeper Thomas Hasal and full-back Russell Teibert, with the former dealing with a knee problem and the latter recovering from a hip injury. Both players should be back in the mix later this month if Vancouver are still in the postseason.
Hasal and Teibert haven’t featured too much for Vancouver in 2023, but Sartini still has Isaac Boehmer and Luis Martins in his squad to help supply depth.
Vancouver Whitecaps predicted lineup vs LAFC ( 3-1-4-1 ): Takaoka; Brown, Veselinovic, Blackmon; Berhalter; Laryea, Schopf, Vite, Adekugbe; White, Gauld.
Unlike Sartini, LAFC boss Steve Cherundolo has no injury concerns within his squad ahead of the game two contest.
LAFC predicted lineup vs Vancouver Whitecaps ( 4-3-3 ): Crepeau; Hollingshead, Murillo, Chiellini, Palacios; Tillman, Sanchez, Bogusz; Olivera, Vela, Bouanga.
The Whitecaps defense crumbled at BMO Stadium in game one, but they just might have enough in them to hold for a narrow victory in front of their supporters. While LAFC’s defense has proven to be stout over the last few years, Brian White and Ryan Gauld proved they can do a little bit of damage in game one by keeping pace in the first half.
It won’t be straightforward for the home side, but they’ll find a way at BC Place by edging the Black and Gold to force game three at BMO Stadium.
Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2 LAFC
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