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MLS Playoffs | MLS Cup Round One
Nov 4, 2024 at 1.45am UK
BC Place Stadium
LA

Vancouver
3 - 0
Los Angeles

Gauld (10'), Hollingshead (13' og.), Segura (68' og.)
Ahmed (50'), Berhalter (57')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Bouanga (41'), Murillo (84'), Segura (89')

Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Los Angeles FC - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Los Angeles FC - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Monday's Major League Soccer clash between Vancouver Whitecaps and Los Angeles FC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

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

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.

Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer form:


Vancouver Whitecaps form (all competitions):


Los Angeles FC Major League Soccer form:


Team News

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.




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Premier League Table

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721
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