Major League Soccer Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps vs  Los Angeles Galaxy

Major League Soccer Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Los Angeles Galaxy

  • boon123 2025/03/02 03:35
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The Vancouver Whitecaps can win their first two matches of a Major League Soccer campaign for the first time since 2018 when they host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday at BC Place Stadium.


preview


Jesper Sorensen could not have asked for a much better start to his MLS coaching tenure as Vancouver put together a spectacular attacking display at Providence Park.


With a man advantage after just 11 minutes, the Caps poured it on, firing 10 efforts on target with 67% possession in their first match of the regular season.


Vancouver lost their final three regular-season encounters of 2024 at BC Place, winning just one of their last seven games played at home in this competition, not counting the playoffs.


They have not won their opening match of an MLS campaign as the home team since 2021, when they shut out the Portland Timbers 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah, their home venue during COVID.


In 2024, this team won six of their seven regular-season affairs at BC Place when netting multiple times, losing only once at home when doing so (4-3 defeat to the Houston Dynamo).


The Whitecaps lost four of their six matches in this competition last year versus teams from California, with their two triumphs coming against the San Jose Earthquakes.


For a second successive year, the Galaxy failed to win their opening game of the regular season, looking out of sorts defensively against San Diego.


Greg Vanney's men have failed to score in their last two matches versus MLS opposition, losing their final pre-season affair to the Chicago Fire (1-0), before their opening regular season defeat last Sunday.


LA lost four of their final five regular-season contests last year away from home, with their only triumph over that stretch coming against the Colorado Rapids in October (3-1).


In three of the last four MLS campaigns, the Galaxy have won their first match as the visitors, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 in their opening MLS away fixture a year ago.


The highest-scoring team in the 2024 Western Conference regular season (69 goals) could equal their longest goalless run in this competition last year (two games) should they fail to score on Sunday.


Last year, the Galaxy swept their season series with the Whitecaps, outscoring them by a combined margin of 7-3 in their two meetings.


Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:

Takaoka; Laborda, Veselinovic, Blackmon, Adekugbe; Ahmed, Cubas, Priso; Nelson, White, Gauld


Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:

Micovic; Yamane, Garces, Yoshida, Aude; Wynder, Cerrillo; Pec, Reus, Fagundez; Ramirez

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