This isn香蕉视频直播檛 how the Vancouver Whitecaps wanted to enter their final homestand of the season.
With just four games left on the schedule, the 香蕉视频直播楥aps (9-14-7) are on a three-game losing skid and their playoff hopes have all but evaporated.
香蕉视频直播淥ur backs are against the wall, and we香蕉视频直播檙e trying to put good performances together,香蕉视频直播� defender Tristan Blackmon said Tuesday. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been a battle for sure.香蕉视频直播�
The club isn香蕉视频直播檛 about to give up, however. The 香蕉视频直播楥aps will continue to push as they kick off a three-game homestand Wednesday against the L.A. Galaxy (11-11-7).
香蕉视频直播�(Making the playoffs) is going to be tough. We香蕉视频直播檙e going to need to, obviously, win our four games, hope that other results go our way,香蕉视频直播� said attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld.
香蕉视频直播淏ut I would say the main thing for us is look to improve upon what we香蕉视频直播檝e liked in the last few months which is intensity, a bit more grit. All we can do now is take each game as it comes and look for positive results.香蕉视频直播�
Gauld is set to return to Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 lineup after missing Saturday香蕉视频直播檚 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids due to a suspension brought on by yellow card accumulation.
With the Scottish star on the sidelines, the 香蕉视频直播楥aps struggled to generate chances.
Creating more offence through the final games of the regular season will require the team to be more aggressive, said Gauld, who has six goals and seven assists in 24 Major League Soccer appearances this year.
香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檝e seen in some second halves lately, we香蕉视频直播檝e been keeping the ball more than in their half,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd that香蕉视频直播檚 something that we need to do more of from the start of the game instead of just always looking to play the long ball and getting behind them.
香蕉视频直播淲e need to hold on to the ball more, I think, try and tire teams out and hopefully create openings.香蕉视频直播�
Controlling the play against L.A. won香蕉视频直播檛 be easy. After struggling at times this season, the Galaxy head to Vancouver on a six-game unbeaten streak (2-0-4) that began with a 5-2 victory over the 香蕉视频直播楥aps back on Aug. 13.
香蕉视频直播淭hey have great players, even though they香蕉视频直播檝e gone through a stretch where they香蕉视频直播檝e struggled as well,香蕉视频直播� said Blackmon, who got to know the Galaxy well during his time with Los Angeles FC. 香蕉视频直播淵ou see the talent that they put on the field each time they play, and they have new acquisitions as well. So it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a good matchup.香蕉视频直播�
Vancouver will need to limit its defensive mistakes on Wednesday, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
香蕉视频直播淭hey are a team that they create a lot, but also they concede a lot,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淪o if you are very solid defensively, we can win the game. If not, we won香蕉视频直播檛. (Offensively), I think we香蕉视频直播檒l have chances.香蕉视频直播�
Despite their recent run, L.A. still sits three points below the Western Conference playoff bar.
The Whitecaps aren香蕉视频直播檛 thinking about ruining the Galaxy香蕉视频直播檚 post-season dreams, though, Sartini said.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not that we have any, any feuds or any revenge with anyone. We have to be concentrated on ourselves,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he maximum points that we can achieve is 46 at the moment, so the objective is to make 46 points.
香蕉视频直播淭he only thing that matters are the Whitecaps.香蕉视频直播�
L.A. GALAXY (11-11-7) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (9-14-7)
Wednesday, B.C. Place
INS AND OUTS: The Whitecaps will once again be without their leading scorer, Lucas Cavallini as he serves the third game of a four-game suspension. Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter is questionable due to a knee injury and winger Deiber Caicedo has undergone season-ending surgery on his right knee. L.A. defender Sega Coulibaly and Raheem Edwards are both sidelined with suspensions for yellow card accumulation.
HISTORY BOOKS: The Galaxy hold a 15-9-6 all-time record over the 香蕉视频直播楥aps, but haven香蕉视频直播檛 won two matches against Vancouver in a single season since 2014.
THE NUMBERS: Vancouver has a -21 goal differential through 34 games this season, the worst of any team in the Western Conference. They香蕉视频直播檙e also the least accurate shooting team in MLS this season, hitting the target with 29.5 per cent of their shots.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2022.
香蕉视频直播擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
