Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. LA Galaxy
MLS Regular Season - Week 8 / Match 9
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 - 7:41 p.m. PT
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT
TV: TSN1 - RADIO: AM730 (Pre-match show: 6:30 p.m. PT)
OPEN TO FANS: Whitecaps FC welcome fans to the next three matches at the team’s temporary home at Rio Tinto Stadium, beginning with Wednesday evening's meeting with LA Galaxy.
CAVA v. CHICHARITO: After coming off the bench last Friday fresh off international duty, Lucas Cavallini may see a return to the 'Caps starting XI in a marquee matchup at the striker position. On the other side is early Golden Boot frontrunner Chicharito and his seven goals, tied for most in MLS. The 'Caps appear to have another solid striker option in their hands in Brian White, who scored in his 'Caps debut against Real Salt Lake.
RECENT SUCCESS: Whitecaps FC edged LA Galaxy in their head-to-head series in 2020, going 2W-1L, but LA have re-established their spot among the West's top echelon with a 5W-3L record to start 2021.
COACH'S QUOTES
Marc Dos Santos on LA Galaxy:
"The defence got better. The options they got in the back improved their backline. The options they brought in the midfield and in the wings improved. And then the sum of the parts improved. When you have one player in every line improving the line, it affects the next one. The sum of the parts have improved."
On Brian White and Lucas Cavallini:
"Cava and White could work together. We have three games in nine days so we have to be assured that we have the right elements all the time in the field, but they can definitely play together. With the guys that are here, it's definitely an option."
AVAILABILITY REPORT
Ali Adnan: AWAY - Awaiting visa approval from US Citizenship and Immigration
Bruno Gaspar: DOUBTFUL - general right knee irritation (week-to-week)
Cristian Gutierrez: PROBABLE - rib contusion (day-to-day)
Jake Nerwinski: PROBABLE - lower back irritation (day-to-day)
Tosaint Ricketts: OUT - Achilles tendinopathy (week-to-week)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time MLS Regular Season
Whitecaps FC record:
8W-12L-5D
Home games:
4W-3L-4D (16 GF, 14 GA)
Road games:
4W-9L-1D (8 GF, 22 GA)
The November 8, 2020 home match was played at Providence Park in Portland, OR. The ‘Caps won 3-0.
Wednesday evening is the 26th MLS regular season meeting between Whitecaps FC and LA Galaxy. It is the first of three matchups in 2021. They meet once again at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 17, and then finally at Dignity Health Sports Park on August 8.
The ‘Caps edged the Galaxy in their 2020 season series, going 2W-1L.
2020
March 7 at Dignity Health Sports Park (LA 0:1 VAN): A second-half goal from Tosaint Ricketts lifted Whitecaps FC to victory, spoiling Chicharito's highly-anticipated home debut. A minute after the winner, the home side was reduced to 10 men on Joe Corona's second yellow card of the evening. The fixture was the last for either side before the season came to a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park (LA 1:0 VAN): The close contest was not decided until the last minute of regulation on Kai Koreniuk’s game-winner.
November 8 at Providence Park (VAN 3:0 LA): Whitecaps FC wrapped up their 2020 MLS season strong behind a brace from Fredy Montero and a pair of assists from Cristián Gutiérrez.
MLS Cup Playoffs (‘12)
Whitecaps FC lost 2-1 to LA Galaxy in the Western Conference Knockout Round in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2012.
CONNECTIONS
Former teammates at other clubs
Andy Rose with Daniel Steres at SEA ('12). Steres did not make an appearance for SEA.
Tosaint Ricketts with Giancarlo Gonzalez at Valerenga (‘12)
Tosaint Ricketts with Víctor Vázquez while playing under Greg Vanney and Dan Calichman at TOR (’17-‘18)
Maxime Crépeau and Youssef Dahha with Nick DePuy at MTL ('17)
Andy Rose with Oniel Fisher at SEA (’17)
Fellow countrymen
England: Andy Rose (born in Australia) and Jonathan Bond.
Jamaica: Javain Brown and Oniel Fisher have played together for the Jamaica MNT.
MATCHDAY MEALS
Get 15% off orders of $12+ from Matchday Meals restaurants in Vancouver. Order a meal of $12 or more from a participating merchant in Vancouver and use the promo code ‘MATCHDAY15’ to receive 15% off. Click here for details.
FRIES 4 FANS
Free fries on matchday! To redeem your free fries, simply download the A&W app, add your fries and at least one more item to your cart, and then enter the code WHITECAPS at checkout. Click here for details.
