VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC head to Tinseltown on Saturday night for their second crucial road clash in the space of a week.
KICKOFF: 7.30 p.m. PT TV: TSN 2 RADIO: TSN 1410 MOBILE:bell.ca/mobiletvONLINE: TSN GO
Here are three storylines to get you set for the match.
BOUNCING BACK
Wednesday night was tough on the team who felt that they’d done enough to come away from Stade Saputo with something to show for their efforts. The good news is that the squad won’t have to wait long for a chance to set the record straight as they head to LA to face the Galaxy.
One thing that will stand the squad in good stead is their ability to bounce back. The ‘Caps have a 3W-1L-1D record coming off defeats so far this season, which is a testament to their ability to turn the page.
“The best teams in the world lose games on the road, so we know we’re going to lose matches;” Russell Teibert told reporters after the defeat in Montreal. “But it’s about bouncing back, and we’ve been able to bounce back at times this year and we’ll have to do it again.”
OVERCOMING LA
Bouncing back is tough at the best of times, it’s even tougher when you have to face the five-time MLS Cup champs on their home turf. LA Galaxy have made a stuttering start to 2015, going 5W-4L-6D so far this season. However, while they’re yet to hit full stride Bruce Arena’s side have been unstoppable at the StubHub Center where they’re currently riding a 23-match unbeaten streak.
“LA is definitely going to be a tough game,” David Ousted told reporters after the defeat in Montreal. “I do believe we can go there and win, I do believe we have the team to go into LA and win.”
If they are going to win, then the boys in Blue and White will need to recreate the kind of performance that saw them topple the Galaxy 2-0 at BC Place in April. The victory was perhaps the team's best performance so far this season and something they’d dearly like to recreate come Saturday night.
TAKING CHANCES
“We let them off the hook.” That’s what head coach Carl Robinson had to say after Wednesday night’s loss.
The gaffer had been pleased with his team’s work ethic and performance but highlighted his team’s failure to finish off their chances as a decisive fixture in the clash. When asked what he’d change for the match in LA, the boss said:
“That we put our chances away. Football is a game where if you’re able to take your chances when you’re on top then you’re going to win the game.”
The stats certainly back up Robbo’s assessment of the on-field action. The ‘Caps outshot Montreal 20 to 15 on Wednesday night so there was no shortage of chances. It’s been a similar story throughout the season so far. In fact, the 'Caps are leading the league in both shots and shots on goal. Something’s got to give, hopefully starting this Saturday in LA.
“If we create that amount of chances away from home,” the coach said, “then maybe we’ll get a little bit of luck and we’ll win a game.”
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