CARSON, CALIFORNIA – And we’re back.
Following a break for the group stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7W-7L-3D) return to action on Wednesday night against LA Galaxy (6W-8L-4D)
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. PT at the StubHub Center | TV: TSN1/3 | RADIO: TSN 1040
Here’s everything you need to know about the match:
STORYLINES
17 down, 17 to go: Wednesday’s match kicks off the second half of the season for Whitecaps FC, who posted a .500 record in their first 17 matches (7W-7L-3D). As it stands, the ‘Caps sit sixth in the Western Conference – just above the red line and two points up on the eighth-place Galaxy. However, Vancouver has played fewer games than every other team in the conference.
StubHub struggles: The Galaxy, typically one of the best home teams in MLS, have only won one of nine games at the StubHub Center so far this year (1W-5L-3D) –despite having the likes of Romain Alessandrini and Giovani dos Santos at their disposal. And the ‘Caps will be hoping that trend continues on Wednesday night.
More Reyna? Yordy Reyna was the hero for Vancouver last time out, scoring the game-winner in a 3-2 win over New York City FC before the Gold Cup break. Reyna only played 25 minutes on that night, as he works up to full fitness after suffering a broken foot in the preseason, but it was an electrifying 25 minutes indeed. What does he have in store for an encore?
Gold Cup absences: The ‘Caps currently have five players away on Gold Cup duty in Canadians Sam Adekugbe, Alphonso Davies, Marcel de Jong, and Russell Teibert and Costa Rican Kendall Waston – none of whom will be available on Wednesday. The Galaxy, meanwhile, will only be without U.S. international forward Gyasi Zardes.
QUOTABLE:
“It’s still the LA Galaxy. They still have a lot of quality players. We’re hoping to carry the momentum that we have at home here on the road and get a good result. But there’s no taking your foot off the gas pedal. They’re a quality team and we’re going to have to be at our best.” – Whitecaps FC defender Jordan Harvey
