This isn91裸聊视频檛 how the Vancouver Whitecaps wanted to enter their final homestand of the season.
With just four games left on the schedule, the 91裸聊视频楥aps (9-14-7) are on a three-game losing skid and their playoff hopes have all but evaporated.
91裸聊视频淥ur backs are against the wall, and we91裸聊视频檙e trying to put good performances together,91裸聊视频� defender Tristan Blackmon said Tuesday. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 been a battle for sure.91裸聊视频�
The club isn91裸聊视频檛 about to give up, however. The 91裸聊视频楥aps will continue to push as they kick off a three-game homestand Wednesday against the L.A. Galaxy (11-11-7).
91裸聊视频�(Making the playoffs) is going to be tough. We91裸聊视频檙e going to need to, obviously, win our four games, hope that other results go our way,91裸聊视频� said attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld.
91裸聊视频淏ut I would say the main thing for us is look to improve upon what we91裸聊视频檝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.91裸聊视频�
Gauld is set to return to Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 lineup after missing Saturday91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频楥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.
91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檝e seen in some second halves lately, we91裸聊视频檝e been keeping the ball more than in their half,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd that91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲e need to hold on to the ball more, I think, try and tire teams out and hopefully create openings.91裸聊视频�
Controlling the play against L.A. won91裸聊视频檛 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 91裸聊视频楥aps back on Aug. 13.
91裸聊视频淭hey have great players, even though they91裸聊视频檝e gone through a stretch where they91裸聊视频檝e struggled as well,91裸聊视频� said Blackmon, who got to know the Galaxy well during his time with Los Angeles FC. 91裸聊视频淵ou see the talent that they put on the field each time they play, and they have new acquisitions as well. So it91裸聊视频檚 going to be a good matchup.91裸聊视频�
Vancouver will need to limit its defensive mistakes on Wednesday, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
91裸聊视频淭hey are a team that they create a lot, but also they concede a lot,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪o if you are very solid defensively, we can win the game. If not, we won91裸聊视频檛. (Offensively), I think we91裸聊视频檒l have chances.91裸聊视频�
Despite their recent run, L.A. still sits three points below the Western Conference playoff bar.
The Whitecaps aren91裸聊视频檛 thinking about ruining the Galaxy91裸聊视频檚 post-season dreams, though, Sartini said.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not that we have any, any feuds or any revenge with anyone. We have to be concentrated on ourselves,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he maximum points that we can achieve is 46 at the moment, so the objective is to make 46 points.
91裸聊视频淭he only thing that matters are the Whitecaps.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频楥aps, but haven91裸聊视频檛 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. They91裸聊视频檙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.
91裸聊视频擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
