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First thoughts
After a disappointing scoreless draw against Chivas USA last weekend, the Vancouver Whitecaps head right back to the StubHub Center on Saturday for a match against the Los Angeles Galaxy, who sit right above Carl Robinson’s squad in 4th spot in the Western Conference standings.
This match will provide an excellent test for Vancouver considering that Los Angeles have generally gotten the better of Vancouver ever since the Whitecaps joined Major League Soccer.
Keep Thinking
You can pretty much look at Vancouver’s recent form with a glass half full or glass half empty mentality. For those looking at recent fixtures with the former in mind, the Whitecaps head into this fixture on a six match unbeaten run and on a run of form in which they have earned clean sheets in their last three games.
However, for those analyzing the Whitecaps recent run of games with a more pessimistic viewpoint, Vancouver head into this one having earned just a solitary victory over the course of their last seven games. Furthermore, the goals have dried up over the last couple of weeks, with the Whitecaps having been shut out in their last two matches.
As for the Galaxy, they will come into this match with some positive momentum courtesy of an inspired 4-3 comeback win against the Colorado Rapids midweek. With a potent attack lead by the three-headed monster of Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and Gyasi Zardes, the Vancouver back line will be tested by the side that has scored the second most goals in the league to date.
Vancouver’s team defense will be further tested by the absence of defensive midfielder Matias Laba, who will miss the match due to yellow card accumulation. On the positive side of the roster equation, the Whitecaps could be bolstered by the first appearance of recently acquired midfielder Mauro Rosales. The classy Argentine is an assist machine who should take some of the focus off of Whitecaps playmaker Pedro Morales.
Final Thoughts
While these two teams are pretty well matched with respect to the talent on their rosters, the Galaxy have historically been a team that the Whitecaps have struggled against. This match will also be a big tactical test for Carl Robinson as he goes up against arguably the top manager in Major League Soccer. Add in the fact that Los Angeles will have home field advantage and it all adds up to the Caps being up against it with respect to coming away with three points.
All of that said, Vancouver pulled off a huge win against Sporting Kansas City a couple of weeks back, so it isn’t like they haven’t shown that their incapable of getting results against the truly elite teams in the league.
Prediction
Vancouver Whitecaps 1-2 Los Angeles Galaxy
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