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First Thoughts
After dropping a close one away to the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend, the Vancouver Whitecaps get a chance for some revenge against their West Coast rivals in the home leg of an away and home pair of matches against the perennial MLS Cup contenders.
While the Galaxy have pretty much had their way with the Whitecaps since the Canadian club joined the MLS, Vancouver will be able to take plenty of solace from the manner in which they were able to compete in what was a pretty impressive road performance in a losing effort last week. The Whitecaps looked the stronger side against Donovan and company until a second half goal by Robbie Keane took the wind from their sales.
Keep Thinking
After disappointing in their last home match, a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids, Vancouver will be looking to get back to their winning ways back and home and to use the twelfth man to their advantage against a formidable opponent.
If Vancouver has proven one thing so far this season, it is that the team has the talent and quality to compete against any team in the league. That said, with a multitude of new faces in the squad and the to be expected raft of injuries that hit all teams week in, week out, rookie Head Coach Carl Robinson has not yet fielded the same lineup for two games in a row. Robinson elected to sit veterans Kenny Miller, and Nigel Reo-Coker to start the match last weekend, with Kekuta Manneh making his first MLS start of the season on the left flank as the Welsh gaffer elected to go with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see what lineup he puts out there for the rematch against the Galaxy. Vancouver has looked their most dangerous to date with the three-headed monster of Pedro Morales, Kenny Miller and Darren Mattocks leading the attack and the twosome of Matias Laba and Nigel Reo-Coker setting up shop in the central midfield. However, Robinson has also effectively deployed his squad with a diamond midfield, with Laba as a lone midfielder in front of the back four allowing Vancouver to play both Miller and Mattocks as out and out strikers.
However Vancouver lines up, the return of Laba from suspension should give the squad a real boost, opening up different tactical possibilities and strengthening the bench via the domino effect. With Robinson facing off against arguably the top manager in MLS history in Bruce Arena right, the Whitecaps gaffer will need to get his tactics and lineup choices spot on if his side are to hold the Galaxy at bay and earn all three points.
After stuttering somewhat with the challenge of starting the season with home and away matches against a very good Real Salt Lake side, the Galaxy has rounded into form and have won their last two matches while posting clean sheets in both fixtures. Striker Robbie Keane has been on fire, scoring for Los Angeles in three straight games.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Landon Donovan performs due to the fact that he is one goal away from becoming Major League Soccer’s all-time leading goalscorer. Does that fact mean the United States national team star will be extra motivated on Saturday? Or will a preoccupation with that record function as something of a monkey on his back in front of a pro-Whitecaps crowd?
Final Thoughts
As a team with a number of key players still adjusting to a new league and a new club, it has been difficult to predict what you will get from the Whitecaps from week to week. While they have the talent to punish any team that comes into BC Place, Los Angeles has more experience as a squad and at the manager position. This match should be another close one, with a draw looking like the most likely of outcomes.
Prediction
Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 Los Angeles Galaxy
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