This isn含羞草研究社檛 how the Vancouver Whitecaps wanted to enter their final homestand of the season.
With just four games left on the schedule, the 含羞草研究社楥aps (9-14-7) are on a three-game losing skid and their playoff hopes have all but evaporated.
含羞草研究社淥ur backs are against the wall, and we含羞草研究社檙e trying to put good performances together,含羞草研究社� defender Tristan Blackmon said Tuesday. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been a battle for sure.含羞草研究社�
The club isn含羞草研究社檛 about to give up, however. The 含羞草研究社楥aps will continue to push as they kick off a three-game homestand Wednesday against the L.A. Galaxy (11-11-7).
含羞草研究社�(Making the playoffs) is going to be tough. We含羞草研究社檙e going to need to, obviously, win our four games, hope that other results go our way,含羞草研究社� said attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld.
含羞草研究社淏ut I would say the main thing for us is look to improve upon what we含羞草研究社檝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.含羞草研究社�
Gauld is set to return to Vancouver含羞草研究社檚 lineup after missing Saturday含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社楥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.
含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檝e seen in some second halves lately, we含羞草研究社檝e been keeping the ball more than in their half,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淎nd that含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淲e need to hold on to the ball more, I think, try and tire teams out and hopefully create openings.含羞草研究社�
Controlling the play against L.A. won含羞草研究社檛 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 含羞草研究社楥aps back on Aug. 13.
含羞草研究社淭hey have great players, even though they含羞草研究社檝e gone through a stretch where they含羞草研究社檝e struggled as well,含羞草研究社� said Blackmon, who got to know the Galaxy well during his time with Los Angeles FC. 含羞草研究社淵ou see the talent that they put on the field each time they play, and they have new acquisitions as well. So it含羞草研究社檚 going to be a good matchup.含羞草研究社�
Vancouver will need to limit its defensive mistakes on Wednesday, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
含羞草研究社淭hey are a team that they create a lot, but also they concede a lot,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淪o if you are very solid defensively, we can win the game. If not, we won含羞草研究社檛. (Offensively), I think we含羞草研究社檒l have chances.含羞草研究社�
Despite their recent run, L.A. still sits three points below the Western Conference playoff bar.
The Whitecaps aren含羞草研究社檛 thinking about ruining the Galaxy含羞草研究社檚 post-season dreams, though, Sartini said.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not that we have any, any feuds or any revenge with anyone. We have to be concentrated on ourselves,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭he maximum points that we can achieve is 46 at the moment, so the objective is to make 46 points.
含羞草研究社淭he only thing that matters are the Whitecaps.含羞草研究社�
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 含羞草研究社楥aps, but haven含羞草研究社檛 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. They含羞草研究社檙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.
含羞草研究社擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
