Having done enough in Game 1, LAFC come into Vancouver to take on Whitecaps in a closeout match in Game 2. Regardless of the sport, closeout games are never easy, especially when tasked with doing it on the road. The team you go up against, in this case an already tough and talented Vancouver side, always seem to get a boost by that sense of desperation with backs against the wall. Whitecaps will have that and the home crowd behind them to help get the upset over Los Angeles and send this to a winner-take-all match in Game 3 at BMO.
Locked in 🔒#ForLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/aSRZL0pVW1
— LAFC (@LAFC) November 3, 2024
In our preview we talked about the importance for LAFC not to just focus on getting an early, but making sure they withstood the inevitable pressure from the home side and defended against the early goal. Unfortunately, that warning wasn’t heeded. It took just ten minutes for the Whitecaps to break the deadlock for the early lead. Vancouver put the pressure on from kickoff, and wasted no time in racking up the looks on goal. They finally broke through when a friendly deflection found Ryan Gauld who sent the second effort past Lloris for the lead.
A dream start for @WhitecapsFC!
Their main man Ryan Gauld slots it home. 🔥
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/leuuxbsLhx // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/XZDeU95O0K
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 4, 2024
LAFC were hit in the mouth, and then knocked down just three minutes later when Vancouver once again applied the pressure. It was once again Ryan Gauld who sent a good ball into the box that, once again, took a friendly bounce off the defender in favor of the home side as the ball was hit into the back of the net for an own goal, with Gauld cultivating the chaos.
A dangerous ball by Gauld forces a mistake, and we’re up by TWO! 🙏
📺 https://t.co/3ksbP76nGa #VWFC | #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/WMtR6uEOMm
— X – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 4, 2024
While Los Angeles went into the halftime break with more of the possession at 52%, they were only able to muster three shots with not a single one finding its target. In truth, the first half looked like one team that knew they were on their last legs with a loss, and a team that knew they had a deciding match at home should they slip tonight. That’s a very dangerous game to play, and with a whole half to play and supremely talented squad, they will have undoubtedly looked towards the second half aiming to comeback, and close it out on the road in dramatic fashion.
For a while in the second half, it looked like LAFC were going to turn it around. Through 70 minutes they were able to add eight more shots with three of those finding the target. Not just that, but they came close to cutting the deficit in half on a couple of occasions where the effort was met with a couple of massive saves from Vancouver’s Takaoka. After LAFC came within inches of once again getting the goal, Whitecaps went right down the pitch, and yet another own goal, this time a deflection off Eddie Segura, that extended the lead in the 68th minute for the home team. Los Angeles had ‘scored’ two goals but none counted in their favor, it just felt like that kind of night.
Vancouver are 3-0 up! Game Three on the horizon? 👀@WhitecapsFC // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/ipr7kNws4A
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 4, 2024
Vancouver were able to see out the win along with the shutout, and while LAFC had a game to lose so to speak, you never want to lose one like this and give a team like the Whitecaps that much confidence going into a Game 3 where anything can happen. Now, the focus shifts to Friday night at BMO where LAFC hope to use the home field to their advantage this time around, and close it out in front of the 3252.
Thoughts on Game 2? Leave a comment below!