Vanni Sartini opened his arms to an unlikely addition to the Vancouver Whitecaps’ fanbase in their deciding fixture against Los Angeles FC in the MLS playoffs.

In the Whitecaps’ wild card match against the Portland Timbers, a game they won 5-0, opposition manager Phil Neville believed that God was on his side after the game was played at Providence Park, despite Vancouver finishing higher in the Western Conference.

Sartini explained after the result that he did not believe in God but said he would be a welcome Whitecaps supporter in their must-win encounter at the BMO Stadium.

“I don’t know. After last time when I said that I don’t think he exists, I don’t know if he wants to become part of the Whitecaps, but if he does, we will give him an honorary card,” Sartini said.

The Whitecaps forced a deciding game in their best-of-three series after beating LAFC 3-0 at BC Place, the only tie to go the distance in the West.

Vancouvers’ postseason form has seen them play some of their best football this term, and Sartini is hoping for that to continue.

“We had a run in the late summer, and we were playing really well, and we have achieved that same level, and it’s the level of a top four team to be honest,” Sartini added.

“The three games, we knew that the conditions were going to be back, and we knew we were gearing towards the playoffs with all the players arriving and ready to go.

“I know that we will play a good game in Los Angeles, we will. If we win, I don’t know. We will honour this playoff run.”

LAFC, meanwhile, will be aiming to avenge their defeat in Game 2, hoping not to become the second high-profile casualty in the playoffs after the Columbus Crew were eliminated by the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference bracket.

Ryan Gauld opened the scoring in the 10th minute before two own-goals either side of half-time from Ryan Hollingshead and Eddie Segura sealed the win for Vancouver.

LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo bemoaned his side’s slow start to proceedings after finding themselves two goals down inside 13 minutes and is looking to rectify that on home turf this time around.

“If you go back to the 11 games that we lost this season, it has always been the crucial moments at the beginning of the half where we make mental lapses and errors,” Cherundolo said.

“It was a little sloppy mentally and tactically in those moments and that is just not good enough to win games. Against Vancouver, it is difficult because they are a team full of energy.

“They almost always capitalise on opponents’ mistakes, and they did against us. We have nothing to blame but ourselves and we will look to correct those errors in training.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

Despite not finding the back of the net in Game 2, Bouanga will be hoping to get himself back among the goals against one of his favoured opponents in the MLS.

He has recorded at least one goal contribution in all five home matches he’s played against Vancouver in all competitions, totalling four goals and four assists over the five matches.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld

Gauld has scored in four straight matches for the Whitecaps going back to the end of the regular season, including a goal during his side’s victory in Game 2.

The only Whitecaps player to score in five straight MLS matches (regular season and playoffs) is Camilo Sanvezzo between June and July 2013.

MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN

While the series is level heading into the decider, it is LAFC who are predicted to emerge victorious according to Opta’s data-led simulations.

However, their seven-match winning streak in all competitions ended with the loss to Vancouver in Game 2. LAFC have not lost consecutive matches in over a year, since a three-match losing run between August and September 2023.

Vancouver’s 3-0 win last time out ended an eight-match winless run in the best-of-three series. (D2 L6). They have managed only one win in 12 all-time away matches against LAFC (D4 L7) but did beat the Black and Gold in a penalty shootout at BMO Stadium in the Leagues Cup this year.

The Whitecaps’ triumph in Game 2 was their third all-time playoff victory (D2 L8). In those three wins, the Whitecaps have outscored opponents, 13-0, while being outscored 19-6, in their other 10 postseason contests.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LAFC – 63.1%

Draw – 19.6%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 17.3%

Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has demanded more from his team-mates if they are to replicate their U.S. Open Cup triumph in the MLS playoffs.

LAFC edged the first game of their best-of-three series against the Vancouver Whitecaps, with Denis Bouanga and Cristian Olivera on target for Steve Cherundolo’s side.

But Lloris, who joined the Black and Gold from Tottenham almost a year ago, was not impressed by his side’s showing and insists they must improve when they travel to BC Place.

"The performance is not enough, but we got the result so that's the most important thing," Lloris said.

"I think we need to increase our level if we want to have a mission. A win is a win, so that's positive."

"If we want to have a mission in this MLS Cup [playoffs], we need to do even better. "But I believe. We can do it.

"We need to realise that a game like tonight, we didn't feel safe until the end. So we have to do better."

Defender Aaron Long echoed Lloris’ thoughts, saying: “It’s definitely a job's-not-done mentality. We have one more game, potentially two more games.

"But I think a lot of us weren't happy giving up that goal late as well.”

“We want to finish that in a professional manner and end the game 2-0, even if it doesn't carry over on aggregate. 

"At least as a defender, that subdued me a tiny bit. But we'll look at the film again, a great win at home, and on to the next one.”

For Vanni Sartini, meanwhile, he acknowledged that his side were the better team in Game 1, but said that even playing well against LAFC, who topped the Western Conference in the regular season, would not be good enough.

But knowing they must win the game to keep their playoff campaign rolling, Sartini wants that little bit extra from his players, something he hopes will come from the home supporters inside BC Place.

“The main takeaway from the game is that playing well is probably not enough against them. We need to play well like we did in the last game, but we also need to have a little bit extra,” Sartini said.

“That can be the extra performance of individuals or even the extra courage that we need to have when we are attacking. I think we need this kind of extra.

“Hopefully, playing at home is going to help us win the game on Sunday.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld

Gauld scored Vancouver’s only goal on Sunday after netting a hat-trick in the Wild Card Round against Portland Timbers in midweek.

The Scot is the first player in the Whitecaps’ MLS history to score in consecutive playoff matches.

LAFC - Denis Bouanga

Bouanga has scored in all three of his postseason meetings with the Whitecaps, the sixth player in MLS history to score in three straight playoff games against a single opponent.

No player in league history has scored in four straight postseason games against a single team, though the Gabon international will have his eyes set on making history this time around.

MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN

LAFC have won three of their last four away matches against Vancouver in all competitions (D1), including a 1-0 win in last season’s playoffs and a 2-1 win in October in the league. LAFC had won only one of their first five road matches against Vancouver (L4).

They have also won seven straight matches in all competitions dating back to winning the US Open Cup Final in late September. LAFC has won 26 of their last 36 matches in all competitions (D5 L5) dating back to late April after opening the season with four wins in 11 games (D3 L4).

The Whitecaps, meanwhile, will be looking to return to winning ways at home. They have lost three straight home matches in all competitions for the first time since July 2019. Since joining MLS in 2011, Vancouver have never suffered four straight home defeats in all competitions.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Vancouver Whitecaps – 28.4%

Draw – 24.4%

LAFC – 47.2%

Austin FC may have suffered a disappointing loss last time out, but Josh Wolff is aiming to bounce back against Los Angeles FC to give themselves a playoff chance.

The Black and Verde were beaten 2-1 by Toronto FC at the weekend after failing to find a late equaliser, condemning them to a second consecutive defeat.

Austin currently sit 11th in the Western Conference but are losing ground on the playoff spots as they are 10 points behind Houston Dynamo in seventh.

Wolff admitted that their task is now harder but is determined to make sure his team are still in the conversation come the end of the regular season.

"I think there's a points total that we have in mind," Wolff said, "but we need to work on things.

"We're going to be able to get chances, but the playoffs are still achievable. We have to pick up points and get to the last game with a chance of still getting in.

"We've got to take care of our chances in a better way, that's all."

Meanwhile, LAFC are winless in three MLS matches, giving up a 2-0 lead against rivals LA Galaxy last time out in a 4-2 defeat.

They still sit second in the table, but the teams below them have closed the gap.

Steve Cherundolo was quick to brush aside Saturday's defeat, with his sole focus now on picking up three points.

"We'll try to turn it around as fast as possible to get some points on Wednesday night," he said.

"We'll continue to go and hope fatigue doesn't play more of a part as players continue to get towards full fitness."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

Denis Bouanga has scored six career goals against Austin FC in all competitions, tied for the most of any player against them.

Austin FC – Alexander Ring

Austin failed to register a shot on target against Vancouver on August 31 but improved on that despite their loss to Toronto last time out.

While Owen Wolff got the goal at the weekend, Alexander Ring registered the most shots on target with two.

MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN

Los Angeles have won seven of 10 all-time meetings with Austin (D1 L2), though the Verde and Black did manage to take a point when the sides met in league play in Austin on June 19. LAFC have won four of five home matches against Austin (L1), keeping clean sheets in all four wins.

However, LAFC suffered a 2-0 defeat to Houston Dynamo in their last home match. They have never lost two straight regular-season home matches and have failed to score in back-to-back home league matches only once, doing so against Atlanta United and Houston in June 2023.

Meanwhile, Austin have lost eight of their last 13 regular season matches (W3 D2) dating back to late May. Austin had lost only seven times in their previous 23 regular season matches dating back to September 2023 (W7 D9).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LAFC – 66.3%

Draw – 18.4%

Austin FC – 15.3%

Reggae Boyz captain and goalkeeper Andre Blake produced two stunning saves to assist Philadelphia Union to a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Liga MX side Mazatlan in the 2024 Leagues Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.

Blake’s heroics were required after Mikael Uhre’s late first-half goal was cancelled out by Alonso Escoboza just shy of the hour mark, as the teams played out a 1-1 stalemate in regulation and extra-time.

The 33-year-old Blake, who won the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup Golden Glove, showed his class with two diving saves in the shootout to send Philadelphia Union to the semi-finals.

Interestingly, the other semi-finalists—Columbus Crew, Los Angeles FC, and Colorado Rapids—are also Major League Soccer (MLS) outfits, and with the top three Leagues Cup finishers guaranteed a spot in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, it means that all three qualifiers will be United States-based MLS teams.

Columbus Crew, a 2024 Champions Cup finalist, moved closer to a Champions Cup return as they too registered a close 4-3 penalty shootout win over New York City FC.

Both teams played out a 1-1 stalemate as Alonso Martinez gave New York FC a first minute lead, which was cancelled out by Cucho Hernandez. Like Blake, Columbus Crew’s custodian Patrick Schulte also produced a stop in the shootout to help secure his team’s passage.

Elsewhere, 2020 and 2023 Champions Cup finalists Los Angeles FC powered their way into the final four with a commanding 3-0 victory over the 2022 Champions Cup winners Seattle Sounders. Ryan Hollingshead and Kei Kamara logged first-half goals, before Denis Bouanga completed the win with an early second-half strike.

Meanwhile, there were plenty of thrills in the final match of the evening as Colorado Rapids slipped past seven-time Concacaf champions Club America of Mexico 9-8 on sudden-death penalties after they battled out a scoreless encounter.

The Liga MX giants were poised to win the shootout on their fifth kick, but Rapids’ goaltender Zack Steffen denied Igor Lichnovsky. The two teams then converted their next four kicks each, before Steffen scored his kick from the 12-yard spot, while his counterpart Luis Malagon hit wide and handed Colorado Rapids the victory.

Eduard Atuesta has found a new forever home with Los Angeles FC and believes the Black and Gold are benefitting from being more tactically versatile.

LAFC face Realt Salt Lake in their next MLS meeting, aiming to extend their lead at the top of the Western Conference against the second-placed side, who are level on points.

Steve Cherundolo's side were hammered 5-1 at home by Columbus Crew in their last outing, however.

Yet Atuesta believes LAFC have transformed their fortunes, and are benefitting from greater tactical fluidity and flexibility in their league push.

"I think we're more diligent tactically now," the midfielder said. "The LAFC I was part of with Bob [Bradley] was an LAFC that probably was much more about having the ball, possession, we had a lot of control of the game because we had the ball.

"One way was keeping the opponent down with the ball, the other being hard-working and then being dangerous when it’s time to counter-attack or create and be more vertical.

"Those are the differences I've found."

Atuesta is somewhat adored by LAFC supporters after helping the club to Supporters' Shield glory in 2019, a success he wants to build upon.

"I came here when I was really, really young, but had the desire to learn as much as possible, learn from the veterans and understand quickly how the league works, how I could adapt as quickly as I could," he added.

"I'm now a player with more experience, more titles and with a desire to keep winning a lot, a lot of trophies with LAFC."

Salt Lake suffered their own disappointment in their last outing after a 3-0 humbling against Portland Timbers.

Pablo Mastroeni's side have won three of their last five games, though, and will hope to strike a top-of-the-table blow here.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga

Denis Bouanga, alongside goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, was recently named in the MLS All-Star team after scoring 14 goals in 22 appearances this year.

The LAFC forward also has nine league assists to his name, and will be the primary threat against RSL.

Real Salt Lake – Andres Gomez

With Cristian Arango suspended for the next four games, Andres Gomez will be expected to step up in his absence.

The latter Real Salt Lake is one of only 10 players in MLS this year with 18 or more goal contributions – Gomez has managed 19.

MATCH PREDICTION – LOS ANGELES FC WIN

Los Angeles may have suffered their heaviest home defeat in club history against the Crew, but they are still the heavy favourites for this clash.

Cherundolo's side were unbeaten in 13 games across all competitions before that Columbus hammering, conceding just seven goals across that impressive run.

LAFC will hope to recharge another similar streak with victory here, though it may not be as straightforward as the pre-match predictions suggest.

RSL have recorded back-to-back wins over Los Angeles, including a 3-0 home win on March 2. The visitors had won just two of their first 15 all-time meetings with LAFC in all competitions (L13), however.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Los Angeles FC win – 52.1%

Draw – 24.4%

Real Salt Lake win – 23.4%

Denis Bouanga believes Los Angeles FC got a much-needed wake-up call when they lost to San Jose Earthquakes, as they prepare to face FC Dallas on Saturday.

LAFC lost 3-1 to the Earthquakes on May 5, but have since won all six of their games in all competitions, keeping a clean sheet in each of the last five.

They extended that run with a 2-0 win over Minnesota United at home on Wednesday and are now just three points behind Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake in third.

Bouanga has praised the response from LAFC, saying, "I think that losing to San Jose was a good wake-up call for us.

"We are LAFC but every club against us wants to win. The MLS is starting to have good players in good teams. We also have good players, but that was a big wake-up call.

"We've come back with a simple base - the forwards are scoring; the defenders are defending well and that's why we've had six wins and five clean sheets. I'm really happy, and I think everybody else is about the results."

Dallas sit in 12th with just 13 points following a three-match winless streak, including a 3-1 loss on the East Coast against LA Galaxy in midweek.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

Since May 11, all eight goals scored by LAFC in MLS play have been scored or assisted by either Denis Bouanga (three goals, three assists) or Mateusz Bogusz (three goals, one assist).

The only MLS players who had at least three goals and three assists in the month of May were Bouanga and Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta.

Dallas – Patrickson Delgado

All three of Delgado’s goals this season in all competitions have come in Dallas' last three matches.

The Ecuadorian is one of five MLS players currently under the age of 21 with at least three goals in 2024 and one of two of those from outside the United States (also Venezuela’s Kevin Kelsy).

MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN

The home side won all four meetings between Los Angeles and Dallas over the previous two seasons. LAFC has never lost at home against Dallas (W4 D1), winning the last four in a row after drawing the first meeting in 2018.

Indeed, Los Angeles have won six straight matches in all competitions with the last five all being shutouts. LAFC have one longer winning run in team history (seven straight in July-August 2022), but the five straight clean sheets make for the longest shutout streak by the club.

Meanwhile, Dallas suffered a 3-1 defeat to LA Galaxy on Wednesday, their second straight game allowing three goals and the fourth time doing so in league play this season. Over the previous two seasons, the club allowed three or more goals in four total league games (twice in both 2022 and 2023).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LAFC – 57.2%

Draw – 22.2%

Dallas – 20.6%

St. Louis City head coach Bradley Carnell is aiming to continue the "buzz" around their Citypark home when Los Angeles FC visit for the midweek MLS clash.

Carnell's side maintained their unbeaten run at home this campaign after sweeping aside Chicago Fire 3-1 in their last outing.

They have four wins and three draws at Citypark in the league this year – with Carnell desperate to keep that streak up.

"There's a certain buzz and an energy in this stadium and a certain enjoyment and how we like to play," Carnell said.

"I'm very happy with the way we are continuing to apply the principles, to apply the game plan, and very happy to have a response when we conceded the equalizer [against the Fire]."

St. Louis, who are ninth in the Western Conference standings, may fancy a third straight home win at Citypark but LAFC have also won their last three matches.

Steve Cherundolo's men eased past Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 on Sunday thanks to Cristian Olivera's brace.

"It's been a long road for Kike [Olivera] to become more prolific. He's put a lot of individual work in the training field with coaches," said head coach Cherundolo.

"He has the ability also to learn and get better. I think that's what you're seeing, so we're very happy with his progression and his production."

Full-back Sergi Palencia, who plays behind Olivera on the right flank, echoed Cherundolo's sentiment.

"It's just marvellous to see how hard this man works," Palencia added. "We have to tell him to take it easy and slow down at training because this guy only goes one level and that's full intensity."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

St. Louis City – Rasmus Alm

Rasmus Alm scored 84 seconds into St. Louis City’s 3-1 win over Chicago, the earliest goal in MLS play for City.

Alm's strike was 28 metres from goal, the longest non-free-kick goal in club history – a warning sign that LAFC must heed from set-piece chances.

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga

Denis Bouanga notched three assists against the Whitecaps, his sixth MLS game with three or more goal contributions since the beginning of last season.

No other MLS player has more than four such games in that time (Lionel Messi, Christian Benteke – four each).

MATCH PREDICTION – ST. LOUIS CITY WIN

St. Louis are the favourites for this clash, coming off the back of their 3-1 win over the Fire.

Carnell's side are unbeaten in their last 19 MLS matches when not conceding multiple goals in a game, with that defensive solidity the key to St. Louis' success.

Yet it is by no means a foregone conclusion for another home win here.

LAFC collected four points in two meetings with St. Louis City last season, winning 3-0 at home and playing a scoreless draw away, becoming only one of four teams to keep a clean sheet at Citypark in the regular season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

St. Louis City win – 44.5%

Los Angeles FC win – 28.1%

Draw – 27.4%

After midweek cup triumphs for both teams, all eyes turn to MLS this Saturday as Western Conference hopefuls Los Angeles FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps meet at BMO Stadium.

Ahead of Saturday's contest, Vancouver sit fourth in the West with 18 points from 10 games, with LAFC three points further back despite playing an additional match.

Vanni Sartini's hosts were in Canadian Championship action on Wednesday, beating Calgary 2-1 in the first leg of a quarter-final tie with a starting lineup containing five Canadian players. 

Sartini believes the experience of that match will serve his young players well, saying: "We want to do well in that competition and it fits with what we want to do, which is developing a lot of young players, guys who haven't played a lot for us.

"I'm really happy that we could play five of them, also because I think in this competition, if they have to give one per cent more to win, they will because it's their national competition."

LAFC, meanwhile, beat the Las Vegas Lights 3-1 to reach the last 16 of the U.S. Open Cup, a tournament they have never previously won.

Forward Kei Kamara scored his first LAFC goal in that match, and he hopes it will serve to kickstart his campaign.

"It was a battle but it's good for us to come here and get the win and move onto the next round," he said.

"Personally, it was nice to get a goal and wash that drought off, even though it was in the cup, to pick the team up and help us into the next round." 

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga 

Bouanga has scored seven goals in six career matches against the Whitecaps in all competitions, including scoring in all four MLS encounters with them (including playoffs). 

The only player to score in five straight MLS meetings with Vancouver is Raul Ruidiaz, who did so between 2020 and 2022.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White

White has scored in each of the Whitecaps' last three away matches. Only three players in team history, including White himself in 2023, have scored in four straight on the road in regular-season play.

MATCH PREDICTION – LOS ANGELES FC WIN

LAFC have won four of their last six matches against Vancouver in all competitions (one draw, one defeat) with all four wins coming in the CONCACAF Champions Cup or MLS Cup Playoffs. 

In regular-season play, LAFC have won only one of their last eight against the Whitecaps, drawing three and losing four. However, they are favourites to improve on that record here.

Saturday's hosts are unbeaten in nine straight home matches (seven wins, two draws) dating back to the end of last season. LAFC have previously recorded three runs of 10 or more home matches without defeat in their history, and they will fancy their chances of repeating the trick.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Los Angeles FC – 56.8%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 18.5%

Draw – 24.7%