Vancouver Whitecaps will get back to winning ways against LA Galaxy
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The Major League Soccer season rolls in to week 4 and a big Western Conference fixture will take place between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Los Angeles Galaxy. The Whitecaps go into the home fixture winners in two of their first three matches. After a hot start of back-to-back wins, Vancouver was cooled down in week 3 by Atlanta. However, playing at home this weekend, the Whitecaps will get back to winning ways.
Vancouver kicked off the MLS season with a home win over the Montreal Impact, 2-1. It was the team's only home game to date. The club brought in some highly talented players in the offseason and Vancouver potentially has a team that can contend for the MLS Cup. The team's biggest acquisition was striker Kei Kamara, a player the club had attempted to sign two seasons previously. Kamara has found the back of the net twice in two matches. The 33-year-old MLS veteran has also added an assist.
Vancouver also signed Crystal Palace midfielder Jordan Mutch on loan. The former Premier League man is expected to bring experience and strength to the team's spine.
The Whitecaps are built to play on the counterattack. The team's 40% possession per match is proof Carl Robinson's team won't pass the ball around and breakdown defences. While the side won't pass through teams, Vancouver will tackle them. The Whitecaps are an extremely aggressive side and the team averages 18 tackles per game. The team's aggression has already caused players to rack up the yellow cards after three matches. Vancouver leads MLS in yellow cards with eight, plus one red card. MLS referees favour attacking players and most are all too willing to brandish a yellow card when a foul occurs.
The LA Galaxy head to Canada following a 2-1 loss to New York City FC. Like Vancouver, the Galaxy experienced a large amount of turnover during the offseason. Last year saw one of the Galaxy's worst ever seasons as the team missed the MLS Playoffs for the first time since 2008. The Galaxy finished bottom of the full MLS table, securing the fewest points of the 22 teams in the league – MLS does not have relegation and promotion. The player turnover was needed, but this season should see the team in rebuild mode. Of course, making the playoffs is possible, but the Galaxy were so bad a year ago, it is doubtful they can make the postseason this term.
LA has only played twice this season, compared to Vancouver's three, and the team's defence has shown to be just as porous as a year ago. The team has given up three goals while scoring three. Away from home against New York City, the Galaxy gave up two goals within the first 33 minutes, paving the way to their first loss.
The team has a brilliant attacking three in Romain Alessandrini, Ola Kamara and Giovanni Dos Santos. However, manager Sigi Schmid has failed to get the three to fire consistently. They should have the same difficulty in Vancouver this weekend.
It's important to note that MLS home teams hold a strong advantage over away sides. Only seven times in 28 matches has an away team won. Vancouver are the better team heading into the fixture and the team's home advantage should only help them secure all three points.
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