The Vancouver Whitecaps begin their playoffs against the same opponent they faced to end their season.
Vancouver heads down to California to take on Los Angeles FC on Saturday as part of a best-of-three series in the MLS playoffs.
Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini said his club respects the defending MLS Cup winners, but isnB次元官网网址檛 afraid of them.
B次元官网网址淪ince June, I think weB次元官网网址檝e been one of the top teams in the Western Conference so I donB次元官网网址檛 think we need to be scared of anyone,B次元官网网址� he said.
Vancouver ended the season with a 1-1 draw against the California side, with two missed Whitecaps penalties proving to be decisive.
B次元官网网址淟AFC, in terms of pure talent, is the best team. The depth of players they have, is the top talent,B次元官网网址� said Sartini.
The California side features UEFA European Championship winner Giorgio Chiellini as well as Mexican star Carlos Vela and league top goal scorer D茅nis Bouanga.
B次元官网网址淲e need to go play our game but be conscious if we want to (continue) we need to win at least once in Los Angeles. The fact weB次元官网网址檝e done it once this season, it gives us the confidence to say itB次元官网网址檚 something thatB次元官网网址檚 not out of reach,B次元官网网址� said Sartini.
The best-of-three series is new this season after the league previously used a single-game elimination format in previous years.
VancouverB次元官网网址檚 playoff record during its time as a MLS club is mixed. The team has twice made the quarterfinals (2015, 2017) but hasnB次元官网网址檛 made it past the first round the other seasons since it joined the league.
The Whitecaps finished sixth in the 14-team Western Conference at 12-10-12, while LAFC finished third at 14-10-10.
Vancouver beat LAFC 3-2 back in June, courtesy of a winner from Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld.
Gauld was asked about facing off against the California team as well as former teammate and goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
Crepeau denied once Gauld last time out, pushing his first penalty attempt away with the second hitting the bar.
But the Scottish playmaker said heB次元官网网址檚 unfazed about coming up against last yearB次元官网网址檚 champions and his ex-teammate.
B次元官网网址淚t is what it is, a team we know well,B次元官网网址� said Gauld. B次元官网网址淲e know itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a tough two or three games but weB次元官网网址檝e shown we can go there and win it B次元官网网址� we need to be confident.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver has played LAFC twice in the regular season as well as twice in the CONCACAF Champions League in the spring.
That amount of time spent playing one team has helped the players better understand what they are facing, said defender Tristan Blackmon.
B次元官网网址淚 think you start to become more familiar with them if you play a bunch of games,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t definitely helps to have played them this past weekend B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a good matchup and I think our guys are going to step up for it,B次元官网网址� he said.
LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo was complimentary to Vancouver after last weekB次元官网网址檚 1-1 draw, but backed his team heading into the playoffs.
B次元官网网址淭hings to improve on for next is to manage your opponent over 90 minutes, not 45,B次元官网网址� said Cherundolo. B次元官网网址淰ancouver is a team thatB次元官网网址檚 quite a scrappy team. if you allow them the time and space, they have the tools that can break you down B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e a much improved side.B次元官网网址�
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