LAFC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 13
LAFC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Banc of California Stadium – Los Angeles
September 23 – 11:00 PM ET

TV: TSN 1/4

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: YouTube TV [LA region only], EstrellaTV 62

LAFC will be hoping a return to Banc of California Stadium can be the tonic to return them to their winning ways when they host an in-form Vancouver Whitecaps side Wednesday night. 

LAFC (4W-5L-3D) are coming off a 3-0 road defeat to the Seattle Sounders, while the Whitecaps (5W-7L-0D) defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1 to make it three wins in their last four games, their best run of form this season.

LAFC would love for history to repeat itself, beating Vancouver 6-1 in the last meeting between the teams at the Banc last July. And that was after Yordy Reyna gave the visitors an early lead. 

LAFC

LAFC's struggles continued at CenturyLink Field with Bob Bradley's side suffering a 3-0 defeat to the Sounders. It's now five losses in the last seven games.

"I think our players did a good job of coming out in the second half and trying hard to push the game in the second half and staying in it until the very end, certainly the challenge that we threw out at halftime," Bradley said after the game. "Of course to go with it is to get the next goal and make it 2-1, and really push. So in terms of now some sharpness in moments and advantage and make more of them, not as good as it needs to be.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Carlos Vela (F) - Grade 2 MLS sprain
  • OUT: Mohamed Traore (D) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Tristan Blackmon (D) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Vancouver Whitecaps

Fredy Montero has found his mojo and on Saturday he teamed well with Lucas Cavallini down the stretch of a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium, the club's second consecutive win. 

"It’s an honor to play with such a quality player," Cavallini said. "To me he’s the most talented on the team, you could say that. A lot of experience obviously playing in Europe. Being a goalscorer, it’s great to play alongside him, because obviously our relationship off the field is good, but on the field we know each other well and today, we did a lot of interesting stuff together and it’s good to work with Fredy. 

"With Fredy, we have a good relationship, on and off the pitch. Not only does it come from only us too, it comes from the team and the support from our teammates and the good attitude they show today. Going forward, hopefully we continue to be like this. Fredy knows me well. We try to practice a lot, train together, we try to recognize, memorize each other’s runs and positions on the field so we're always like a step ahead of the other team."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Maxime Crépeau (GK) - fractured left thumb
  • OUT: Jasser Khmiri (D) - undisclosed injury
  • DOUBTFUL: Russell Teibert (M) - undisclosed injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Thomas Hasal (GK) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution:  None
• International duty:  None

Series Matchup at LAFC

• LAFC: 1 win, 8 goals
• Whitecaps: 0 wins, 3 goals
• 1 draw

Officials

• Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
• Assistant Referees: Adam Garner, Tiffin Turpin
• 4th Official: Michael Radchuk
• VAR: Kevin Stott