The Vancouver Whitecaps snap their eight-game winless streak, which included a 0-4 loss to Real Salt Lake. This is despite the news breaking last week that CF Montréal and Toronto FC will be returning home to play their games, Vancouver still found themselves in Sandy, Utah. A place that hasn’t always been kind to them. So with light at the end of the tunnel for Marc Dos Santos’ men, the last thing they would want to see standing before them is a high-flying LA Galaxy side. The two sides met three weeks ago, in a painful (or jubilant) 98-minute thriller.
Now, Greg Vanney aimed to get the job done quicker and easier than last time out.
Winless in their last eight, Vancouver came into this one fresh off of a 10-day break. With Max Crepeau and Lucas Cavallini missing due to the Gold Cup, Thomas Hasal and Brian White both made their second consecutive start. Michael Baldisimo replaced Caio Alexandre, and Ranko Veselinovic got the nod over the struggling Andy Rose.
Greg Vanney on the other hand has enjoyed a pretty comfortable start to his time in LA. Having picked up the full three points in three of their last four, the Galaxy lined up in an attacking 4-3-3, with Rayan Raveloson replacing Sebastian Lletget in midfield, and Derrick Williams slotting along the backline.
Vancouver Whitecaps snap winless streak in inspiring win over the LA Galaxy
A tale as old as time
TWO GOALS IN TWO GAMES!@RavelosonR22 puts us ahead early in Utah pic.twitter.com/BSNK0c4N1T
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 18, 2021
Four minutes to be specific.
It was still three times longer than how long Vancouver held out against Real Salt Lake. But LA managed to strike gold first. And early.
Victor Vazquez found himself at the corner of Hasal’s box, dangerously open. A whipped cross into the mixer found Raveloson who nodded home the game’s first tally. Galaxy was maybe fortunate that Vancouver’s backline was putting on their impression of an oak tree, but regardless, LA lead.
The game slowed down dramatically afterwards, apart from an offside goal that was called back on Ethan Zubak. The Canadians struggled to get a hold in the game, however were able to see the game through to halftime at a 1-0 deficit.
Second half heroes
The first half jinx on Vancouver has been a strong one in 2021, scoring just once in 12 games. Yet three minutes after the break, Deiber Caicedo put his stamp on the match. Javain Brown continued his surge into the hearts of the Vancouver faithful after his cross found the foot of Caicedo. The Colombian picked the ball out of the air and with one swing of the boot levelled the game.
77' GOAL!
Ball bounces just right for #VWFC as Dajome finds himself in the right spot, to take the late lead. #VANvLA | 2-1 | #MLS pic.twitter.com/Fh2jOfzXXP
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) July 18, 2021
The Whitecaps kept pressing, getting a number of more chances and hardly allowing LA anywhere near their young shot-stopper. Their patience paid off in the 77-minute after it looked as though Brian White had ruined a breakaway chance. The American laid the ball off to Cristian Dájome who blasted his fifth of the year past Jonathon Bond.
Vancouver was able to dictate the play for the final 15 minutes and was relieved to see that it would only be four minutes of stoppage time. They managed to see the game out and snap their nasty winless streak to climb out of the bottom spot in the west.
Last word – Vancouver Whitecaps snap winless streak against the LA Galaxy
With the win, Vancouver set itself up in an excellent position ahead of a busy week. Marc Dos Santos and his men host the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday, before a trip to LAFC on the weekend.
LA Galaxy will stay in Utah to face Real Salt Lake on Tuesday, before squaring off with last-place FC Dallas on Saturday.
