Well before LAFC traveled to British Columbia for Saturday's mouthwatering Western Conference Semifinal at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the hosts announced BC Place had already sold out for the match, expectedly setting the club's new Audi MLS Cup Playoffs attendance record with more than 53,000 spectators set to pack the stadium (9:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass, Apple TV).
"It's going to be hopefully a great game," foreshadowed Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen.
"It's going to be two very good teams coming up against each other with some very good players and exciting players as well. There will be a full stadium, and hopefully it will be a great game, and for us, we'll be ready for it."
Clash of styles
During his first year in Vancouver, Sørensen has implemented a team-first, possession-based tactical approach, leading to a second-place finish in Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year voting and the highest points total in 'Caps history (63).
Meanwhile, during his final season leading LAFC, head coach Steve Cherundolo has continued his shift toward a more direct approach, often reliant on his stars to perform.
Luckily for the Black & Gold, they have. Together, Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min have scored 22 of LAFC's last 28 goals, including an MLS-record 18 straight for the club.
Vancouver's own superstar, Thomas Müller, has a clear takeaway.
"We know how good this team can be," Müller said. "But if you look back at the last couple of weeks, they are very reliant on Bouanga and Son. So if they're not scoring, they don't score. It's very tough to keep these two very quiet during the game, but if we get it done, then we have a good chance."
The same concern doesn't exist for the Whitecaps, who set their own league record with 21 different MLS goalscorers this season.
Rivalry renewed
In the past couple of seasons, LAFC haven't only shown the capability of beating Vancouver. They've proven to be the Whitecaps' kryptonite.
Last year, the Black & Gold ended Vancouver's season in Round One of the playoffs. The year prior, LAFC swept the 'Caps in Round One, 6-2 on aggregate, after also walloping the Canadian side, 6-0 on aggregate, to eliminate them from the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup.
“Hopefully, the thing is going to be different as we come out winners this time," said Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld.
"We've not had good luck against LA the last couple of years. We all know how good they are, but if you want to win the trophies, you've got to beat the best teams. So it's going to be a good challenge for us and hopefully we'll turn things around this time.”
Added Müller: "I was not in there the last years, so I have no bad memories or anything else. For me, it's just my first Conference Semi[final]. We're going to beat them. That's what I'm thinking about this game."
Bouanga tormented the Whitecaps in those playoff games, netting four goals to extend his career tally against Vancouver to 9g/7a in 13 matches.
"I can’t fully explain it," the Gabon international said. "I like to play them here [in LA] or at their stadium, whether it's synthetic grass and so on, but I can’t really explain why I’m really effective playing against them. I hope this will continue tomorrow."
Opportunity calls
But those past successes all came against Vanni Sartini-led Whitecaps teams. In just one season under Sørensen, Vancouver have already set a club-record points total, reached their first-ever Concacaf Champions Cup Final, and challenged for the Supporters' Shield.
Will they add a first-ever Western Conference Final appearance to the list?
"I know about the history about Vancouver and LAFC, and we can try and see if we can change things, but this is a new group," Sørensen pointed out.
"This is a new team, and they are also a new group and a new team for most parts. I think it's just two very good teams from this season and ... it's going to be exciting and it's going to be nerve-racking and it's going to be a lot of stuff, but we'll be ready."
Cherundolo agreed: "I think it's certainly the most competitive, Vancouver [vs.] LAFC [or] LAFC [vs.] Vancouver, we've seen yet."
