CARSON, Calif. -- The Home Depot Center has hardly been a place of success for Vancouver Whitecaps FC, but Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit attests that will not be on the mind of the 'Caps by the time that Thursday's Knockout Round match against the LA Galaxy kicks off.
In their two-year history in MLS, Vancouver have gone 1-3-2 at The HDC with their one defeat coming against Chivas USA in March, 2012 while their record against LA is 0-3-0 with zero goals scored. Although the Whitecaps are relishing their role as an underdog against the defending MLS Cup Champion Galaxy, DeMerit assured reporters after Wednesday's training session in Carson, that the venue was not going to be in the back of the Whitecaps' mind.
"Hopefully, we come in with a different mentality. We have won here, so it’s not like we have a jinx and we haven’t won in this stadium," said DeMerit. "I’m hoping that we don’t blame it on the stadium, but blame it on the opponent. What we can do is know that we have prepared for the opponent in the right way. Hopefully, the tactics will work and now we’re just looking forward to getting out there and battling it...It’s a great stadium, it’s a great surface. Some surfaces are harder to play on, but this one is good. We can get the ball down when needed and it’s always a good climate."
