CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy struggled mightily against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2015, and now Bruce Arena’s outfit is eager to flip the script this season.
Los Angeles dropped both their match in Vancouver and their return leg at StubHub Center last year to a resurgent Whitecaps team that finished with the second-best regular season record in the Western Conference. The loss at home was of particular disappointment for the Galaxy, as it was the club’s first-ever defeat to Vancouver at home since the club entered the league in 2011.
“They’ve had our number. They’re a good team. It’s going to be a real tough game up there. You have to stay organized. They exposed us with their speed last year,” forward Alan Gordon said. “[Kekuta] Manneh had a couple of goals last year, one-on-one with our defenders. We have to do a good job of supporting and not letting the game open up too much by staying .”
Added midfielder Baggio Husidic, “They outworked us. They had a good game plan and they pressed us all over the field. They were just better than us. “We have to match their intensity. We can’t use their turf as an issue for us, we just have to go in there and beat them.”
How do the Galaxy deal with Vancouver’s speed and get their first win in Van City since 2013?
Well, play smarter according to Husidic.
“You beat them with the brain. You beat them with your knowledge of the game," he said. "That’s what we have is knowledge of the game and that beats speed every time.”
