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Starting XI

Clement Diop; Nathan Smith, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; Romain Alessandrini, Jermaine Jones ©, João Pedro, Emmanuel Boateng; Giovani dos Santos, Jack McBean.

Bench

Brian Rowe, Rafael Garcia, Dave Romney, Baggio Husidic, Bradford Jamieson IV, Jose Villarreal, Gyasi Zardes.

Lineup notes

Back in action after the international break. Back on the road for the second straight match. The LA Galaxy travel north to the magical land of Canada – where maple syrup, moose and ice hockey abound – for a match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Should be exciting, eh?
Although Sebastian Lletget is out with a Lisfranc injury, head Coach Curt Onalfo will be boosted with the return of several key players who will be available Saturday, including Gyasi Zardes, Ashley Cole and Giovani dos Santos. Not bad, eh?
In net, Clement Diop makes his third-straight start for the Galaxy and the fifth of his MLS career. Diop has a knack for making spectacular saves, and will look to bring two solid years in net with LA Galaxy II up to the MLS level. We’ll see some saves, eh?
On the right side of the defense, Nathan “SMITTTY!!!!” Smith makes his second MLS start for the Galaxy. The talented Galaxy Academy product was a game changer against Salt Lake, playing a part in the game-winning goal that gave LA a 2-1 win over RSL. Talented young buck, eh?
In the center of defense, Daniel Steres will continue in the back line after becoming one of the Galaxy’s most relied-upon layers since last year. Steres has started in all three Galaxy contests to start the season. Pretty steady, eh?
Alongside Steres is the big, bald, beautiful, beefy Belgian Jelle Van Damme, the team captain. The combo of Van Damme and Steres is the top choice centerback pairing for the Galaxy. It’s peanut-butter Jelle time, eh?
On the left side of the back line, HE’S BACK! Ashley Cole will make his 2017 MLS debut after recovering from a calf injury suffered in preseason. Cole was arguably the best left back in MLS a season prior and will look to start of his year strong. Pretty welcomed, eh?
On the right side of the midfield is the speedy and handsome Romain Alessandrini. Alessandrini is finding his groove in MLS, coming off a two-assist performance in his last match against RSL. Pretty good, eh?
In the center of the pitch, Jermaine Jones returns from duty with USMNT to start for LA. The veteran helped the U.S. earn a valuable point on the road in WCQ earlier this week and will carry that momentum into Saturday. Busy week, eh?
Alongside Jones is the Portuguese Joao Pedro, who will make his fourth-straight start for the Galaxy. Pedro joined LA this offseason after becoming one of the most promising and talented young midfielders in Portugal’s top-flight division. Great hair, eh?
On the left side of the midfield, is the very, very fast but very, very small Emmanuel Boateng, who is coming off a match in which he scored the game winner. On Saturday, Boateng will look to find his first MLS goal against a team that isn’t Salt Lake. Pretty fast, eh?
Pulling the strings of the Galaxy attack is Giovani dos Santos, who returns after missing out on the Galaxy’s road trip to the city of salty lakes. Dos Santos will be fresh for Saturday’s contest after having nearly three weeks to recover from a minor hamstring injury. Talented player, eh?
Up top is the young and talented Jack McBean, a Galaxy Homegrown Player who has stepped into the starting lineup in place of Gyasi Zardes to start the season. McBean will make his third start this season. Score some goals, eh?

Game notes

Saturday’s match will mark the 17^th time that the LA Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps will face off in MLS play.
All time, the LA Galaxy have gone 9-3-4 against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
In at BC Place, LA have gone 2-2-3, scoring 10 goals in the seven contests.
This year on the road, the Galaxy have gone 1-0-0 while scoring two goals and allowing just one for a +1 goal differential.
Last year against Vancouver, the Galaxy went 1-0-2 against the Western Conference side, including two 0-0 draws between the clubs.
Curt Onalfo will lead the Galaxy in his fourth match as LA Galaxy Head Coach.
During his time as Head Coach of LA Galaxy II in USL, Onalfo led the Galaxy to three-consecutive postseason berths (2014, 2015, 2016) while winning the USL Western Conference in 2015.
During his 86 games over three seasons with LA Galaxy II, Los Dos scored 145 goals and earned +34 goal differential.

Quick hits

Al Green Lyrics – Let’s Stay Together

I, I'm I'm so in love with youWhatever you want to doIs all right with meCause you make me feel so brand newAnd I want to spend 90 minutes with youLet me say that since, baby, since we've played togetherScoring goals foreverIs what I needLet me, be the one you’ll be passing toI'll never be untrueOh babyLet's, let's soccer together (‘gether)Soccerin' whether, whetherTimes are good or bad, happy or sad

-Al Green (1972)

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