Most of the talk surrounding the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs has been at odds with the best-of-three format, but with four elimination games this weekend, it’s hard to say it won’t generate a lot of excitement.
Round 1 concludes with four Game 3s this weekend, starting with Friday night’s matchup between LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps (10:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV). As reigning Western Conference winners, the Black and Gold will host the win-or-go-home game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles in front of what is sure to be a raucous home crowd.
To get here, both teams successfully defended their home turf in Games 1 and 2. LAFC took the lead in the 30th minute of the first leg thanks to a controversial handball in the penalty area from Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon, which resulted in a penalty from Denis Bouanga . Cristian Olivera doubled LAFC’s lead in the 57th minute after an assist from Mateusz Bogusz. Vancouver’s Ryan Gauld, who led the team with 15 goals this season, continued his strong streak with a goal in stoppage time, although it was too little too late.
In the second leg on Sunday, LAFC conceded two own goals after Gauld scored the opener via a deflection directly in front of the goal. LAFC could not answer after Gauld’s strike in the 10th minute and left BC Place with a 3-0 defeat.
The winner of Friday’s match will face the Seattle Sounders, who advanced after back-to-back wins over the Houston Dynamo, in the semifinals of the single-elimination conference.
Follow the match below with our live blog with updates, highlights and commentary.
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82′ | REPLACEMENTS:
🔄 Laborda IN, Picault OUT 🔄Caicedo IN, Vite OUT #VWFC | #LAFCvVAN
Blackmon headed the ball into the goal via a dead set piece, but was far offside.
62′ GOAL for Mateusz Bogusz
Aaron Long set up Bogusz nicely and the Poland international placed him perfectly in the net.
57′
Giroud and Bouanga almost make contact on another chance, this time with Giroud on the receiving end of a pass into the penalty area. He misses and Vancouver gets worried.
54′
Giroud, who came in on the break, almost put his stamp on the match with a double for Bouanga, but Bouanga missed a score by just a few centimeters.
51′
O’Brien attempts what would have been an epic bicycle kick goal but is denied by White.
47′
Bouanga goes down in the penalty area after a push from Berhalter! The referee doesn’t bite and instead awards Vancouver a goal kick.
HALF TIME: LAFC 0-0 Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver seems to have the momentum after their 3-0 loss to LAFC in Game 2. In this highly competitive chess match, LAFC is losing the possession battle (62% to 38%) and has taken just two shots with 0 on target to defeat Vancouver’s 7 with 1 on goal.
43′
Gauld gets one through to an open White who misses a perfect opportunity with a shot wide left.
40′
After an explosive run, Hollingshead sends a great cross to Palencia in the penalty area. Palencia fired a shot, but it was blocked by a wall of Whitecaps defenders.
27′
Whitecaps almost break through, but Lloris is there to punch away Brian White’s quick shot. The visitors start knocking.
20′
Still scoreless after 20 minutes, with Vancouver leading the possession battle (59%). The BMO Stadium is still not full, but the energy coming from the crowd is electric.
