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.
