LAFC Knock Out the Vancouver Whitecaps From MLS Cup Playoffs
This was a season of many ups and downs for both LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps. The ups; LAFC made the CONCACAF Champions League finals, finished 3rd in the West, had the Golden Boot winner, and had what I’d call another successful season in Los Angeles. Vancouver had their many ups as well; playing some of the prettiest soccer in MLS, winning the 2023 Canadian Championship, locking up a CONCACAF Cup spot for 2024, and of course adding some top end talent. But the downs were ever present as well for these two teams; LAFC would lose the CONCACAF Champions League final after being in a decent spot in leg 2 to do so, the Whitecaps at one point were playing so bad Vanni Sartini was potentially about to lose his job… but in the end, the MLS Cup Playoffs laid ahead for both sides.
These two sides faced each other on Decision Day where these two sides would end up with a 1-1 draw. With this result, and others throughout the Western Conference, it perfectly aligned them for another showing against each other in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Leading into the playoffs, LAFC and Vancouver had squared off four times already that season due to facing each other in the CONCACAF Champions League prior to regular season play. These two sides knew each other well… and now were slated for their 5th and 6th games against each other in 2023!
Game 1 of the potential three game series was held in Los Angeles and in typical L.A. fashion… a show was put on. The two sides put on a seven goal performance in which both Denis Bouanga and Ryan Hollingshead scored themselves braces. The LAFC defense wouldn’t play their best game however as they did end up allowing two goals to the Caps. However… with the firepower of this LAFC attack, they could afford to let in those goals. LAFC took game 1 at home by a score of 5-2. Then the series went north of the border and to Vancouver, British Columbia. This one was interesting… we saw many moments in which I’d classify them as “CONCACAF-y”. The biggest moment came at the end of the game in which the referee knocked over a Whitecaps player, which then resulted in a major counter attack for LAFC leading to the second (and almost official) game sealing goal. Whitecaps manager Vanni Sartini was LIVID as he would eventually get himself a red card, and making comments all the way into the post game press conference. The goal on the field would eventually be called off by VAR, but still… you got to love CONCACAF. More importantly, LAFC would take this game on the road, even with some help from officials. The lone goal in this matchup was a Denis Bouanga penalty kick in the first half. That goal would also be Bouanga’s 6th goal against Vancouver in 2023.
The Whitecaps should be proud of their 2023 season. At the end of the day it was a success if you ask me. A team that won silverware, qualified for Champions Cup next season, made the playoffs, and I think if done right… could be MLS Cup contenders next season. The reigning MLS Cup Champions LAFC are moving on to the Quarterfinals where they will face the winner of the Seattle Sounders vs FC Dallas series.
