Los Angeles vs Vancouver Whitecaps Prediction: A Tense Decider as LAFC and Vancouver Face Off in the MLS Playoff Series

The stakes couldn't get bigger as LAFC face off with the Vancouver Whitecaps to go to war in the third and final leg of the MLS Playoff best-of-3 series on November 9, 2024. The series is pegged at 1-1, with LAFC taking the opening at home 2-1 before losing in shocking fashion 3-0 in Vancouver. This was further supported by two own goals conceded by LAFC for a truly dramatic finish, with both teams heading back to BMO Stadium. LAFC will look toward reassuming dominance on home turf, while Vancouver has parlayed this newfound momentum in hopes of overcoming the historical edge of LAFC for an upset. High drama is assured as both teams bring strong tactics and recent momentum to bear.

This is a winner-takes-all encounter, with LAFC wanting to take advantage of their home turf, where they have been pretty solid of late. In this 3-4-3, width and pace are accentuated, while the midfield gives control and distribution. First and foremost, Coach Steven Cherundolo would not want any defensive mistakes, especially under Vancouver's high press and transitional play that caused problems in the second leg.

Steven Cherundolo 3-4-3 is all about flexibility for LAFC-offensively and defensively-so a transition into wide attacks before immediately falling back into a solid defensive shape happens quickly. The wide players for LAFC provide the width, creating overloads to allow crossing opportunities that proved vital in the first leg. Cherundolo will surely preach discipline in defensive transitions after two own goals in the last game, with more emphasis on controlled passing to limit Vancouver's counter.

With this in mind, the team can attack high to force errors from Vancouver's back line. Focusing on quality, not quantity, midfielders in LAFC will look to thread passes to unlock that attacking trio. Cherundolo will be praying that his forwards will press aggressively to try and capitalize on set-pieces for an early lead.

The Whitecaps, under the guidance of Vanni Sartini, normally adopt a more structured 4-3-3 formation where they use their attacking front three to find space and put pressure on teams. Their ability to find defensive weaknesses and capitalize on the mistakes of the opposing team has them scoring twice off of forced errors in the last match, showcasing Sartini's tactics quite well. With both sides holding victories over one another, the decider promises a tactical battle where adjustments will be key.

The system Vanni Sartini deploys is a 4-3-3, meant to be space-exploiting, turnover-forcing-something that was very pivotal in the second-leg win. Defensive organization for Vancouver and speed in counter-attacks will be important in their approach. With a solid backline that is disciplined, the midfield battle is something they look to control and frustrate LAFC forwards. Sartini might ask his team to soak up the pressure and catch LAFC on the counter, similar to how they punished them through defensive mistakes in the previous game.

The Vancouver midfield trio will be important to disrupt the rhythm of LAFC to serve the attacking line directly. Their dependency on corners and set pieces could prove to be a card for them, as it worked quite well in their favor during the second leg. Sartini might also want to play at a slower tempo to unsettle LAFC and limit the grip LAFC has in open play.

Historically, LAFC leads the way against Vancouver, taking 10 wins in the series to Vancouver's 7; 3 games have ended in a draw. In the two playoff matches of this season, each team has taken one win, with the final encounter being the most crucial to decide the outcome of the contest. Notably, LAFC's home advantage and the overall underlying performances at Los Angeles mean that psychologically, they can look ahead with confidence, while Vancouver should have many reasons to believe in themselves after an emphatic reply in the second leg.

Considering the split in these first two games, this decider will more than likely come down to which team can best execute its tactical game plan under the most pressure. Dominant possession and home-field advantage give LAFC the theoretical edge; however, Vancouver's resiliency and adaptations make them a very real threat.

LAFC is going to be more risk-averse in defense, looking to open up and maximize their attacking output with precise passing and dynamic forward play. Vancouver relies heavily on capitalizing on mistakes, so they are likely to adopt a compact shape and look to counters and set-pieces as their primary scoring opportunities. There will be a fierce battle in the middle of the park, with both teams trying to take time away from the other team, and that's where a team with better tactical discipline and composure could take the edge.

• 3 Way Total Under 4 Goals @ 1.703 Odds
• LAFC Win/Draw & Under 3.5 Goals @ 1.90 Odds
• Under 3.5 Goals @ 1.950 Odds