Los Angeles v Vancouver Whitecaps
Sunday 7th July 0330hrs
Football – USA– MLS
Pick Los Angeles win and both teams to score
Bookmaker 888 Sport
Odds: 17/10 (odds taken 20.00 GMT, Friday 5th July)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/7 | 4/1 | 11/1 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from Marathon Bet on July 5th, 2019 at 20.00.)
Los Angeles have the best record in all the MLS and will be expected to claim another three points when they come head to head against Vancouver this weekend.
Los Angeles Preview – Will rampant Los Angeles continue their excellent form?
Los Angeles joined the MLS as an expansion side last season and they have been a real asset to the league. Having finished third in the Western Conference in 2018, LA were eliminated in the knockout round the playoffs. Granted, at that time, that would have been a disappointment having earned a home tie. But looking at the bigger picture to reach that stage was a big achievement in their maiden campaign. The challenge for these formative teams is being able to sustain that level of performance – but Los Angeles appear only to be getting stronger. Bob Bradley’s men are top of their Conference and hold a six point lead over city rivals, Galaxy. They look well on course for another tilt at the playoffs and will be intent on going further should they achieve that.
You cannot help but be impressed with how Los Angeles have performed this season. Their 44 goals scored is a league high and no team has conceded few either, with 15 goals allowed in 18 games. The undoubted star of this team is Carlos Vela who has scored 17 goals already. The Mexican forward has scored eight in his last nine games and has already beaten his tally from last season.
Vancouver Whitecaps Preview– Can Whitecaps maintain decent form of late and surprise LA?
Whilst their opponents this weekend are riding high in the Western Conference, it’s been much more of a slog for Vancouver. The Whitecaps are currently 10th in their division and struggling to make the playoffs at this stage. They are six points off seventh placed Real Salt Lake who are in possession of the final playoff spot as it stands. Of course, there is a long way of the regular season to go but Vancouver have played more games than the teams above them already. Coach Marc Dos Santos is taken charge of his first campaign as Vancouver boss and is first at this level in years. As yet, he’s been unable to make the positive impact he would have hoped.
The Whitecaps have managed just four wins from their 19 games so far. On a slightly more positive note they have lost only one of their last seven league games and it’s just two losses in their last 11. That bodes well for the second part of the season but they will have to turn some of the draws into wins if they are to reach the playoffs.
Key-Facts – Los Angeles v Vancouver Whitecaps
- Los Angeles may only be in their second season of competing in the MLS but they are already established as one of the best
- The home team have scored more goals and conceded less than any other in the MLS and look like being a major threat come playoff time
- Marc Dos Santos has struggled in his first season as Vancouver coach, registering just four wins in 19 games
Los Angeles v Vancouver Whitecaps Betting Advice
Los Angeles have certainly been the best team in the MLS thus far but they did suffer an unusual defeat recently. The 1-0 loss away to Colorado was just the second time LA have been beaten in the league this campaign. That will offer some hope to Vancouver as well as the rest of the Western Conference. The visitors will also be buoyed having beaten LA in their first meeting of the season. Incidentally, that’s just one of three games where LA have failed to score in.
Although LA have the best defensive record in the league they have conceded in four of their last five games. Vancouver certainly pose a threat of their own, too. The Whitecaps have scored in 11 of their last 14 league games, including eight in their last five away matches. That is a warning to the hosts that they have to be at their best to win this. Ultimately, with seven wins and a draw at home from eight games they should prevail. Five of those seven wins have been when conceding though, and that’s the route to go, a home win with both teams to score.
