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The Vancouver Whitecaps looked to make it three in a row for the first time under Marc Dos Santos Sunday night, against an LA Galaxy side in total disarray. The visiting side was unable to take advantage of this however, and fell at the death by a score of 1-0.
Shortly before the match, it was announced that Ranko Veselinovic had joined the team on a permanent basis for a reported fee of $650,000.
Shoutout to @GKarstensSmith for breaking the transfer fee news on Ranko Veselinovic’s permanent move to #VWFC
— Har Journalist (@HarJournalist) October 19, 2020
GKS killing it as usual. #MLS https://t.co/XCM9osrIM5
The only change for the Whitecaps was Michael Baldisimo entering for the suspended Janio Bikel:
Ready to crack on in Carson
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) October 19, 2020
Your #VWFC Starting XI for #LAvVAN, delivered with @DoorDash pic.twitter.com/to6igwOZYe
Starting things out in the 6th minute, Cristian Pavon was through on goal following a poor backwards header from Jake Nerwinski but Evan Bush came out to dive at Pavon’s feet and then stop the follow up shot.
The Whitecaps began the match looking disconcertingly like their old selves, with the Galaxy nearly exploiting gaps in the defense on several occasions and with lots of hopeful long balls played too far for Lucas Cavallini to get on the end of.
In the 19th minute, Ali Adnan tested Jonathon Kilnsmann in the LA goal with a long range free kick that the young American tipped around the post.
As the half went on, LA became content to simply sit deep and let the Whitecaps try and break them down. As you would expect, the ‘Caps kind of struggled to do so. The Vancouver side dominated possession but did not create any chances in the LA penalty area.
In the 38th minute it looked like the Galaxy had taken the lead after a goalmouth scramble and some excellent saves from Bush, but the linesman flagged for offside. The Galaxy now had their tails up. Yony Gonzales missed a header, and then a speculative bicycle kick attempt in short succession.
In the 42nd minute Ali Adnan attempted an ambitious header back to Bush which almost caught the veteran keeper off guard, but he was able to scramble down to his right and hold the ball.
The two teams went into the half with Vancouver controlling most of the possession but with LA having the better chances.
From minute 50-67 my internet went down harder than the Bolivian coup government and and I had no idea what was going on. People on twitter continued to bemoan nothing interesting happening and Eighty Six Forever boss Samuel Rowan reportedly said “this match is numbing my brain” so I don’t think I missed too much. At some point during this time period Chicharito was subbed on for the Galaxy.
In the 71st minute the Whitecaps almost turned a Pavon cross into their own goal but the ball bounced clear.
My internet then went down again. At this point I gave up on a traditional match report and instead chose a bit of an art project where I intercut me describing my struggles to the other Eighty Six Forever boys with tweets sent out during the match. The kind of report this match deserved.
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And it's gone again. You, the people, will be my eyes now https://t.co/46jm9ItVe4
— Caleb Wilkins (@wilkins_caleb24) October 19, 2020
75' Nerwinski with another header clearance! ... straight backwards. Thankfully, Bush is wide awake for it.
— Eighty Six Forever (@86forever) October 19, 2020
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Soccer pitches are 136 yards in length, but these guys are playing like it's only 100 #LAvVAN
— Eighty Six Forever (@86forever) October 19, 2020
82' LAG find a way into the penalty area (at least SOMEONE has), but Chicharito shoots into the nearest legs he can find
— Eighty Six Forever (@86forever) October 19, 2020
84' #VWFC finally get into the penalty area, but no one can latch onto the cross!
— Eighty Six Forever (@86forever) October 19, 2020
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I honestly had no idea Chicharito was even in the match until he full on Darren Mattocks'ed that cross. #LAGvVAN #VWFC
— Paul S-H (@Subhedgehog) October 19, 2020
Chicharito - the most expensive player in MLS.. pic.twitter.com/UDYidqPsGi
— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) October 19, 2020
What happened you bastards, my internet doesn't work!!! Be more descriptive! pic.twitter.com/hzUk31xyl5
— Caleb Wilkins (@wilkins_caleb24) October 19, 2020
Kai Koreniuk strikes for LA as we cross into stoppage time.
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) October 19, 2020
⏱️ 90 + 1'
0 - 1 #VWFC #LAvVAN
GAME WINNERS ONLY @kkoreniuk gets his first goal in @MLS! pic.twitter.com/RgUat88WkE
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 19, 2020
Ah
— Caleb Wilkins (@wilkins_caleb24) October 19, 2020
@RighettiBen called it pre-game & I quote:
— Sebastian Pereira (@sebastianp74) October 19, 2020
"I swear if they score a last minute winner against us I'm gonna lose it"#VWFC #LAvVAN
Caps deserve to lose that because MDS wasn't brave enough to make the changes he needed to make.
— Russell Berrisford (@squadplayer) October 19, 2020
If you're #VWFC, you do have to wonder why there wasn't any attacking subs made earlier... Montero and Cavallini have been in good form, but it felt obvious that they were on dead legs. Why not bring in a Theo Bair or Tosaint Ricketts earlier? Could've given some energy...
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) October 19, 2020
The inconsistency of #VWFC is legendary. How do you look like this after somehow beating LAFC Lmao
— Mike Martignago (@MikeMartignago) October 19, 2020
Theo Bair was on for just barely a minute & had one if not #VWFC's highest xG chance. Let that sink in.#LAvVAN
— Sebastian Pereira (@sebastianp74) October 19, 2020
Broadcast said it was an unconvincing win for #LAGalaxy...
— Peter Galindo (@GalindoPW) October 19, 2020
On the bright side for #VWFC, Evan Bush kept his team in a game for the first time in a while! pic.twitter.com/RpI8vqvNid
Well, that’s it for this one...What did you think of this match after such a successful showing last time out? Let us know in the comments.