<b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
ATTACKING
It looks as though <b>Russell Teibert</b> may have earned his first start this season as Martin Rennie looks for something different in the starting eleven. When he has come off the bench in his two appearances this year, in addition to one with the national team, Teibert has provided a spark for the team. The Whitecaps are looking for the youngster to provide energy on the left side in addition to service from the wide areas.
Since returning from Euro 2012 <b>Robbie Keane</b> has been one of the best players for the Galaxy, turning around a slow start to the season. Before he joined the Irish national team Keane had three goals and two assists in nine games, while picking up eight goals and five assists in twelve games after returning.
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DEFENCE
With YP Lee getting a much needed rest, the Whitecaps will turn to veteran <b>John Thorrington</b> to start at the right back spot on the backline. Late last season he saw a few starts at that position and did a decent job but those games were not against a team at the level of the LA. He does have the some of the skills and the athleticism to play the position but will have to rely on his experience and teammates to get through the game.
After injuring his knee while on loan, the Galaxy struggled to keep the ball out of their net, but since <b>Omar Gonzalez</b> has returned there has been significant improvement. Take away the four goals allowed against the Sounders and the Galaxy has allowed one goal in his other four starts. In addition to his defensive play, Gonzalez has already contributed with a goal and an assist on the offensive side.
<b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
After going goalless in his first two starts (five appearances overall), <b>Kenny Miller</b> was finally able to score his first goal as a Whitecap against Portland Timbers. With Darren Mattocks out of the game on a suspension, the Scottish international will see another start as the target striker and look to pick up a second goal.
So far this MLS regular season Brazilian midfielder <b>Juninho</b> has scored four goals for the LA Galaxy but three of them have come in his last three starts, including the game winner against FC Dallas. The central midfielder is a box to box player who plays a solid defensive game and is capable of scoring goals of a spectacular variety.
<b>2012 RECORD :</b>
Vancouver:
10W-7D-10L
5th in Western Conference
Last Match: 2-1 Loss vs Portland Timbers
Los Angeles:
12W-4D-11L
9th in Western Conference
Last Match: 2-0 Win vs FC Dallas
<b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>
<b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
Vancouver:
Out: FW Omar Salgado (foot), DF Andy O'Brien (groin), DF Gershon Koffie (groin)
Suspension: FW Darren Mattocks
Los Angeles:
Out: DF Leonardo (knee)
Questionable: FW Edson Buddle (knee), FW Landon Donovan (hamstring), DF David Junior Lopes (ankle), MF Kyle Nakazawa (back)
<b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
The Whitecaps make their fourth trip of the season to the Home Depot Center and hope they can duplicate their first one when they picked up their first road win as a MLS team. That victory was against Chivas USA so it will take a little more to match that result in this next game against the LA Galaxy. Earlier this year the Caps were outclassed by the Galaxy in LA but were able to pick up their first point against the defending champs at BC Place.
The starting lineup will see some big changes if Martin Rennie decides to rest a number of regular starters. In goal the Whitecaps may choose to rest Joe Cannon and start Brad Knighton who had a solid game against RSL. In front of the keeper will be the normal pairing of Jay DeMerit and Martin Bonjour, but who starts with them on the backline will be different. John Thorrington will start in the place of YP Lee who had played every MLS minute so far this season while Jordan Harvey may take the place of Alain Rochat.
It is highly unlikely that Gershon Koffie makes the trip so Matt Watson will likely take his place in the midfield where he looks to find some chemistry with Jun Marques Davidson and Barry Robson. Up front Kenny Miller will start as the target striker and will have Dane Richards to his right side while Russell Teibert is looking to get his first start on the left, moving Camilo to the bench.
The Whitecaps are on a three game losing streak for the first time this season and have been outscored 6-1 during that period. In addition to that, the Caps have yet to score against the Galaxy on the road in two matches at the Home Depot Center.
In order to correct that the Whitecaps will look to change their tactics by bringing some service from the left side by inserting Teibert onto the field. The speed of Richards on the right with the quickness of Teibert on the left should give more space to Miller and Robson in the middle. Another key to the attack could be Watson who has the size and ability to attack the box from the midfield.
Even if Donovan is unable to go for LA due to an injury, the Galaxy have enough weapons to make the Whitecaps work. Keane is one of the best strikers in MLS and has a combo of Beckham, Juninho and Sarvas to supply him with the ball. With Thorrington at right back the Caps will have to come up with a plan to protect him from attacks that will surely come from LA.
Most in the MLS world will bet against the Whitecaps in the game against the defending champ this weekend. However this is a game that the Galaxy could look past on their way to the playoffs and the Caps could find a way to get a result with a number of new starters looking to prove their worth.
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