<b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
ATTACKING
It will be the home debut for <b>Dane Richards</b> and he will most likely start in the match against the Galaxy on the right side of the midfield. The Caps will look for his pace on the pitch to provide width, which should stretch the LA backline and give more space to the attackers in the middle.
Since being excluded from the Olympic team <b>David Beckham</b> has been on a mission to prove the decision makers wrong. He has been playing a central role, which has given him more chances on goal from distance, as was seen against Portland on the weekend.
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DEFENCE
In the previous matchup with the Galaxy, the defending champs ran all over the Caps in the midfield, so a strong performance from <b>Jun Marques Davidson</b>, partnered with Gershon Koffie, is needed. For the most part this season, Davidson has done an excellent job controlling the tempo of the game as well as providing great coverage for the backline, but he will need to play his best game this season against LA.
A touch under 5'10" <b>A.J. DeLagarza</b> doesn’t possess the physical attributes of a typical MLS centrehalf, but the three year veteran has performed at very high standards thanks to his athletic ability. He will be in charge of keeping tight lines and will contribute his timely tackles in an attempt to shut down Mattocks.
<b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
Since <b>Jordan Harvey</b> has come to start at left back, with Rochat moving to the midfield, he has had his best stretch of performances as a Whitecap. If the Galaxy decide to start Juninho and Sarvas in the middle then Harvey will most likely have to match up against Beckham. It will be vital for the defender to not give up any room that would allow the midfielder to send a cross into the box.
Since returning from Euro 2012 <b>Robbie Keane</b> has been a force in the attack for the Galaxy, picking up five goals and two assists in the five starts. The Irish international struggled at the beginning of the season but seems to be turning it around as LA is looking to continue their rise into the playoffs.
<b>2012 RECORD :</b>
Vancouver:
8W-6D-6L
4th in Western Conference
Last Match: 1-0 Loss at Chicago Fire
Los Angeles:
8W-2D-10L
5th in Western Conference
Last Match: 5-3 Win at Portland Timbers
<b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>
<b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
Vancouver:
Out: FW Eric Hassli (ankle), FW Omar Salgado (foot)
Doubtful: MF John Thorrington (quad)
Questionable: FW Atiba Harris (knee)
Away with U18s: MF Bryce Alderson, FW Caleb Clarke
Suspended: DF Alain Rochat (1 game)
Los Angeles:
Out: DF Andrew Boyens (hernia), FW Edson Buddle (knee), MF Dan Keat (knee), DF Leonardo (knee)
Questionable: DF Omar Gonzalez (knee), MF Mike Magee (shin), MF Kyle Nakazawa (back), FW Pat Noonan (quad)
<b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
The Whitecaps return home after five games on the road with a difficult task in front of them as they face the defending champs LA Galaxy. It was five games ago when the Caps were completely dismantled in the first half for three goals, in what the Galaxy said was their best 45 of the season. Vancouver was in fact lucky that they didn’t allow more goals as there were a number of chances that missed the target by the slimmest of margins.
While there have been some significant changes since the Whitecaps last played at BC Place, the backend remains the same as Joe Cannon will start in goal once again. The backline will have Jay DeMerit and Martin Bonjour in the middle with Young-Pyo Lee on the right. There was a chance that Alain Rochat would return to the left side but with him being suspended Jordan Harvey will start for the fifth straight game.
The midfield will see Jun Marques Davidson partner with Gershon Koffie as the holding midfielders with Barry Robson playing in front of them. Up front Darren Mattocks will look to test the backline with his pace and will be flanked by new acquisition Dane Richards on the right and Camilo Sanvezzo on the left.
In three MLS meetings against LA, the Whitecaps have failed to pick up a point and been outscored by a margin of 10-0. It looked as though the Caps may have bridged the gap when it came to talent from the first to second year but their first meeting showed there was still work to do.
In order to slow down LA, the Caps must keep moving when defending and not get flat footed watching the designated players work their magic. While it won’t be easy, the best way to handle their opponents will for the Caps to hold onto the ball as much as possible. If they can keep the ball away from the stars the better chance they have to keep the Galaxy off the board.
It will be interesting to see how much of a factor Richards will be in his first start as a Cap and the Jamaican could make an impact immediately. His pace down the wing will put pressure on the left side of the LA defence, forcing help to come from other parts of the pitch. When that happens it will give the other attackers like Robson and Mattocks more space around the box to make plays.
The match will also be the home debut of Barry Robson who has yet to play a match in BC Place for the Whitecaps. He has played better with every start and is coming closer and closer to hitting to the target for his first goal, which will be the <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3410-Barry-Robson-chats-with-AFTN" target="_blank">100th club goal of his career</a>. It will also be his job to find the right pass in the final third in order to get his teammates a better chance to score.
With so many people sadly coming to this game just to watch Beckham, the Whitecaps have a chance to display their improved quality from last season in order to attract more people into attending more matches in the future. A poor performance by the team and these people won't show up again until the next star shows up, which really is their loss and not the Whitecaps.
<b>AFTN Editor's Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps 1 Los Angeles Galaxy 3</b>
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