Cherundolo says home fans can make the difference for LAFC

Steve Cherundolo believes Los Angeles FC’s home fans can play a decisive role in the MLS Cup Playoffs as last season’s runners-up prepare to host the Vancouver Whitecaps.

LAFC sealed the Western Conference’s top seed in dramatic fashion last week, pipping the LA Galaxy after their cross-city rivals suffered a last-gasp defeat to the Houston Dynamo.

Cherundolo’s men – who were beaten by the Columbus Crew in last season’s MLS Cup final – play host to wild-card side Vancouver in the opener of a three-match series on Sunday, and he believes home advantage could be key.

“We are always really focused on the next play and doing our jobs, and our jobs are to win games, to collect points and to be there if the other teams slip up,” Cherundolo said.

“That’s what happened, and when you do stay close to teams and don’t let them run away with it, the pressure can mount up.”

The road ahead

— LAFC (@LAFC) October 24, 2024

Touching on the impact of playing at home, he added: “Our crowd is like nothing else I’ve seen live in LA, it’s pure passion, it’s electrifying and it really has the ability to make our players better.

“We’re trying to make memories and the fans are integral part of that. For us to be able to make another long or deep run in the playoffs, we need them.”

Vancouver reached this stage by trouncing the Portland Timbers 5-0 in the wild-card round, equalling the second-largest margin of victory in playoff history.

“Everything went in our direction, it was possible because of the work rate of everyone,” head coach Vanni Sartini said, reflecting on that comprehensive road win.

“Hopefully from now on it’s going to be about improving and getting the team in that rhythm.

“Playing in LA is always really hard so we have a goal as a team to go there and be in their face and be aggressive, because we have a second chance even if it doesn’t go well.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga

Bouanga has scored seven goals in eight appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

His figure of 0.84 goals per 90 minutes in the postseason is the second-best of any player that has played 500 or more playoff minutes in MLS history (Carlos Ruiz – 0.87).

Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld

Gauld scored the seventh hat-trick in MLS playoff history against Portland on Wednesday and the first by a Whitecaps player.

It marked the second hat-trick by a Whitecaps player against a Cascadia rival in an MLS match (including playoffs) after Kekuta Manneh scored three for Vancouver against the Seattle Sounders in October 2013.

Next up: #MLSCupPlayoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series #VWFC pic.twitter.com/VmPENHMtpx

— X – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) October 24, 2024

MATCH PREDICTION – LOS ANGELES FC WIN

This will be the third knockout tie between Los Angeles and Vancouver with LAFC sweeping each of the previous two.

LAFC won both legs by a combined scoreline of 6-0 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League before eliminating the Whitecaps in two games in the first round of last year’s playoffs.

The hosts have also won six straight playoff matches against Western Conference opponents, outscoring them 15-5 en route to the last two MLS Cup Finals.

The only longer in-conference playoff winning streak in MLS history (excluding breakaway shootout wins) was a seven-match run by Seattle between 2018 and 2020.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Los Angeles FC – 64.1%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 16.7%

Draw – 19.2%