While there’s a lot of time left in the MLS season, it’s also true that every result you book now means one less you need in October.
That’s why the Los Angeles Galaxy could use three points from Saturday night’s fixture with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Carson, Calif.
While Vancouver (8-1-0, 24 points) leads the league in goal differential and has more points than any team except San Jose, LA (3-4-3, 12 points) currently sits at 10th in the West standings. That would leave it out of the postseason if it started Saturday.
The two pieces of good news are that the postseason doesn’t start for nearly six months, and that the Galaxy are coming off a 2-1 win April 26 against Real Salt Lake. Marco Reus delivered both goals, including a penalty kick in the 85th minute to snap a 1-1 tie.
Reus, who helped take up the offensive slack left by injured striker Joao Klauss (foot), thinks Los Angeles learned a lesson.
“You don’t have to play nice to win games,” he said. “Sometimes, you have to play dirty to win games. It doesn’t matter if we’re defending or playing forward.”
While Los Angeles searches for consistency, the Whitecaps aim to keep their considerable off-field distractions off the field. The Athletic reported Friday morning that an investor group led by 30-year-old Grant Gustavson has made an offer to buy the team with the intention of moving it to Las Vegas.
The franchise has been up for sale since December 2024. The league said the team’s lease with BC Place, whose primary tenant is the CFL’s B.C. Lions, is untenable. The city has a site in mind for a soccer-specific stadium but lacks a bridge deal to get past this year, much less build the facility.
Despite that as the backdrop, Vancouver has steamrolled nearly everyone. It’s coming off a 3-1 home win April 25 against Colorado behind a brace from Brian White, whose eight goals trail only Petar Musa (Dallas) and Sam Surridge (Nashville).
“We believe in each other. We believe in the staff,” midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said.
–Field Level Media
