Preview: ‘Caps return to LA for decisive third game of Round 1 Best-of-3 Series | Check out the MLS Season Pass

HOW TO SEE: Watch on Apple TVmore info can be found HERE
HOW TO LISTEN: cknw.com, whitecapsfc.com/radio

VANCOUVER, BC – This is it. After picking up a thrilling win at BC Place on Sunday, Vancouver Whitecaps FC forced a do-or-die third game in their MLS Cup Playoffs Best-of-3 Series against rivals LAFC. The third and final game of the series is set to take place on Friday, November 8 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM PT. The winner of Friday’s clash will face Seattle Sounders FC in the Western Conference semi-finals. Whitecaps FC 2024 playoffs is presented by BMO, PlayNow Sports and TELUS

• Los Angeles FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC
  • Friday, November 8, 2024 – 7:30 PM PT
  • BMO Stadium – Los Angeles, California
• BROADCAST
  ONLINE/TV: Watch the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
  RADIO: cknw.comshow before the game at 6:30 p.m. PT

The club will also host a free playoff watchfest, presented by BCLC & PlayNow Sports, in Good Co. Granville. The doors open at 6 p.m. PT. Tickets are available now.

Sunday will mark the 23rd all-time meeting between the two teams and the sixth meeting this year. It will mark the fifth meeting between the two sides in the MLS Cup playoffs.

With Sunday’s showdown being the third and final game in this Round 1, Best-of-3 matchup, there has to be a winner at the end of the game. This means that if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, the winner will be decided via penalty shootout. The ‘Caps have posted a 4W-2L record in shootouts during Vanni Sartini’s tenure as head coach, which includes the Leagues Cup 2024 shootout victory over LAFC back in July.

DO OR DIE: Last Sunday, Vancouver Whitecaps FC secured an emphatic 3-0 victory in front of a rapturous crowd at BC Place to force a do-or-die game three in their MLS Cup Playoffs Best-of-3 Series with LAFC. The ‘Caps will now head to California to close out the series in what will be their seventh visit to BMO Stadium in the last two years. The match is set to take place on Friday, November 8 with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. PT. The winner of Friday’s clash will face Seattle Sounders FC in the Western Conference semi-finals after the league’s international break.

GAULD SPRAYED PLAYOFFS: Ryan Gauld has been at the heart of the ‘Caps offense during the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Scot leads the league in goals and assists during the postseason with five goals and one assist. Gauld, who has been called up to Scotland’s men’s squad for a third successive international window, has amassed 26 assists (13 goals, 13 assists) in his last 23 appearances across all competitions and is one away (43 goals) from surpassing Camilo Sanvezzo for second-ever goal for the club in the MLS era.

DEFENSIVE SOUND: Last Sunday, the ‘Caps saw their second clean sheet of the postseason, with goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka making several big stops to keep LAFC off the scoreboard. In fact, Vancouver has given up just one goal from open play in three playoff games and has now kept 12 clean sheets across all competitions this year, further extending their total from last season’s 10 clean sheets. In addition, Vancouver has posted the fifth-fewest goals allowed allowed in the Western Conference at 49.6.