Galaxy’s playoff hopes dented with loss to Whitecaps

The postseason is once again starting to slip away from the grasp of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Galaxy’s playoffs hopes took a hit on Wednesday night in Vancouver. The Whitecaps broke the match open in the second half, as goals from Ryan Gauld, Pedro Vite and Tosaint Ricketts carried the Whitecaps to the 3-0 win over the Galaxy at BC Place Stadium.

“Today was a perfect example where you dominate the ball, don’t create the chances, they score a goal and then things fall apart. It’s frustrating, but we have to get on with it,” Galaxy defender Derrick Williams said.

The result was a missed opportunity for the Galaxy (11-12-7, 40 points), as they could not take advantage of Real Salt Lake losing to Austin FC earlier in the day. Thus the Galaxy remain three points back of RSL for the seventh and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Whitecaps broke through in the 57th minute. Ryan Raposo sent a corner kick into the penalty area, Tristan Blackmon sent a header towards goal, keeper Jonathan Bond made the save, but Julian Araujo’s clearance attempt went to the foot of Gauld, and he sent a shot past Bond near post to open the scoring for Vancouver.

The Whitecaps were apparently just getting started. Vancouver struck again in the 68th minute, as Gauld sprung Luis Martins for an overlapping run on the left side, Martins sent a left-footed cross into the penalty area, Brian White touched a ball into the six-yard box, which also freed up Vite to slot the shot past Bond near post to double the Whitecaps lead. Vancouver finished the match in the 86th minute, as Julian Gressel sprung Ricketts with a long ball over the Galaxy defense, Ricketts chased down the ball, took a touch into the penalty area and sent the shot past Bond to seal the three points for Vancouver.

“We were in control. We were comfortable all game, I felt like, and then we just let them hang on a bit too long, they get a chance and then they get momentum,” Galaxy defender Derrick Williams. “They score and we make it difficult for ourselves where we shouldn’t have been in a position at the start. In the first half, they couldn’t get close to us really but we just need to make better chances. Yeah, really frustrating.”

The Galaxy will try to bounce back on Saturday, as they host the Colorado Rapids.

(Editor’s Note:  Gerrit te Hennepe has the photos from Wednesday evening and you can view them by clicking the link.)

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