LAFC 1, Whitecaps 0: Moral victories are always bitter, especially ...

The Vancouver Whitecaps didn’t slay the dragon, but they at least bloodied its nose.

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Los Angeles FC, the same club that knocked them out of the post-season last year, eliminated them again Friday night in L.A.

The eighth-seeded Caps took the Western Conference champs to a third and deciding game in their first-round series — the only matchup in the West to do so — before falling 1-0 at BMO Stadium.

LA midfielder Mateusz Bogusz has been a thorn in Vancouver’s all year, scoring in two regular-season matchups and notching a 95th-minute equalizer in the Leagues Cup. But on Friday, the thorn became a dagger in the heart. His 62nd minute goal was all that L.A. needed to take the game and series.

LAFC advances to play the Seattle Sounders in the next round.

“It’s always bad to finish a season like this. There’s a lot of emotions right now,” said centreback Ranko Veselinovic. “We really felt before the game and during the game and in the (first) half that we had this game under control. But they showed today why they’re last five, 10 years or whatever, they’re always top of the MLS. They’re gonna punish you for every small (mistake).

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“I think this year hurts even more because we felt that last year, they were more dominant, I think, in the in two games, and this year, I think it was completely different story. We’re gonna feel this one for a while now.”

Lewis O’Brien #8 of Los Angeles FC controls the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first half of Game 3 of the first round in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs at BMO Stadium on Nov. 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Ronald Martinez /Getty Images

Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini felt his team was the better side for 70 of the 90 minutes and the majority of the series, but L.A.’s quality in key moments was the difference.

Vancouver finished the game with 58 per cent possession, with both teams having 12 shots and two on target.

“I’m really proud of the performance of the guys. On the three games. I don’t think we were, we were worse than them. We won the aggregate 4-3,” he said with a smile.

“It just is the nature of the of the playoff that you’re so pumped up, and then the season’s over and and realizing that we’re not going to spend one minute together as a group. Because as everyone, every time players changes, maybe coach changes, and it’s very hurtful, because I love this group, and I love these guys.”

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The first half was a probing affair from both sides, with the Caps sending questing long balls through to Brian White and Ryan Gauld, and trying to win the second ball. LAFC was content to rein in their pressure, showing legitimate respect for the Caps’ ability to hit on the counter.

Denis Bounga was behind the home side’s first few chances, splitting two defenders and spinning Tristan Blackmon in the seventh minute, but put a shot into the side netting with Christian Oliveira open in front. Four minutes later, he did the same from the left side, again missing a chance to put the ball on the ground for his teammate, sending a shot high into the bleachers from a sharp angle.

The Whitecaps first scoring chance game in the 22nd minute when White cut across the top of the box and unleashed a low shot that forced Hugo Lloris to go down to make the save. LAFC immediately broke the other way down the right with Bounga leading the charge, but his low cross from the edge of the box flashed through behind his teammates.

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In Game 1, White had a glorious early chance where he chipped a through ball over Lloris and off the post. He had a near identical play this time, popping a ball over the onrushing LA keeper that trickled just wide.

Vancouver outshot LA 8-4 (1-0 on target) in the first half, and held a 60-40 advantage in possession, just the fourth time this season they dominated the ball as much. LA, with their lethal transition game, is used to playing without the ball, having a 6-3-2 record when holding under 40 per cent of the ball in 2024.

The home side came out surging to start the second half, including a spell of pressure that produced five straight corner kicks and three straight scoring chances, including a bicycle kick equally acrobatic and optimistic.

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Sebastian Berhalter #16 of Vancouver Whitecaps controls the ball against Olivier Giroud #9 of Los Angeles FC in the first half of Game 3 of the first round in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs at BMO Stadium on Nov. 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Ronald Martinez /Getty Images

Olivier Giroud, a second half substitute for LA, figured in two straight opportunities, first setting up Bounga for an outside of the foot shot that cleared Yohei Takaoka by a foot and the crossbar by inches.

Bounga set up his countryman minutes later, just missing an onrushing Giroud in the box with a cross, before Sam Adekugbe cleared it with Bogusz lurking at the back post.

L.A.’s incessant pressure finally paid off after a clearing attempt by Takaoka was sent straight back toward the Caps net for Bogusz, who knifed in from the right to corral the loose ball, split Tristan Blackmon and Veselinovic and sent a low shot back across the net past Takaoka.

It was the game’s all-important first goal, as Vancouver was 1-11-3 when the opposition scored first this year. When trailing after 60 minutes, the Caps were 0-10-2.

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“I just saw it on the video now. Now, it’s just, it’s, I don’t know, I don’t know how to explain,” said Veselinovic. “We had everything under control. One long ball and one ricochet …. and then it’s in. They have quality. It’s really hard to react there.”

One of the keys of the Whitecaps’ ability to soak up pressure this season has been White’s holdup play. But LAFC’s back line, bracketed him between Aaron Long and Maxime Chanot, played him hard and physical on long balls, with Chanot winning outright on the Takaoka clearance, firing it straight back into the Caps danger zone.

“They’re strong in terms of pure strength,” said Sartini. “If it would be boxing, we wouldn’t play in the same categories, because … we are probably the smallest team in the league.”

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Blackmon appeared to have tied the game in the 73rd minute against his former team, heading home a flick-on off a free kick, but was clearly in an offside position, giving a cynical smile and no argument as the goal was chalked off.

The Whitecaps now head into the offseason knowing the roster will change for next year, with players to be added and subtracted as is the case every season. Sartini’s future might have been in question had the Caps been shelled by Portland or swept by LA, but there’s still nothing concrete that says he’ll be the team’s coach next year.

But he will be in Canada.

“I have a contract for next year, so you know, if any anything major happens, I’m here,” he said. “The good thing when you have a contract is that you still have a work permit till the end of the year, so then you don’t kick me out of the country. Also, you know how I think about the world, so I would love to stay in Canada and not go to Trumpland. So that’s the thing.”

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