Vancouver tries to extend home unbeaten streak vs. LA (Mar 23, 2018)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Los Angeles Galaxy sure could use Zlatan Ibrahimovic this weeekend.
But the 36-year-old Swedish striker reportedly won't join the MLS club from Manchester United until next week, so he won't be available Saturday night when the Galaxy visit the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Galaxy (1-1-0), who didn't play last week, will be without their three Designated Players -- Romain Alessandrini, Giovani Dos Santos and Jonathan Dos Santos -- because of hamstring injuries. Plus, forward Ola Kamara and defender Emrah Klimenta have been called away for international duty, and defender Ashley Cole is serving a one-game suspension.
"For sure, we didn't want to test (our depth) this early," Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid told the Los Angeles Times. "We wanted our group to get into a rhythm and get into an understanding of each other and how we play. Soccer is a unique sport where outstanding players are important. But you're sometimes only as good as your weakest link."
The Galaxy shouldn't expect any sympathy from the Whitecaps (2-1-0), who will also be short-handed and are coming off a 4-1 loss at Atlanta.
"I don't buy into all that nonsense of missing players is an easy game. No game in this league is easy," Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson told The Province.
Vancouver defender Kendall Waston and forward Myer Bevan are with their national teams, midfielder Aly Ghazal and defender Justin Fiddes have been ruled out with injuries and fellow defender Doneil Henry is doubtful.
"We're missing one of our biggest puzzle (pieces), and our captain," Whitecaps forward Kei Kamara, who has been battling a groin injury, told The Province. "The Galaxy is a good team all-around. They might be missing one or two guys, but they're going to bring some guys who can compete and get them results."
The Whitecaps are undefeated in their past 10 home games (6-0-4), tied for the longest streak in franchise history, while the Galaxy are winless in their past 10 road games (0-8-2). The Galaxy leads the all-time series 9-5-4.
"Irrelevant of who they have in the team or don't, irrelevant of who we have or don't, it's about what we do," Robinson said.
