Rolling Whitecaps aim to topple MLS giants LAFC

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps know they're about to embark on a daunting task — toppling a giant is never easy.

A giant is exactly what the 'Caps will face on Saturday when they host Los Angeles FC.

The Black and Gold sit high atop the Major League Soccer standings with a seven-point cushion on their nearest competition and are coming off a decisive 3-1 victory over Dallas FC on Wednesday.

Vancouver (6-8-3) remains undaunted, though, said head coach Vanni Sartini.

"They win almost every game," Sartini said Thursday. "So we have to think about us and to think of doing a good performance. And I believe if we do a good performance, we have chances to win. … It's going to be hard but it's not going to be impossible."

The two sides have already faced off once this season with LAFC (11-3-3) taking a 3-1 win in California back on March 20.

Sartini thought his group played well that game but made some costly mistakes.

"We need to be on top for 100 minutes," he said. "That's the only way to be the best team. And, to be honest, LAFC is the best team in the league."

The 'Caps are in much different form than the last time they faced the Black and Gold. Since the beginning of May, Vancouver has posted a solid 8-2-2 record across all competitions.

It's a wave of momentum the club is looking to ride heading into Saturday's game.

"Guys are feeling really good about what we're doing here right now," said defender Tristan Blackmon, who spent four seasons playing for L.A. before being dealt to Vancouver in December. "And I think we have to keep that momentum going that way.

"We've shown that we can get clean sheets and battle out results. And that's really big going into the middle of the year and towards the end of the