VANCOUVER - Ryan Gauld and the Vancouver Whitecaps have been here before — preparing for a playoff battle with perennial rival Los Angeles FC.

A "bitter taste" lingers for Vancouver after getting ousted from the post-season by L.A. in back-to-back years, the 'Caps captain said.

Now there's a hunger to write a different story when Vancouver hosts LAFC in Major League Soccer's Western Conference semifinal on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 53,000.

“Hopefully the thing that’s going to be different is we come away winners this time," Gauld said.

"We’ve not had good luck against L.A. the last couple of years. We all know how good a side they are. But if you want to win the trophies, you’ve got to beat the best teams.”

Both LAFC and the 'Caps made crucial additions late i

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