VANCOUVER — For the Vancouver Whitecaps, it might have been that they were star-struck. For the L.A. Galaxy, it might have been their star power.

There are likely a multitude of explanations for why the Whitecaps have fallen into a black hole against the Galaxy since joining Major League Soccer in 2011, but the end result, to this point, remains the same: The Vancouver side has lost all three matches to L.A. since last season, and none have been close.

The Whitecaps have been outscored 10-0 in three matches against the Galaxy, including a 4-0 defeat on home turf at Empire Field on July 30 of last year, when celebrity midfielder David Beckham was unavailable due to a suspension for a yellow card accumulation.

The two clubs meet Wednesday night at BC Place Stadium (7 p.m., TSN2, Team 1410) in a highly anticipated match that will include Beckham.

Perhaps the Whitecaps could be given a free pass for their pair of setbacks to the Galaxy in 2011, their inaugural year in Major League Soccer that finished with a lowly six wins in regular-season play.

But their troubles against L.A. have persisted, recent evidence of this coming June 23, when the Galaxy thumped the Whitecaps 3-0 at the Home Depot Center.

“I think they’ve just been very disciplined at times and we haven’t been. I think that’s the main thing,” said Whitecaps goalkeeper Joe Cannon following training Tuesday at BC Place.

“Our team still needs to learn a little bit of the mental side — when things don’t come across, we don’t need to push it because they’re a team that really relies on the counterattack and they can score with just two or three guys going forward.”

Those “guys” are Beckham, Irish international Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan, the all-time goals and assist leader for the U.S. national team.

The trio exploded for four goals in nine minutes in the Galaxy’s last match, a 5-3 decision over the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

Beckham and Keane each had a pair of goals.

Those on the Whitecaps who met with the media Tuesday were complimentary of The Big Three, but all had a similar message, and that is to disrupt their ability as quickly and as often as possible.

“Obviously, they’re good players and the thing that’s tough to play against them is they solve problems. If you do one thing, then they can exploit something else,” said Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie.

A secondary headline, behind the appearance of Beckham and the efficiency of the Galaxy offence, is the more long-term repercussions this match could have on the MLS Western Conference standings.

Squarely behind the fourth-place Whitecaps, four points back and gaining quickly, are the Galaxy. The top five teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs.

The L.A. side has won three of its last five games. By contrast, the Whitecaps have one win in their last five games.

It’s impossible for the Galaxy to catch the Whitecaps in Wednesday’s match, but they can, with a win, move to within one point.

The Whitecaps will be without three big-name players, including Alain Rochat (suspended), Eric Hassli (right ankle injury) and Kenny Miller (fitness).

Midfielder Dane Richards, who was acquired in Friday’s deal with the New York Red Bulls in exchange for Sebastien Le Toux and allocation money, is expected to start for the Whitecaps.

ctucker@vancouversun.com

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