VANCOUVER, BC – Same teams, different venue, different stakes.
Just three days after going head-to-head in league play, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Sporting Kansas City meet again on Tuesday night at BC Place as the ‘Caps look to take a stranglehold atop Group C in CONCACAF Champions League action.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT and tickets are still available.
The match will also be streamed live on the CONCACAF Facebook page (available to users in North America who are logged into Facebook).
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
It’s been a difficult stretch for Whitecaps FC in MLS play, but this is a different ball game.
The ‘Caps currently sit atop their Champions League group after defeating Central FC 1-0 earlier this month in Trinidad & Tobago. Cristian Techera provided the scoring in that one, finishing off a nice set-up by Erik Hurtado and up-and-coming Canadian left back Brett Levis.
Tuesday’s match offers a big opportunity for Vancouver.
A win would put them five points clear of both Sporting KC and Central FC with two group stage matches remaining. The top team in the group will advance to the knockout stages, starting early next year.
Expect a number of lineup changes from both sides after squaring off in Kansas City late Saturday night. Matias Laba and Tim Parker are both expected to be involved after not featuring in Vancouver’s weekend’s 2-0 defeat.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Sporting KC opened their 2016-17 CCL campaign with a 2-2 draw at Central FC last week.
Interestingly, defenders Seth Sinovic and Kevin Ellis found the scoresheet for SKC that night. It was a decent result for Sporting KC, but they left disappointed not to come away with more after increasing their road winless streak to seven matches across all competitions.
In MLS play, Sporting KC sit fourth in the Western Conference with an 11W-11L-5D record.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Whitecaps FC record vs. Sporting KC: 1W-3L-2D
This will actually be the fourth meeting between Vancouver and Sporting KC this season – and they still have one more to go next month in Kansas City. Sporting KC won the season series in MLS play with a 2W-0L-1D record.
WHAT IS THE CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?
The CONCACAF Champions League is a 24-team competition between the top clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Whitecaps FC earned Canada’s lone entry in the tournament by winning the Voyageurs Cup in last year’s Amway Canadian Championship.
The winner of the CCL qualifies for the annual FIFA Club World Cup, where they compete against the top teams from Asia, Africa, South America, Oceana, and Europe.
An MLS team has never won the CCL – though Montreal reached the final in 2014-15.
GROUP C STANDINGS
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>D</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<p align="center">Whitecaps FC</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">+1</p> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p align="center">Sporting KC</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">Central FC</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">-1</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
GROUP C SCHEDULE
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>HOME</strong> |
<strong>AWAY</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
<strong>RESULT/TIME</strong> |
<p align="center">Aug. 2</p> |
<p align="center">Central FC</p> |
<strong>Whitecaps FC</strong> |
<p align="center">Ato Boldon Stadium</p> |
<u><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2016/08/02/whitecaps-fc-open-ccl-1-0%20win" target="_blank">0-1</a></u> |
<p align="center">Aug. 16</p> |
<p align="center">Central FC</p> |
<p align="center">Sporting KC</p> |
<p align="center">Ato Boldon Stadium</p> |
<u><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-08-16-central-fc-vs-sporting-kansas-city/recap" target="_blank">2-2</a></u> |
<p align="center">Aug. 23</p> |
<strong>Whitecaps FC</strong> |
<p align="center">Sporting KC</p> |
<p align="center">BC Place</p> |
<p align="center">7 p.m. PT</p> |
<p align="center">Sept. 13</p> |
<p align="center">Sporting KC</p> |
<strong>Whitecaps FC</strong> |
<p align="center">Children’s Mercy Park</p> |
<p align="center">5 p.m. PT</p> |
<p align="center">Sept. 28</p> |
<strong>Whitecaps FC</strong> |
<p align="center">Central FC</p> |
<p align="center">BC Place</p> |
<p align="center">7 p.m. PT</p> |
<p align="center">Oct. 19</p> |
<p align="center">Sporting KC</p> |
<p align="center">Central FC</p> |
<p align="center">Children’s Mercy Park</p> |
<p align="center">5 p.m. PT</p> |
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
