VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to face Colorado Rapids at 4 p.m. PT at BC Place.
TICKETS: http://ow.ly/z9EB304te8v | KICKOFF: 4 p.m. PT | TV: TSN1 | RADIO: TSN 1040
Here are some news and notes on Vancouver’s starting lineup, which includes Alphonso Davies for the first time in MLS regular season play.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 6.Jordan Smith, 18.David Edgar, 4.Kendall Waston, 2.Jordan Harvey; 7.Christian Bolaños, 15.Matías Laba, 77.Pedro Morales, 67.Alphonso Davies; 28.Giles Barnes, 19.Erik Hurtado
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 9.Masato Kudo, 11.Nicolás Mezquida, 13.Cristian Techera, 17.Andrew Jacobson, 26.Tim Parker, 27.Blas Pérez
Injuries
22.Christian Dean - meniscus tear on his right knee suffered during training on May 25, surgery on May 31. Close to returning to full training
23.Kekuta Manneh - right foot fracture suffered during the first half of the July 9 home match against Colorado Rapids, surgery on July 15. Currently doing non-weight-bearing rehab
31.Russell Teibert - left hamstring strain suffered in the second half of the away match at Columbus Crew SC on September 9. Currently day-to-day
NOTES:
WFC head coach Carl Robinson makes two changes to his starting XI from last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Seattle Sounders FC – Giles Barnes and Alphonso Davies replace Nicolás Mezquida and Cristian Techera
Rookie Homegrown midfielder Alphonso Davies makes his first MLS regular season start. At the age of 15 years and 327 days, Davies is the second youngest player to start an MLS regular season match - Freddy Adu was 14 years and 334 days when he made his first start with D.C. United on May 1, 2004 versus San Jose.
This is the third consecutive MLS match that this back four have started together.
- Today will be the eighth time Smith, Waston, and Harvey have started together this season.
- All seven of Edgar’s MLS starts have been alongside centre back partner Waston
South Americans Morales and Laba partner at centre mid for the tenth time this MLS season - WFC record of 5-3-1 (March 19 2-1 win at Seattle, March 26 1-0 win vs Houston, April 2 0-0 draw vs LA, May 7 2-1 win vs Portland, May 11 2-1 win vs Chicago, May 22 4-2 defeat at Portland, June 25 3-2 win at Philadelphia, August 12 2-1 defeat vs. San Jose, and September 17 1-0 defeat at Seattle). The two also started at CM in the 3-0 ACC semifinal win over Ottawa Fury on June 3.
PLAYER NOTES
#1 Ousted
Keeper David Ousted makes his 112th consecutive start in MLS regular season action and 115th including playoffs. The 31-year-old native of Greve, Denmark, is second only to New York Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles (149) in consecutive MLS matches played. Ousted is second in MLS in saves with 103 (Jake Gleeson with 107). Ousted and his back four have only allowed three goals in their last four MLS matches.
#6 Smith
After not starting for five consecutive MLS matches, right back Jordan Smith makes his fifth consecutive start in league play. The 25-year-old native of San José, Costa Rica has now started 14 of 16 appearances in MLS play this season. Smith has also started in one ACC match and the first two CCL games.
#18 Edgar
Centre back David Edgar has now started seven of the last eight WFC MLS matches – only missed the NYRB game away on international duty. The 29-year-old Canadian international from Kitchener, Ontario joined the ’Caps on July 11.
#4 Waston
Centre back Kendall Waston has now started 13 of the last 14 MLS matches, as well as the last two CCL matches – only missed the NYRB game away due to international duty. The 28-year old native of San José, Costa Rica is third in the league in headed clearances with 81 (NYCFC Frederic Brillant with 116, Rapids Axel Sjoberg with 82, and FC Dallas Walker Zimmerman with 77)
#2 Harvey
After missing five league games and two CCL matches (the longest spell of action he’s missed due to injury in his career) with a left knee sprain suffered in training on July 27, left back Jordan Harvey starts for the fourth consecutive MLS match. The 32-year old native of Mission Viejo, California is the WFC all-time leader in MLS games played, starts, and minutes.
#7 Bolaños
Midfielder Christian Bolaños makes his third consecutive MLS start - missed the NYRB match due to WCQ and the week before because of suspension. Prior to his latest MLS Disciplinary Committee suspension, Bola started 10 consecutive MLS matches. He is tied with Pedro Morales for first in assists with six and tied with Kekuta Manneh for second on the team in goals with five.
The first-year WFC midfielder has played more MLS minutes than any other attacking player despite missing five games away on international duty and two games following DisCo rulings.
While away on most recent international duty, the 32-year-old native of San José, Costa Rica played the full 90 in both of the Ticos wins - scored a brace in Costa Rica’s 3-1 win over Panama on Tuesday, September 6.
#15 Laba
The 24-year-old Argentine makes his 29th appearance and start in MLS action this season. He leads MLS in tackles with 113 (Harvey and Smith are second on WFC with 45). Laba also leads the team in interceptions with 66, passes with 1270, passes successful with 1078, passing accuracy at 84.88, and touches with 1656.
#77 Morales
Captain Pedro Morales makes his 25th appearance, two more than last year, and 24th start. The 31-year-old native of Hualpén, Chile leads the team in MLS goals with six and tied for the lead in assists with six.
#67 Davies
Alphonso Davies makes his first MLS regular season start and fourth start in official first team competitions – started ACC matches against Ottawa on June 8, Toronto FC on June 21, and CCL action at Sporting Kansas City on September 13. In total, he has now made seven MLS regular season appearances, four ACC appearances, and three CCL appearances.
The product of Edmonton, Alberta became the youngest player to appear for the Whitecaps FC first team, and youngest ever to play in the Canadian Championship, at 15 years and 212 days. One week later, he was the youngest player to start for WFC and in the ACC tournament. Today, he becomes the second youngest to start an MLS regular season match.
This year in WFC2 action, Davies has scored two goals in 12 appearances.
#28 Barnes
Giles Barnes returns to the MLS starting line-up after being away with Jamaica for WCQ, starting last week’s CCL match, as well as second half sub in Seattle. The 28-year old native of London, England, makes his sixth start for ‘Caps in MLS play. In six previous starts against Colorado, Barnes has scored two goals and added one assist.
#19 Hurtado
Prior to last weekend against Seattle, the 25-year old product of Beaverton, Oregon had scored in back-to-back matches. Including CCL action, Hurtado has now scored in three of his last six matches.
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