VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC resume MLS action when they visit Houston Dynamo at 6 p.m. PT (TSN, TSN1410).
Here are some news and notes on Vancouver’s starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 6.Jordan Smith, 4.Kendall Waston, 26.Tim Parker, 22.Christian Dean; 20.Deybi Flores, 15.MatÃas Laba; 31.Russell Teibert, 7.Mauro Rosales, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 11.Darren Mattocks
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 3.Sam Adekugbe, 13.Cristian Techera, 28.Gershon Koffie, 29.Octavio Rivero, 77.Pedro Morales, 88.Robert Earnshaw
NOTES:
Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson XI includes six changes from the Amway Canadian Championship Final. Jordan Smith makes his MLS debut and will combine with Christian Dean to replace fullbacks Steven Beitashour and Jordan Harvey. Midfielders Deybi Flores, MatÃas Laba, and Mauro Rosales are in for Gershon Koffie, Cristian Techera, and Pedro Morales, and Darren Mattocks replaces Octavio Rivero up front.
Today’s starters have an average age of 24-years, 10-months, and one-week. The back four is the youngest for the 'Caps in MLS play this season with an average age of 24-years and three-months. The front six are all 24 or younger outside of Rosales.
In total, eight different birth countries (Argentina (x2), Canada, Costa Rica (x2), Denmark, The Gambia, Honduras, Jamaica, and United States (x2)) are represented in the starters. Tonight is the first time this season that none of the four Uruguayans are included in the XI.
ADDITIONAL MATCH NOTES:
Since Matias Laba’s 57th-minute equalizer in the 1-1 draw at Portland Timbers on July 18, Whitecaps FC have trailed for only one minute – the last minute of added time in the 4-3 loss at Sporting Kansas City.
Following tonight’s match, midfielder Russell Teibert and defender Sam Adekugbe leave for international duty as Canada plays in a two-leg series against Belize in the CONCACAF third round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifying. Striker Darren Mattocks is also set to join Jamaica as they get set to battle Nicaragua.
After 26 matches in 2015, Whitecaps FC have earned 45 points with a 14-9-3 record, which is 11 more points more than last season when they were 7-6-13 after the same number of matches.
A win or draw tonight, moves Whitecaps FC to the top of the MLS table.
INJURY REPORT:
Nicolás Mezquida will miss his second straight match after suffering a left hamstring strain last Saturday against FC Dallas, while Ben McKendry continues his recovery after undergoing a successful surgery for a meniscal tear of his left knee on August 5. Pa-Modou Kah will miss his third straight match due to a facial fracture suffered on August 15 at Sporting Kansas City.
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are now on sale. In addition to Season Tickets, 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.
