CARSON, CA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC are back in action as they visit LA Galaxy at StubHub Center on Wednesday evening. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT (TSN1/3 and TSN 1040).
Here’s a look at Vancouver’s starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 8.Andrew Jacobson, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 15.Matías Laba, 16.Tony Tchani; 13.Cristian Techera, 11.Nicolás Mezquida, 7.Christian Bolaños; 12.Fredy Montero
Substitutes
18.Spencer Richey, 19.Erik Hurtado, 20.Brek Shea, 23.Bernie Ibini, 25.Sheanon Williams, 29.Yordy Reyna, 77.Mauro Rosales
NOTES:
- Manager Carl Robinson make two changes to the starting XI that won 3-2 over NYCFC, as Matías Laba (returns from suspension) and Nicolás Mezquida replace Kendall Waston (international duty) and Brek Shea
- Robinson’s starters will line-up in a 4-2-3-1 for the second consecutive match – prior to last week, the last time in MLS play they started this formation was back on April 14, when WFC defeated Sounders FC 2-1 at BC Place. Tonight will be the sixth time this season in MLS play that Robinson’s XI will start in a 4-2-3-1 formation
- Fourth time in the last five matches Nerwinski, Jacobson, Parker, and Harvey have lined up as the all-American back four – two from California (Jacobson and Harvey) and two from NJ/NY (Nerwinski and Parker)
- Back four were each selected in the MLS SuperDraft
- Nerwinski 7th in 2017
- Parker 13th in 2015
- Jacobson 24th in 2008 by D.C. United – Shea was selected 2nd overall by FC Dallas that year
- Harvey 57th in 2006 (9th overall in the first round of the Supplemental Draft) by Colorado Rapids
- Jacobson makes his fourth start at centre back this year, four of the last five matches. Last year, he started eight times at centre back – six in MLS and two in Canadian Championship play
- Attacking four from Central and South America – Costa Rica, Colombia, and Uruguay x2
- Mezquida gets his first MLS start in over three months, which included him missing the month of June with a high ankle sprain suffered in Canadian Champions play. His last MLS start was back on April 8 at RSL. Mezquida did start both WFC Canadian Championship matches in May
- Montero, who has scored two goals in his last four starts, turns 30 on July 26
- Three ’Caps (Ousted, Parker, Harvey) have started 17 of the first 18 MLS RS matches and all four CCL matches
- Six starters have started more than 100 MLS regular season matches (Ousted 131, Harvey 245, Jacobson 171, Laba 124, Tchani 156, Montero 122)
- Starting XI has an average age of 28 years and 5-months
- Six different birth countries: Argentina, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Colombia, Denmark, Uruguay (x2), and USA (x4)
- Injury list is down to two players in Edgar (out for the season) and Levis (on track for an August return)
- The hero from the last WFC match, Yordy Reyna, will once again be available as a substitute. Prior to his debut at Chicago on July 1, Reyna had missed the entire season, a total of 21 MLS, CCL, and CC games, with a left foot (fifth metatarsal) fracture suffered in the second half of the preseason match at Portland on February 15, had surgery on February 21
- Five WFC players are away on international duty for the Gold Cup including captain Kendall Waston, who started for Costa Rica today, as well as Canadians Sam Adekugbe, Alphonso Davies, Marcel de Jong, and Russell Teibert
PLAYER NOTES:
#1 DAVID OUSTED – AGE: 32 – GREVE, DENMARK
- 141st all-time start for Whitecaps FC, second only to Jordan Harvey, since the club joined MLS in 2011
- Started every match this year outside of March 18 v Toronto due to a red card suspension, which was just the second MLS match Ousted has missed since his MLS debut on August 3, 2013 at Providence Park, as well as the two CC matches
#28 JAKE NERWINSKI – AGE: 22 – LAWRENCEVILLE, NEW JERSEY
- Youngest player in Robinson’s starting XI
- Rookie makes his 11th first team start of the season – MLS (7) + CCL (2) + CC (2)
- Made his debut in the first leg of the CCL quarterfinals in his home state against New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena
- Record his first MLS assist against NYCFC, setting up the game-winner
- Was named Budweiser Man of the Match in the April 8 match at RSL
- Selected in the first round (seventh overall) by WFC in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft
- Two starts in the USL this season
#8 ANDREW JACOBSON – AGE: 31 – PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
- 16th start of 2017 – 14 in MLS, plus two in CCL (includes four at centre back)
#26 TIM PARKER – AGE: 24 – HICKSVILLE, NEW YORK
- Played the full 90 of every match to start the season outside of San Jose away on March 11 and the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal
- Was named the WFC Player of the Month in March and May
#2 JORDAN HARVEY – AGE: 33 – MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA
- Oldest player in Robinson’s starting XI
- Played the full 90 of every match to start the season outside of an added time substitute against LA on April 1, RSL away match on April 8, and the two Canadian Championship matches
- 176th start, 189th appearances in all competitions for WFC, which is 16th all-time in the club (15: Geordie Lyall 193)
#15 MATÍAS LABA – AGE: 25 – VILLA RAFFO, ARGENTINA
- 108th start for WFC in MLS regular season play, just the fourth player to make 100 starts for WFC in MLS RS (Jordan Harvey 158, David Ousted 131, Gershon Koffie 116)
- Played the full 90 of every match to start the season outside of San Jose away on March 11, the final 12 minutes of RSL away of April 8, against D.C. United (suspended) on May, against NYCFC on July 5 (suspended), and both Canadian Championship matches
- Second in MLS in tackles with 61
- Leads WFC with 99 recoveries by a field player
#16 TONY TCHANI – AGE: 28 – DOUALA, CAMEROON
- 13th start and 15th appearance for WFC, includes one appearance in CCL play
- Scored his first goal with WFC at Minnesota on June 24
#13 CRISTIAN TECHERA – AGE: 25 – PAYSANDÚ, URUGUAY
- Second on the team with five goals, already surpassing last year’s MLS goal total of two (netted seven in 2015). Also, second in assists with four
- Tied with Bolaños for the team lead in chances created with 27
- Makes his 20th appearance and 18th start this year in all competitions
- WFC have never lost an MLS game in which Cristian Techera has scored - 10W-0L-4D record
- Was named the WFC Player of the Month in June. “The Bug” recorded two goals and two assists last month, including a 30-yard-free kick that earned an MLS Goal of the Week nomination, contributing towards four of Vancouver’s six goals. He also led the team in chances created and touches and was voted Vancouver’s man of the match against both FC Dallas and Minnesota United FC
#11 NICOLÁS MEZQUIDA – AGE: 25 – PAYSANDÚ, URUGUAY
- First MLS start in over three months, which included him missing the month of June with a high ankle sprain suffered in Canadian Champions play. His last MLS start was back on April 8 at RSL. Mezquida did start both WFC Canadian Championship matches in May
#7 CHRISTIAN BOLAÑOS – AGE: 33 – SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA
- 13th start and 16th appearance of 2017, including a start and substitute appearance in CCL play
- Leads the team with five assists in MLS play
- Tied with Techera for the team lead in chances created with 27
#12 FREDY MONTERO – AGE: 29 – BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA
- Starts his 16 of the last 20 matches for WFC and has seen minutes in all WFC matches outside of the first CCL match at New York and the two Canadian Championship matches
- Leads the team with six goals
- Named the WFC April Player of the Month
- Turns 30 on July 26
Injury List:
- David Edgar: PCL and MCL tear, as well as a meniscus tear, in his right knee suffered on December 15, surgery on January 4. Out for the 2017 MLS season
- Brett Levis: ACL tear in his right knee suffered during the second half of the 2016 season finale against Portland on October 23, surgery on November 8. Continued on-field workouts with medical staff this week, on track for an August return
Disciplinary Report:
Caution accumulation warning: LA Galaxy players Joao Pedro and Jelle van Damme are one yellow cards away from being suspended for caution accumulation
