PORTLAND, OR – Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to take on Portland Timbers at 7:30 p.m. PT at Providence Park (TSN and TSN 1410 radio).
Here’s the full story on Vancouver’s starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 27.Ethen Sampson, 4.Kendall Waston, 44.Pa-Modou Kah, 2.Jordan Harvey; 28.Gershon Koffie, 31.Russell Teibert; 7.Mauro Rosales, 77.Pedro Morales, 11.Darren Mattocks; 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 9.Nicolás Mezquida, 13.Cristian Techera, 20.Deybi Flores, 23.Kekuta Manneh, 26.Tim Parker, 88.Robert Earnshaw
NOTES:
Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson makes three changes to his starting XI from last weekend against D.C. United with Ethen Sampson in for an injured Steven Beitashour (glute strain) at right back, Jordan Harvey in for Sam Adekugbe at left back, and Gershon Koffie in for a suspended Matías Laba. In 10 matches to start the season, Robinson has used 10 different starting XIs.
Eleven different birth countries (Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, The Gambia, Ghana, Jamaica, South Africa, United States, and Uruguay) are represented in the starters.
Goalkeeper David Ousted will be making his 58th consecutive MLS start, including playoffs, with the club. In MLS action, Ousted is second only to New York Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles (89) in consecutive matches. This season, the Dane is first in goalkeeper wins (5) and tied for first in shutouts (4).
Right back Ethen Sampson makes his fourth career MLS appearance (including last year’s MLS Cup playoff match vs. FC Dallas) and first of the season. This season in USL with WFC2, the 21-year-old South African has made four appearances, including three starts for 269 minutes.
Centre back Kendall Waston is making his 19th start in MLS regular season play. Outside of his suspension for yellow card accumulation on October 18, 2014 at San Jose, the 27-year-old defender has played the full 90 in every match since his first start for WFC on August 30 against Portland.
Waston is one yellow card away from being suspended for caution accumulation. If Waston doesn’t receive a yellow card or disciplinary sanction in tonight’s match, he will have one yellow card expunged. A player may take advantage of the “Good Behavior” incentive only once throughout the season.
Waston's centre back partner, 34-year-old Pa-Modou Kah, will be making his 49th start in MLS. Kah’s two assists tie him for the league lead in assists from a defender. The Gambian started 40 regular season matches and scored one goal for Timbers the last two seasons. During the preseason, Kah scored the game-winning goal for WFC in their 1-0 win over Portland.
Left back Jordan Harvey makes his 192nd MLS regular season appearance and 178th start. Tonight is the 31-year-old’s 10th start against the Timbers – two of his eight MLS goals have come at Providence Park.
Midfielder Gershon Koffie makes his 98th start in MLS regular season action and his eighth against Portland. The 23-year-old is Vancouver’s all-time MLS regular season leader in appearances (tonight will be his 112th) and starts.
Midfielder Russell Teibert will be making his 54th MLS regular season start tonight – all with Vancouver. The 22-year-old Canadian international is fourth in MLS with a 89.97 per cent passing completion rate (among players who have completed at least 100 passes).
Experienced midfielder Mauro Rosales is making his 103rd start in MLS regular season play and his 10th against Portland.
Winger/striker Darren Mattocks is making his fifth straight start of 2015 and 48th in MLS regular season action. The 24-year-old Jamaican international is second on the team in scoring with two goals and an assist. Mattocks, who was coached by Timbers head coach Caleb Porter at the University of Akron, will be making his ninth appearance against Portland but only his second start.
Attacking midfielder Pedro Morales will be making his 37th MLS regular season start for WFC. The 29-year-old native of Hualpén, Chile has three game-winning assists (best in the league) and is tied for fourth in chances created with 18.
Striker Octavio Rivero has started every match so far this season. The 23-year-old Uruguayan is tied for the league lead in goals (5), tied for second most game-winning goals (2), leads the league in shots (33) and shots on goal (15), and is tied for the most headers on target (6).
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.
