SANDY, UTAH – Vancouver Whitecaps FC gun for their second consecutive win in MLS competition when they visit Real Salt Lake tonight at 6:30 p.m. PT.
TV: TSN4/5 | RADIO: TSN 1410
Here are some news and notes on Vancouver’s starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 26.Tim Parker, 4.Kendall Waston, 22.Christian Dean, 16.Tony Tchani, 15.Matías Laba, 31.Russell Teibert, 11.Nicolás Mezquida, 17.Marcel de Jong, 12.Fredy Montero
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 8.Andrew Jacobson, 13.Cristian Techera, 25.Sheanon Williams, 32.Marco Bustos, 47.Kyle Greig, 77.Mauro Rosales
Injury Report
• Christian Bolaños: out - suffered a left knee strain at the end of the second half against Tigres UANL on April 5
• David Edgar: out - suffered a PCL and MCL tear, as well as a meniscus tear, in his right knee on December 15, surgery on January 4
• Erik Hurtado: out – suffered left foot contusion at the end of the first half against LA Galaxy on April 1
• Brett Levis: out - suffered an ACL tear in his right knee during the second half of the season finale against Portland on October 23, surgery on November 8
• Yordy Reyna: out - suffered left foot (fifth metatarsal) fracture in the second half of the preaseason match at Portland on February 15, surgery on February 21
• Brek Shea: out - suffered left knee sprain in the first half against Tigres UANL on April 5
Disciplinary Report
Suspended: none
Caution accumulation warning: none
Lineup Notes
- Six changes from Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat against Tigres UANL as Jake Nerwinski, Christian Dean, Tony Tchani, Russell Teibert, Nicolás Mezquida, and Marcel de Jong replace Sheanon Williams, Jordan Harvey, Andrew Jacobson, Cristian Techera, Christian Bolaños (left knee strain), and Brek Shea (left MCL sprain)
- Seven changes from Saturday’s 4-2 win over LA Galaxy - David Ousted, Tim Parker, Kendall Waston, and Matías Laba will have started all three games over the eight days
- 8 of the 11 starters are returning players from 2016, only Nerwinski, Montero, and Tchani are first year ’Caps. In fact, six starters have at least been with the club since 2014, Robinson’s first year as manager: Teibert, Ousted, Dean, Mezquida, Laba, Waston
- Average age of 26 years, nine months, and three weeks (vs. Tigres was 28 years old and 10 months - the oldest starting XI this year, Galaxy was 27 years old and six months)
o Four players 29 or older – Waston, Montero, de Jong, and Ousted
o Six players 22 to 25 years old – Nerwinski, Dean, Parker, Teibert, Mezquida, Laba
o Tony Tchani turns 28 on Thursday, April 13
- XI includes two Canadians - Marcel de Jong and Russell Teibert - and three MLS SuperDraft selections - Christian Dean (3rd in 2014), Tim Parker (13th in 2015), and Jake Nerwinski (7th in 2017)
- Eight different birth countries {Argentina, Cameroon, Canada (2x), Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, United States (x3), Uruguay} are represented in the starters.
- Keeper David Ousted makes his 128th all-time start for Whitecaps FC, second only to Jordan Harvey (162 starts and 175 appearances - 18th all-time in WFC history) since the club joined MLS in 2011
- Rookie right back Jake Nerwinski makes his second MLS start and fourth - started both CCL matches against New York Red Bulls - overall. Nerwinski also played 89 minutes at right back for WFC2 in the season opener at LA Galaxy II
- Defender Tim Parker has played the full 90 of every match to start the season outside of San Jose away on March 11. Parker was named the WFC April Player of the Month
- Centre back Kendall Waston, along with midfielder Christian Bolaños, returned to Vancouver on March 29 following FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches at Mexico and Honduras. Costa Rica lost 2-0 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and tied 1-1 at Estadio Francisco Morazán in San Pedro Sula as Waston headed in a corner kick from Bolaños to level the match in the second half. Waston has played the full 90 of every match to start the season, and worn the captain’s armband, outside of the MLS opener against Philadelphia on March 5
- Defender Christian Dean makes his third start of the MLS season, equaling his career best set in 2015. Dean also played 90 minutes at left back for WFC2 in the season opener at LA Galaxy II on March 25
- Newest member of WFC, box-to-box midfielder Tony Tchani makes his first start for the Blue and White. The Cameroonian international, who turns 28 on Thursday, April 13, was a second half sub in the previous two matches for WFC
- Last Saturday, midfielder Matías Laba played his 100th MLS match, including MLS Cup Playoffs, for WFC. To mark the occasion, the 25-year-old native of Villa Raffo, Argentina scored his first professional brace. Like Parker, Laba has played the full 90 of every match to start the season outside of San Jose away on March 11
- Midfielder Russell Teibert makes his fifth start – two in CCL and three in MLS – of the new season. The native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, makes his 131st first team appearance (including MLS, CCL, CC, and USSF D-2), which is 23rd all-time in Whitecaps FC history
- Attacking midfielder Nicolás Mezquida makes his third start and sixth appearance of the season, started the home match against TFC and at San Jose
- Marcel de Jong makes his first start of the MLS season – last MLS start was August 27, 2016 at LA. The native of Newmarket, Ontario, started the second leg of the CCL quarterfinal match against New York and the first leg of the CCL semifinal at Tigres UANL. He was also a late second half sub against LA Galaxy
- Designated Player and three-time MLS All-Star Fredy Montero has started four of the last five matches for WFC and has seen minutes in all WFC matches outside of the first CCL match at New York.
Substitutes for tonight include:
Keeper Paolo Tornaghi, defender Sheanon Williams, midfielders Andrew Jacobson, Cristian Techera, Marco Bustos, and Mauro Rosales, as well as striker Kyle Greig. Bustos and Rosales make the 18 for the third time this season, Greig was an unused sub at San Jose and saw CCL minutes at New York on his birthday and last Wednesday against Tigres.
Left back Jordan Harvey, who has played every minute outside of an added time sub against LA Galaxy, and winger Alphonso Davies, who played 170 minutes in the last two matches, are being rested tonight.
Following players are starting for WFC2 today in Langley:
Keeper Spencer Richey, defender Cole Seiler, and midfielder Ben McKendry
