VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson has his team hitting their stride as the MLS season approaches it's summer stages when they host D.C. United at BC Place on Saturday. (Tickets are still available.)
KICKOFF: 4 p.m. PT │ TV: TSN │ RADIO: TSN 1040
Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
IN FINE FORM
The ‘Caps are winners of three straight home matches, and now face a D.C United side at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, sporting an 3W-6L-2D record through the first three months of the season.
The arrival of D.C United provide Whitecaps FC the opportunity to get their record above .500 for the first time this season, and continue their separation from conference foes looking to leap them on the road to the MLS playoffs in the fall.
During the ‘Caps current home winning streak, the squad has found the back of the net eight times while only conceding three. Add that to the fact D.C United has struggled as of late, and the Blue and White have an opportunity for another offensive outburst at BC Place.
SIZE DOESN'T MATTER
Saturday’s match will display two of the smallest players in MLS. For the home side, it will be Cristian Techera, or The Bug, fresh off his highlight-reel goal versus Sporting Kansas City, up against 5-foot-3 attacking midfielder Luciano Acosta. Now in his third year with the ‘Caps, Techera is beginning to look at home in Robinson's starting XI, and with his 25th birthday right around the corner he might have some extra incentive to make headlines once again.
The Argentine native Acosta leads D.C. with three goals on the campaign and will be the side's primary offensive threat when both teams take to the pitch this weekend. In 2016, Acosta’s first season in MLS saw him record his first two assists in a match against Whitecaps FC in a 4-0 win at RFK Stadium.
STREAK COMES TO AN END
A streak held for five consecutive MLS matches will come to an end on Saturday when Robinson will be forced to make an adjustment to his starting XI. Argentine midfielder Matias Laba will be out of the lineup serving his one-game suspension for card accumulation. With Laba having logged the most minutes of any ‘Caps midfielder this year, Robinson will have to decide between changing the formation that has seemed to work over the last five matches, or simply plug in the next man up from his bench to fill the void.
OLD FACE RETURNS TO VANCOUVER
Your Whitecaps FC fandom will be tested when Sebestien Le Toux is announced to the D.C lineup. You’ll remember Le Toux was traded to Vancouver in 2012, appearing in 19 matches for the club, and finding the back of the net on four occasions. The veteran forward now in his first year with D.C. United is second on the team with two goals, and will be hungry to get on the scoresheet against his former club.
Kickoff goes at 4 P.M. from BC Place, and can be seen on TSN, and heard on TSN Radio 1040.
