SEATTLE, WA - Whitecaps FC play their first Cascadia Cup match of the season as they visit rival Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday afternoon. Catch up on the latest updates from Seattle below ahead of the much-anticipated derby match.
KICKOFF: 1 p.m. PT | TV: TSN1 | RADIO: TSN Radio 1040
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Stefan Marinović
2.Doneil Henry
4.Kendall Waston
6.EfraÃn Juárez
8.Felipe
13.Cristian Techera
17.Marcel de Jong
23.Kei Kamara
28.Jake Nerwinski
29.Yordy Reyna
77.Jordon Mutch
Substitutes
12.Brian Rowe, 3.Sean Franklin, 9.Anthony Blondell, 11.Nicolás Mezquida, 20.Brek Shea, 31.Russell Teibert, 66.Aly Ghazal
Absent
Alphonso Davies is not playing today with the club’s permission. The club will provide an update with any further details when relevant
NOTES
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CenturyLink Field officially opened in 2002
- Seattle Sounders FC share CenturyLink Field with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks
- The pitch dimensions are 116 x 75 yards and the surface is made of FieldTurf Revolution 360, which was installed in February 2016
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This is WFC first match back in Seattle since they were eliminated from the MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals last November
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WFC are 4-4-1 in MLS regular season play in Seattle
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Today’s match is the 137th meeting between the two sides in official competition (regular season, as well as league and continental cup competitions). WFC all-time record against Sounders FC is 50W-64L-22D
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Over 450 ‘Caps supporters are expected at the CLink this afternoon
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Forecast is sunny, 21 °C, 0% chance of precipitation, 44% humidity and 12 km/h winds
LINEUP
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Manager Carl Robinson makes four changes from Saturday’s match at D.C. United: keeper Marinović in for Rowe, right back Nerwinski in for Franklin (Nerwinski was a second half sub at D.C.), centre back Waston in for Aja, and winger Techera in for Davies
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Marinović, Nerwinski, and Techera are the only three starters that also started Wednesday’s Canadian Championship match at Montreal
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Six of the XI, started the second leg of last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinal: Marinović, Nerwinski, Waston, de Jong, Reyna, and Techera
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Five first year ’Caps in the XI: Henry, Juarez, Felipe, Mutch, and Kamara
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Since the start of May, entering this weekend, the ’Caps lead MLS in fast breaks with 15, tied for most big chances created with 31 (best average per 90 – 2.8), fifth in chances created with 141 (third best average per 90 – 12.8) and shots with 142 (second best average per 90 – 12.9)
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Including MLS and Canadian Championship play, 25 different ’Caps have started at least one game, 23 of those 25 have started at least four matches, and 18 of those have started at least seven games this year
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Average age of 27 years, 11 months, and three weeks
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Seven players 27 or younger, born in the 90s
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WFC have registered more duels won in all of their matches but five (v LAFC, at SKC, at FCD, at PHI, v COL) – record of 7-4-4 when they earn more duels won. In addition, the same five opponents, plus at D.C., are the only teams to have earned the same or more tackles won against the 'Caps in a game this year
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10 different birth countries in the XI including players born in North, Central, and South America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania: Canada (x2), USA, Mexico, Coast Rica, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, England, Sierra Leone, New Zealand
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Two Canadians in the ’Caps starting XI in de Jong and Henry, and one on the bench in Teibert. First time this year no homegrown player will start for WFC
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Six different Canadians have started at least one match this year including MLS and CC – Davies (17), de Jong (14), Henry (7), Levis (4), Norman (1), Teibert (8)
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On Wednesday, keeper Stefan Marinović started for the first time since May 5 at Minnesota – 10 games between starts. The Kiwi international was out for eight games with a left knee sprain suffered in a training session on May 10 and was an unused sub the last two MLS matches
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Centre back and captain Waston returns to the XI after suffering a left groin strain in the first half vs Colorado on July 1. The ’Caps captain missed two league matches
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WFC have travelled 58,646 km since the start of the MLS season. WFC in MLS play, have two remaining East Coast trips - at NYCFC on August 4 and at TFC on October 6. Additional remaining MLS RS away matches include at Portland, San Jose, and at LA twice. If WFC defeat Montreal in the Canadian Championship semifinal series on Wednesday, they will have a home and home series against either Ottawa Fury or TFC, TFC currently lead that series 1-0
