*Please note that the match will kick off at 4 p.m. PT. Fans are encouraged to arrive early!
VANCOUVER, BC – After a two-week break, Major League Soccer is back.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6W-6L-3D) host Eastern Conference side New England Revolution (3W-4L-7D) on Saturday afternoon at BC Place, kicking off a busy stretch that will see the ‘Caps play four matches in less than two weeks.
TICKETS:http://ow.ly/HQpb301kGB5 | KICKOFF: 4 p.m. PT | TV: TSN1 | RADIO: TSN 1040
Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
One of the big storylines for this weekend’s match is Vancouver’s trio of suspensions.
Centre back Kendall Waston, midfielder and captain Pedro Morales, and striker Octavio Rivero are all unavailable due to suspension. Talk about big shoes to fill. At the same time, Costa Rican midfielder Christian Bolaños and Panamanian striker Blas Perez have returned from the Copa America Centenario in form and could return to the fold.
The ‘Caps, who are coming off an emotional 3-0 win over Ottawa Fury FC in the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal, are 6W-6L-3D through 15 MLS matches so far this season.
After a season-opening defeat, they’re also undefeated in seven matches at BC Place.
“I’m pleased with quite a number of things and I think we need to improve in a lot of areas,” Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson told reporters this week. “Individual mistakes I think have been a big problem of ours. We didn’t make them last year, we started making them early on this season. And we need to tidy up on our discipline.”
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The Revs enter Saturday’s contest eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 3W-4L-7D record.
It wasn’t the start New England anticipated, which is part of the reason why they made a big splash last month with the acquisition of Designated Player striker Kei Kamara.
The 31-year-old has four goals in four career starts against Vancouver. He’s yet to score for New England, but they’re 3W-1L-0D with him in the lineup.
He must be doing something right.
Kamara was a second-half sub in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Carolina RailHawks in U.S. Open Cup action. The match went to extra time after a weather delay that lasted over two hours.
How much will the Revs have left in the tank this weekend?
KEY MATCHUPS
Matias Laba (M) vs. Lee Nguyen (M): The Revs have a plethora of attacking options, but Nguyen makes the team tick. He leads the team with four goals and five assists and has a goal and an assist in each of his three league outings. Laba loves a challenge – and this former Whitecaps FC midfielder will certainly present one.
Tim Parker (CB) vs. Kei Kamara (F): With Waston suspended, expect Parker to see a lot of New England’s big target man, who will be eager to open his Revs account.
Kekuta Manneh (LW/F) vs. Andrew Farrell (RB/CB): Farrell, who has been playing centre back the last year and a half, reverted back to right back in New England’s last MLS fixture. If he remains there, it could make for an intriguing battle with Manneh, who loves taking on defenders in one-v-one situations.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There are a lot of similarities between these two clubs.
They’re both young sides with a ton of attacking talent, they play similar formations, and this year they’ve conceded a few more goals than they would have liked (25 apiece).
They are also several connections.
Four Revs played for Whitecaps FC before joining the Eastern Conference side, including midfielder Gershon Koffie. The Ghanaian departed in the offseason as Vancouver’s all-time leader in MLS appearances, but has since been passed by Jordan Harvey. Koffie has been nursing a knee injury, however, making his status "a serious question mark" for Saturday.
Vancouver’s all-time record against New England is 2W-2L-2D. They haven’t lost to the Revs since 2012 and are unbeaten at home with a win and a draw in just two previous encounters.
IRONMAN
Should David Ousted get the nod on Saturday, it would be his 100th consecutive MLS match.
"I'm just trying to stay in there and keep a high consistency level to help the team out," Ousted told reporters. "One hundred games is tremendous and I'm very proud of that."
NEXT UP
It’s a quick turnaround for Vancouver following Saturday’s match, as the ‘Caps head to Toronto for the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship Final on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. PT (TSN and TSN 1410). Whitecaps FC will host the decisive second leg on Wednesday, June 29 at BC Place.
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! 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.
