PORTLAND, OREGON – Vancouver Whitecaps hit the pitch on Tuesday morning at Providence Park ahead of Wednesday’s preseason encounter with Norwegian side Stabaek Fotball (5 p.m. PT kickoff at Providence Park – watch the match live on whitecapsfc.com and tune into TSN 1410).
Here are some news and notes from the day.
SIZING UP STABAEK
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NKgk3V57pzA?rel=0"></a> |
<b>Highlights: Stabaek Fotball 0-0 Chicago Fire</b> |
“It’s going to be a good game, a tough game,” Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson told reporters. “I think that Stabaek pass the ball very well. We saw that in their first game on Sunday, but so do we. There are two sides to the game: when you have the ball and when you don’t have the ball. Our young group that played on Saturday played very well with the ball, but without the ball we weren’t up to the levels we require. On Sunday we were.”
Robinson added that the players who started on Sunday won’t start against Stabaek, meaning we’ll likely see a younger group – similar to the one that played on Saturday against Timbers 2.
Stabaek, who finished ninth out 16 teams last year in the Norwegian Premier League, also brought a young side to Portland. And there are few MLS connections on the squad.
Longtime MLS coach and former U.S. men’s national team coach Bob Bradley is the manager, while former Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake midfielder Cole Grossman is the lone North American on the roster. However, former Seattle Sounders FC and DC United forward David Estrada is also currently with the team on trial.
Kickoff for Wednesday's match is set for 5 p.m. PT at Providence Park. The match will be streamed live on whitecapsfc.com and TSN 1410 radio.
FREE KICK COMPETITION
Robinson said that his one disappointment from Sunday’s 1-0 win over Portland Timbers was that the ‘Caps didn’t add another goal in the second half, despite having a few quality chances. That’s why he said the team has done some extra finishing work the last few days.
And on Tuesday, they had some fun with it by concluding the session with a free kick competition. Players were allowed to shoot anywhere along the penalty arc (outside the 18-yard-box).
The concept was simple: score and you move on to the next round. Miss and you’re out.
After three rounds, Pedro Morales was the last man standing – beating out Christian Dean, Matias Laba, who told me it was his "lucky day," and Nicolas Mezquida in the final round.
“A little bit a competition between themselves is always good,” Robinson said. “And usually the cream rises, as they say. If you put a little wager on it, which you’re not allowed to do so we didn’t do that, but if you do then you find out who’s actually got the concentration levels. It was a bit fun for them.”
And Robinson wasn’t surprised that Morales finished on top.
“No, no,” he said. “Just hopefully he can do it in some games this year, because he didn’t last year. That will be his test this year.”
Check out some of the goals, and celebrations, from the competition below.
MAKING MOVES
Whitecaps FC announced the acquisition of 18-year-old Honduran midfielder Deybi Flores on Tuesday, bringing the team’s total to 28 signed players. MLS teams may carry up to 30 players on their roster.
So are Robinson and his staff still looking for more?
“We’re constantly looking,” Robinson said. “We’re constantly trying to evaluate our squad and see if we can get better players to help the squad. That won’t stop. Are there names on the list? There are one or two that are quite interesting. But as I said last year, I won’t rush into anything. We don’t need to. We’re in a good state at the moment. We’ve got a good group of players and the club is in a fantastic position. And it’s an enjoyable place to work so I’ll make the right decision at the right time.”
Flores will join Whitecaps FC following receipt of his Canadian work permit and visa.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAURO!
First it was Jordan Harvey. Then Aidan Prem.
And on Tuesday, Mauro Rosales became the latest victim of the dreaded Whitecaps FC birthday shower as he celebrated his 34th birthday.
This one was a little more intricate, though, as you can see from the video below.
“I was trying to get away from these guys, but I couldn’t, I couldn’t,” Rosales told whitecapsfc.com. “I was doing an interview and they got me from behind. I had no idea what was happening. Tim Parker escaped it last training so I was thinking, it’s not going to happen to me.”
Think again.
It's @mdr7's birthday today, which means... #VWFCpic.twitter.com/kvOr2SYj3N
— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) February 24, 2015
Participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver! The 2015 Whitecaps FC season kicks off on March 7 versus Toronto FC at BC Place. 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, Student Half-Season Tickets, and a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket. For more information on 2015 Season Tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
