Entering the second half of their 2011 MLS Reserve League schedule, Vancouver Whitecaps FC reserves (0W-3L-2D) host Seattle Sounders FC reserves (7W-0L-0D) at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC, on Tuesday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT and can be followed at twitter.com/whitecapsfc. Please note that Tuesday’s reserve match is open to the public, with limited capacity available at Swangard Stadium.
Coming off a 2-0 defeat to Sounders FC reserves back on June 7, Whitecaps FC reserves will look to square accounts with their Pacific Northwest rivals and earn their first-ever Reserve League victory. Whitecaps FC reserves enter this week's match after playing to a 2-2 draw versus LA Galaxy reserves on Bell Pitch at Empire Field on July 31. 'Caps striker Long Tan scored both goals in a come-from-behind effort after Vancouver's second string were trailing 2-0.
Sounders FC reserves enter this midweek battle with a 100 per cent record after seven matches played, with the Washington State outfit leading the Reserve League's West Division standings by a full 11 points from second-place San Jose Earthquakes reserves. Though Whitecaps FC reserves find themselves in the basement of the West Division standings, they have an opportunity to leap ahead two positions with a victory on Tuesday.
However, while standings play a role within Reserve League competition, the main priority of the MLS Reserve League focuses on development and providing a stage for players to impress their respective club coaches. With Whitecaps FC assistant coach Denis Hamlett taking charge of the reserves on Tuesday, the game offers the club's MLS roster players a chance to make that type of impression and earn a spot in Tom Soehn's first-team squad.
Following Tuesday's match, Whitecaps FC reserves will head to Oregon for a match-up versus Portland Timbers reserves on Sunday, August 21. They have two more Reserve Leagues games in early September before concluding their schedule in early October.
