Heading into the final stretch of their MLS Reserve League season, Vancouver Whitecaps FC reserves (1W-4L-2D) start a two-match home spell when they host San Jose Earthquakes reserves (3W-3L-1D) on Tuesday morning. Kickoff at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC, is set for 11 a.m. PT and is open to the public. 'Caps fans can also follow the game at twitter.com/whitecapsfc.
Coming off a month of positive results and strong efforts, the ‘Caps reserves are beginning to find their stride in the Reserve League's West Division standings and have an opportunity to climb up the table on Tuesday. After coming back from a two-goal deficit against LA Galaxy reserves at Empire Field on July 31, Vancouver's second string beat division-leading Seattle Sounders FC reserves 2-1 at Swangard on August 9. After conceding two late goals in an away defeat to Portland Timbers reserves on August 21, Whitecaps FC reserves will now look to close out their last three Reserve League matches in style.
With Vancouver sitting in fifth place, the 'Caps second string will look to overtake fourth place and inch closer to making a battle for the third in the West Division standings. San Jose, meanwhile, are also coming off a defeat to Portland after falling 2-0 to the Timbers reserves on August 7. They have two tough matches against the Galaxy and Sounders reserves in their two final remaining games.
But while rosters have yet to be finalized, MLS Reserve League matches are a chance for Vancouver's second string to impress Whitecaps FC head coach Tom Soehn and earn a spot in the first XI, while also allowing for an opportunity to build fitness for those players that are recovering from injury. Players who have benefited from MLS Reserve League competition include 'Caps striker Long Tan, who recorded his first MLS assist in Whitecaps FC's 1-0 over Houston Dynamo back on August 27. Other players like Omar Salgado have used Reserve League games to build chemistry with his teammates, while captain Jay DeMerit has used the opportunity to regain match fitness after an injury-plagued season.
After concluding their contest on Tuesday, Whitecaps FC reserves' next matches will be on Monday, October 3 against Portland reserves at Swangard Stadium before concluding their Reserve League schedule on Tuesday, October 18, against Chivas USA reserves in Southern California.
