Four days after starting a new era on Bell Pitch downtown at BC Place, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4W-16L-10D) play their second Major League Soccer match in their refurbished new home when they host Western Conference rivals Real Salt Lake (15W-10L-6D) tonight.
This league clash was originally scheduled for Empire Field on July 16. However, the match was postponed after heavy rainfall made the temporary grass pitch that was installed for the July 18 international friendly versus English Premier League giants Manchester City FC unplayable. The result is another game in the club's newly refurbished downtown home before their inaugural MLS season comes to an end later this month. They welcome a playoff-bound Salt Lake side that are looking to get back in form following a poor recent set of results.
Tonight's match between Whitecaps FC and Real Salt Lake on Bell Pitch downtown at BC Place is set for 6:30 p.m. PT. Individual match tickets start at $20, plus applicable service charges, and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and Charge-by-Phone at 1.855.6.GO-CAPS (1.855.646.2277). Visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets for more information on individual match tickets for the club's inaugural MLS season.
Whitecaps FC's home match versus Real Salt Lake can also be seen live on Sportsnet ONE and Bell mobile devices at 6:30 p.m. PT, with a pre-game show beginning at 6 p.m. PT. 'Caps fans can also listen to today's contest live on TEAM 1410 radio and teamradio.ca, starting with the pre-game show at 4:30 p.m. PT. TEAM 1410 will also have a two-hour post-game show, which will begin following the match.
WHITECAPS FC
In need of lifting their spirits after two disappointing results at home to Cascadia Cup rivals Seattle Sounders FC and Portland Timbers, Tom Soehn's squad will be happy to have a second league match in four days after the Blue and White struggled to show the form that has been seen in many of Vancouver's home games this season. With only three more matches left at home, the visit by one of the league's top sides offers a great incentive for Whitecaps FC to put in a performance and claim their first MLS victory in their new home.
The 'Caps will need to make some decisions in their attack, as they will be without Designated Player Eric Hassli for today's match after the big Frenchman picked up his eighth booking of the season in the home defeat to Portland. In fact, Hassli will not play against RSL in 2011, having missed the June 4 clash in Utah because of a red-card ban. The 30-year-old's absence may create an opportunity for some of the club's younger attackers to get a late season run-out and make a positive impression going into next season.
The 'Caps will be without goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre (knee), right fullback Jonathan Leathers (hamstring), youngster Russell Teibert (toe laceration), and experienced striker Atiba Harris (knee) for today's match. Midfielder John Thorrington (groin) is listed as probable.
REAL SALT LAKE
Though already assured of their berth in this year's MLS Cup Playoffs, Salt Lake have hit a rough patch of late. After amassing five straight league wins, RSL suffered three straight losses in the space of a week to D.C. United, Chicago Fire, and LA Galaxy. It leaves Kreis' squad with work to do in order to secure one of the Western Conference's three postseason spots. Salt Lake lead fourth-place FC Dallas by five points in the conference standings, with three games left in their regular season schedule. RSL are still looking for their first win on Canadian soil, having posted a 0W-3L-3D record all-time against Toronto FC at BMO Field.
Real Salt Lake are without the availability of nine players. Argentine striker Fabian Espindola is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards for the season, while Cuban midfielder Yordany Alvarez is also unavailable because of visa issues. Kreis is also without four players because of international call-ups. Jean Alexandre (Haiti), Kyle Beckerman (United States), Will Johnson (Canada), and Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica) have all joined their respective national teams, with 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying and international friendlies taking place over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando has also been called up to Jurgen Klinsmann's USA squad, but he will join them after today's match in Vancouver. On the injury front, RSL are also without goalkeeper Kyle Reynish (ankle), defender Tony Beltran (adductor strain), and midfielder Nelson González (foot).
While there are several absences, Kreis will have fit-again Javier Morales available after the Argentine playmaker recently recovered from a serious ankle injury that kept him sidelined for the much of this season.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Whitecaps FC and Real Salt Lake met in MLS for the first time on June 4 in Sandy, Utah. In what was Soehn's second match as Whitecaps FC head coach, RSL took all three points with a first-half goal from Alexandre and a second-half strike from Espindola at Rio Tinto Stadium. Before this season, both the 'Caps and Salt Lake met in preseason friendly action in Casa Grande, Arizona. As a USSF D-2 Pro League side, Whitecaps FC defeated RSL 2-1 at Grande Sports World on February 20, 2010. As an MLS outfit this preseason, goals by Teibert and Terry Dunfield earned Vancouver a 2-1 victory over Salt Lake at Grande Sports World on February 1.
While there is limited playing history between the two clubs, there are many connections between Vancouver and Salt Lake. Soehn and Kreis were teammates at FC Dallas (then known as Dallas Burn) from 1996 to 1998. RSL's Cody Arnoux and Blake Wagner are former Whitecaps FC players, while 'Caps goalkeeper Jay Nolly started his professional career in Salt Lake before being acquired by Soehn at D.C. United, along with allocation money and future considerations, for Rimando and USA international Freddy Adu. RSL midfielder Ned Grabavoy played with Pete Vagenas at LA Galaxy, while Salt Lake's Alexandre, Araujo, and Tim Melia all played against Vancouver at the North American second division level. From 2005 to 2010, Whitecaps FC head athletic trainer Jake Joachim was a member of the RSL staff.
D.C. UNITED ARRIVE NEXT
Following today's rescheduled home match versus Real Salt Lake, Whitecaps FC will take the Thanksgiving Day weekend off before hosting MLS Eastern Conference side D.C. United for the first time in Vancouver on Wednesday, October 12, at 7 p.m. PT. Individual match tickets start at $20, plus applicable service charges, and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and Charge-by-Phone at 1.855.6.GO-CAPS (1.855.646.2277).
Whitecaps FC's home match versus D.C. United can also be seen live on Sportsnet ONE and Bell mobile devices at 7 p.m. PT. 'Caps fans can also listen to the October 12 contest live on TEAM 1410 radio and teamradio.ca, starting with the pre-game show at 5 p.m. PT. TEAM 1410 will also have a two-hour post-game show.
Whitecaps FC MLS single match tickets are also available for all our 2011 matches on Bell Pitch downtown at BC Place, and range from $20 to $55 (including HST). All tickets are subject to applicable service charges and fees. Fans can purchase these tickets at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca/whitecaps, or Charge-by-Phone at 1.855.6.GO-CAPS (1.855.646.2277).
