FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to take on New England Revolution at 4:30 p.m. PT (TSN2 and TSN 1040 radio). Here are some news and notes on Vancouver’s starting XI.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 33.Steven Beitashour, 26.Tim Parker, 44.Pa-Modou Kah, 2.Jordan Harvey©; 15.MatÃas Laba, 20.Deybi Flores; 13.Cristian Techera, 7.Mauro Rosales, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 9.Nicolás Mezquida, 11.Darren Mattocks, 18.Diego RodrÃguez, 19.Erik Hurtado, 31.Russell Teibert, 38.Kianz Froese
NOTES:
Left back Jordan Harvey wears the captain’s armband for Whitecaps FC today in his 200th MLS regular season appearance.
Carl Robinson makes three changes from his side that defeated New York Red Bulls 2-1 last Saturday. Tim Parker and Deybi Flores come in for the suspended Kendall Waston and Gershon Koffie, while Mauro Rosales steps in for Nicolás Mezquida. Pedro Morales remains sidelined with a left calf strain.
In 20 matches this year, including the Amway Canadian Championship, Robinson has now used 20 different starting XIs. Tonight will be the first time in MLS play this season that Robinson has started three or more American-born players.
Goalkeeper David Ousted makes his 66th consecutive MLS start, including playoffs. The 30-year-old native of Greve, Denmark is second only to New York Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles (96) in consecutive MLS matches. This season, Ousted is tied for first in MLS in wins (9) and tied for second in shutouts (7).
Right back Steven Beitashour makes his 127th start in MLS regular season action. The 28-year-old native of San Jose, California has started five previous career matches against New England.
Rookie centre back Tim Parker makes his third MLS start, and first at centre back after previously earning both starts at right back (at MTL on June 3 and home to PHI on May 9). Parker did start both of the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal legs at centre back, as well as seven matches in USL with WFC2. This will be his first start alongside Pa-Modou Kah.
Kah, a 34-year-old native of Banjul, The Gambia, will be making his 55th start in MLS. This will be his first match played against New England.
Left back Jordan Harvey, 31, makes his 200th appearance in MLS regular season and 186th start. The native of Mission Viejo, California is making his ninth consecutive start and 11th on the season. Harvey has previously started five career MLS matches against New England, scoring one goal (2013 at BC Place) and recording one assist (2010 with PHI).
Midfielder MatÃas Laba is making his 64th MLS regular season start tonight, his 48th with the ‘Caps. Laba has started three previous matches against New England and scored his lone career MLS goal at Gillette Stadium on August 4, 2013 while playing with Toronto FC.
Midfielder Deybi Flores makes his second MLS start, and fifth appearance. The native of San Antonio Colon, Honduras recently returned from representing his country at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and came off the bench in last Saturday’s 2-1 win at New York Red Bulls.
Whitecaps FC winger Cristian Techera makes his fifth MLS start and ninth appearance on the year. The 23-year-old native of Quebracho, Uruguay recorded his second assist of the season in last Saturday’s 2-1 win at New York Red Bulls.
Mauro Rosales makes his 11th appearance of the season, and ninth start. This will be his third start at the attacking midfielder position after last slotting in at that spot against MTL on June 3 and COL on May 23. Rosales has previously made three starts against New England while playing with Seattle, recording two assists.
Midfielder Kekuta Manneh makes his 12th start of the season and 31st in his MLS regular season career. The 20-year-old has scored in two consecutive matches, at NYRB last Saturday and at LA on June 6. This is the second time in his career that he has scored in consecutive MLS matches, with the last time coming in October of 2013 when he scored a hat-trick in SEA on October 9, followed by a goal at COL on October 19. Manneh has never scored in three consecutive MLS matches. This will be Manneh’s first start against New England, with two previous substitute appearances.
Striker Octavio Rivero has started all but one MLS regular season match to start the season, behind only Ousted and Waston in minutes played with 1,435. Rivero is second on the team in assists (3), behind only Morales (4), including an assist on Kianz Froese’s winning goal last Saturday in New York. The 23-year-old Uruguayan is tied for third in the league in shots (56), and is fourth in shots on goal (23).
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