VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to take on MLS-leading FC Dallas at 7:30 p.m. PT at BC Place tonight (TSN1 and TSN 1040 Radio).
Here’s a look at Vancouver’s starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 8.Fraser Aird, 4.Kendall Waston, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 17.Andrew Jacobson, 15.Matías Laba; 13.Cristian Techera, 11.Nicolás Mezquida, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 3.Sam Adekugbe, 7.Christian Bolaños, 9.Masato Kudo, 27.Blas Pérez, 31.Russell Teibert, 44.Pa-Modou Kah
NOTES
WFC head coach Carl Robinson keeps the same starting XI for the first time this season. In fact, in all of 2015, WFC only played back-to-back MLS matches with the same XI twice – the 3-0 regular season finale against Houston Dynamo on October 25 and the first MLS Cup playoff match at Portland Timbers on November 1, as well as a 3-0 win at Seattle on August 1 and 4-0 win over Real Salt Lake August 8. However, between the two MLS regular season wins at the start of August, the 'Caps played a 1-1 midweek CCL match against Seattle that had 11 different starters.
In total, seven different birth countries {Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, the Gambia, United States (x3), Uruguay (x3)} are represented in the starters.
Robinson’s XI has an average age of 25 years, ten months, and two weeks – includes seven players under 25 and three players in their 30s.
Tonight is the seventh time Robinson has started the three Uruguayans in Techera, Mezquida, and Rivero with a record of 3-2-1. Last year on June 20 (2-1 win at NYRB), August 1 (3-0 win at Seattle), August 8 (4-0 win v RSL), and August 15 (4-3 defeat at SKC), as well as April 2 (0-0 draw with 10-men v LA) and last week at RSL (1-0 defeat).
Keeper David Ousted makes his 92nd consecutive start in MLS play, including playoffs - 93rd with WFC including the Amway Canadian Championship. The 31-year-old native of Greve, Denmark, is second only to New York Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles (126) in consecutive MLS matches. Ousted is tied for the league lead in saves with 30.
Right back Fraser Aird makes his seventh start with Whitecaps FC. After playing 90 minutes in the club’s season opener, the native of Scarborough, Ontario, played the second half in Kansas City and the full 90 the next four weeks before being a late second half sub last week. Aird is fifth in the league in tackles with 26 and second in open crosses with 32.
Kendall Waston and Tim Parker have been the starting centre backs in 10 of the 'Caps last 11 matches including last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs.
San José, Costa Rica native Waston is tied for fourth in the league in headed clearances with 19, and tied for second in blocks with eight.
Hicksville, New York native Parker is fourth in the league in clearance with 33.
Left back Jordan Harvey makes his 121st regular season start tonight for WFC and 208th (222nd appearance) in MLS regular season action. The native of Mission Viejo, California is the 'Caps all-time leader in MLS starts and has the most MLS experience on the 'Caps roster. Harvey leads the team in touches with 408 (Aird is second with 387). Harvey and Ousted are the only two players to start and play every match to start the season.
Since the start of the 2013 season, no player has made more tackles in league play than midfielder Matías Laba with 397 - Portland’s Diego Chara is second with 386. Whitecaps FC record in MLS regular season play with the native of Villa Raffo, Argentina in the starting XI is 28-19-19 and 1-5-2 without.
Andrew Jacobson makes his fourth start for WFC and third consecutive at centre mid. Last year the Palo Alto, California resident led New York City FC with 33 MLS regular season starts. Jacobson is second only to Harvey in MLS experience on the 'Caps roster with 143 regular season starts and 179 appearances. Prior to joining NYCFC, Jacobson played four seasons with FC Dallas and tonight is the second time he will face his former team - September 12 NYCFC lost 2-1 at FC Dallas, Jacobson played 90.
Winger and product of Paysandú, Uruguay, Cristian Techera has started all but one match this year.
Attacking midfielder Nicolás Mezquida makes his second consecutive start for the first time since last August. Last year, WFC MLS record with the native of Paysandú as a starter was 8W-2L-2D.
Prior to the away match at D.C. United, striker Octavio Rivero had played in every MLS match since joining the club. The DC match was only the fifth time Rivero did not start for WFC in MLS play. The native of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay is Tied for fourth in the league with 10 shots on goal
Striker Blas Pérez, who missed last week’s away match against Real Salt Lake due to right hamstring tightness, is available as a sub. The native of Panama City, Panama played for four seasons with FC Dallas recording 36 goals and 14 assists in 97 regular season appearances.
INJURY REPORT
Christian Dean (left foot fracture) and Pedro Morales (left hip flexor strain) are out due to injury, with the latter having returned to training this week.
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! 2016 Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are on sale from $39/month all in. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit
whitecapsfc.com/tickets
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