VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to take on Portland Timbers in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinal (7 p.m. PT on TSN1).
Here are some news and notes on Vancouver’s starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 33.Steven Beitashour, 4.Kendall Waston, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 28.Gershon Koffie, 15.MatÃas Laba; 13.Cristian Techera, 77.Pedro Morales ©, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 6.Jordan Smith, 7.Mauro Rosales, 11.Darren Mattocks, 22.Christian Dean, 31.Russell Teibert, 88.Robert Earnshaw
NOTES:
Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson makes one change to his starting XI with captain Pedro Morales in for Russell Teibert. Gershon Koffie drops back into his more familiar role as a defensive midfielder, partnered next to MatÃas Laba.
Morales makes his first MLS start since Whitecaps FC defeated Colorado Rapids 2-0 at BC Place on September 9. Morales has struggled with a right hamstring strain dating back to a 1-0 away win over LA Galaxy on June 6. Whitecaps have a 9W-4L-2D record when Morales starts in MLS play (11W-4L-4D in all competitions) this year.
Jordan Harvey and Gershon Koffie are the only two players who have started all three of Vancouver’s playoff matches in MLS.
Whitecaps FC, the youngest team in MLS, will start an XI with an average age of 26 years, two months, and three weeks.
Remember, these are the potential scenarios for today's match:
- 'Caps advance with a win
- Timbers advance with a win, or a 1-1 or higher draw
- 0-0 draw: 30-minute extra time; if the match is tied following the 30 minutes, there will be a penalty shootout