Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 33.Steven Beitashour, 4.Kendall Waston, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 15.Matías Laba, 28.Gershon Koffie; 13.Cristian Techera, 7.Mauro Rosales, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 6.Jordan Smith, 11.Darren Mattocks, 20.Deybi Flores, 31.Russell Teibert, 77.Pedro Morales, 88.Robert Earnshaw
NOTES:
WFC head coach Carl Robinson makes two changes to his XI from last Saturday’s match against New York City FC with right back Steven Beitashour in for Jordan Smith and striker Octavio Rivero for Darren Mattocks.
The starters have an average age of 26-years, six-months - six players 24 or under, two players in their late 20s, and three 30+ year old.
In total, seven different birth countries (Argentina (x2), Costa Rica, Denmark, The Gambia, Ghana, United States (x3), Uruguay (x2)) are represented in the starters.
Keeper David Ousted makes his 70th consecutive start in MLS matches, including playoffs. The 30-year-old native of Greve, Denmark, is second only to New York Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles (111) in consecutive MLS matches. This season, Ousted is first in MLS wins (15), second in shutouts (11 - tied with SJ keeper David Bingham), tied for fourth in goals–against average (1.10), tied with Bingham for fourth in save percentage (71.3).
Right back Steven Beitashour is making his 138th starts in MLS regular season action - 86 as a member of San Jose Earthquakes. The 28-year-old native of San Jose, California, missed the last two MLS and two CCL matches with a left knee sprain. Beitashour’s five assists this season is second only to Manneh's team lead of six and the third most by a defender in MLS (DC United’s Taylor Kemp and Crew’s Waylon Francis both have six).
Centre back Kendall Waston is making his 41st start, including MLS Cup Playoffs and ACC, for Whitecaps FC. Outside of his suspensions for yellow card accumulation on October 18 at San Jose, June 27 at New England, August 15 at Kansas City, red card suspension on September 9 vs. Colorado, the first leg of the ACC against FC Edmonton, as well as international duty on July 18 at Portland and the CCL matches on August 5 and September 23 against Seattle, the 27-year-old defender has played the full 90 in every match since his first start for WFC on August 30, 2014, against Portland. The towering Costa Rican is fifth in the league in clearances with 178 (123 of them are headed clearances, which is second most in MLS), third in aerials won (110), 12th in the league in duels won (169), and tied for 11th in interceptions (103). Following tonight's match, Waston will join Costa Rica for two fixtures, first against South Africa on Thursday, October 8 at Estadio Nacional in San José, Costa Rica. The Ticos then play the United States on Tuesday, October 13 at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, the same day Mattocks and Jamaica will be facing South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Rookie defender Tim Parker makes his 17th start of the season in all competitions (11 in MLS, four in ACC, two in CCL) with 12 of those starts at centre back, while the other five at right back. WFC are 3W-3L-0D including two ACC matches with Waston and Parker partnered at centre back. Parker is sixth in rookie minutes played in MLS regular season play with 902. The 22-year-old native of Hicksville, New York, also started seven matches in USL with WFC2.
Left back Jordan Harvey is making his 22nd start in MLS play this season. The 31-year old native of Mission Viejo, California, has made 110 MLS regular season start for WFC, second only to Koffie (114), and 197 in league play.
Midfielder Matías Laba is making his 30th start on the year and his 62nd all-time with WFC in all competitions. The 23-year-old from Villa Raffo, Argentina, leads MLS in tackles won (120) and tied for sixth in duels won (178).
Midfielder Gershon Koffie makes his 114th start in MLS tonight. The 24-year-old native of Koforidua, Ghana, who is a permanent resident of Canada, joined the club in September 2010 and has made 151 first team appearances for WFC in all competitions.
The 23-year-old native of Quebracho, Uruguay, Cristian Techera, makes his 21st appearance in all competitions for WFC. “The Bug” has six goals and four assists on the season.
Mauro Rosales scored his first and only goal with WFC the last time these teams met back on July 26. The 34-year old from Villa Marina, Argentina, has 117 starts and 140 appearance in MLS.
Kekuta Manneh makes his 25th MLS regular season start on the season, which is more than his first two seasons combined. Manneh is tied with Techera for second on the team in goals scored with six and first in assists with six in MLS play. Manneh, a 20-year-old native of Bakau, The Gambia and current resident of Austin, Texas, is tenth in the league in shots (74) and fourth in the league in completed dribbles (61).
Striker Octavio Rivero has started all but four MLS regular season games in 2015 and behind only Ousted in minutes played with 2375. Rivero leads the team in goals scored with ten and fifth in assists with three, behind Manneh, Morales, Beitashour and Techera. The 23-year-old Uruguayan is fifth in the league in shots (93), fifth in shots on goal (38), and sixth in duels won (178).
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! 2016 Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are now on sale. 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.