KANSAS CITY, KS – Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to take on Sporting Kansas City at 5:30 p.m. PT in their first road match of 2016 (TSN2 and TSN 1410 radio).
Here’s a look at Vancouver’s starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 6.Jordan Smith, 4.Kendall Waston, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 20.Deybi Flores, 15.MatÃas Laba; 13.Cristian Techera, 77.Pedro Morales ©, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes not used
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 3.Sam Adekugbe, 8.Fraser Aird, 9.Masato Kudo, 27.Blas Pérez, 38.Kianz Froese, 44.Pa-Modou Kah
Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson makes three changes to his starting XI following last week’s season-opening 3-2 defeat to Montreal Impact. Right back Jordan Smith is in for Fraser Aird, midfielder Deybi Flores replaces Kianz Froese, and winger Kekuta Manneh is in for a suspended Christian Bolaños.
Smith and Flores will be making their first appearances of the season. Manneh, meanwhile, was a second-half sub in Vancouver’s season opener. This will be his 50th MLS start, including the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Tonight is the first time since last May that captain Pedro Morales has started back-to-back regular season matches. Morales had an assist in Vancouver’s season-opener.
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In total, eight different birth countries are represented in the starters: Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica (x2), Denmark, The Gambia, Honduras, United States (x2), Uruguay (x2). Three Canadians (Adekugbe, Aird, and Froese) are on the bench.
Average age of the starting XI is 25 years and nine months - Flores (19) is the youngest.
Seven of tonight's starters – Ousted, Parker, Harvey, Laba, Techera, Manneh, and Rivero - also started last year’s heartbreaking 4-3 loss at Sporting KC back on August 15, while Morales was a second half substitute.
Including last year, tonight is the fifth consecutive match that Waston and Parker are the starting centre backs. Waston has scored off a corner in two of those matches.
INJURY REPORT
Christian Dean (left foot) and Russell Teibert (left calf) are both out due to injury.
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
.