TORONTO, ONT – Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to face Toronto FC in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship Final (4:30 p.m. PT on TSN1/4 and TSN 1410).
Here are some news and notes on Vancouver’s starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
70.Paolo Tornaghi; 8.Fraser Aird, 4.Kendall Waston, 44.Pa-Modou Kah, 3.Sam Adekugbe; 30.Ben McKendry, 31.Russell Teibert; 7.Christian Bolaños, 77.Pedro Morales, 67.Alphonso Davies; 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes
1.David Ousted, 2.Jordan Harvey, 14.Cole Seiler, 17.Andrew Jacobson, 19.Erik Hurtado, 23.Kekuta Manneh, 27.Blas Pérez
Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson makes 10 changes to his starting XI that lost 2-1 to New England on Saturday with only Russell Teibert starting both matches. Robinson’s XI includes a mix of youth and experience with six players 24 and younger and five players 28 and older – average age of 25 years and 11 months.
Five Canadians, including four Whitecaps FC Residency grads, are starting tonight: fullbacks Sam Adekugbe and Fraser Aird and midfielders Alphonso Davies, Ben McKendry, and Teibert. Teibert will be making his 16th career appearance in the Canadian Championship, surpassing former Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Jay Nolly for the all-time tournament lead.
Davies gets the start after earning his third short-term call-up from WFC2 – MLS clubs may sign their USL affiliate players to a maximum of four short-term call-ups for non-league matches.
- READ: Who is Alphonso Davies?
In the first leg against Ottawa, Davies became the youngest player to appear for the Whitecaps FC first team, and youngest ever to play in the Canadian Championship, at 15 years and 212 days. One week later, he got his first start in the second leg at BC Place.
Goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi, who turns 28 today, makes his third straight start in the Amway Canadian Championship after keeping an-all important clean sheet in the series clincher vs. Ottawa Fury FC.
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! 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.