VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Wednesday the 23-man roster for tonight’s 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) match vs. Central FC at BC Place.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT. Tickets are still available.
Whitecaps FC won their first three matches in this year's tournament and have qualified for the eight-team quarter-finals beginning in February 2017. The 'Caps seeding for the next round will be based on their record in the group stage, wrapping up with Wednesday's home fixture.
Called up to the first team on short-term agreements are Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) centre back Sem de Wit, and forward Kyle Greig, key figures on the second-year USL team, who begin the USL Cup Playoffs on Friday evening at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
De Wit, 21, ended his first USL season with a team-high 27 starts and a new single-season team record with 2,416 minutes played, anchoring a WFC2 side that saw a 15-point improvement from 2015. The Dutch centre back debuted as a substitute against Crystal Palace FC in July but has yet to make a competitive appearance with the first team.
Greig, 26, led WFC2 with 11 goals while adding three assists, while captaining the side to a sixth-place finish in the Western Conference. The fourth-year USL professional from Olathe, Kansas has made two substitute appearances in CCL play, assisting on Alphonso Davies' stoppage-time game-winner at Sporting Kansas City that vaulted the 'Caps to the quarter-finals.
MLS clubs may sign players from their USL affiliate to short-term agreements (up to four-day contracts) for CONCACAF Champions League, Amway Canadian Championship, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and exhibition matches. An MLS club may sign a player to a maximum of four short-term agreements each season (maximum of 16 days).
TRANSACTION: Whitecaps FC sign centre back Sem de Wit, and forward Kyle Greig to short-term agreements on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.
Whitecaps FC 23-Man Roster - CCL Group Stage Match 4
Goalkeepers (2): Marco Carducci, Paolo Tornaghi
Defenders (9): Fraser Aird, Marcel de Jong, Sem de Wit, David Edgar, Brett Levis, Tim Parker, Cole Seiler, Jordan Smith, Kendall Waston
Midfielders (8): Marco Bustos, Alphonso Davies, Andrew Jacobson, Matias Laba, Ben McKendry, Nicolás Mezquida, Pedro Morales, Cristian Techera
Strikers (4): Kyle Greig, Erik Hurtado, Masato Kudo, Blas Pérez
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