VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to take on undefeated Real Salt Lake at 7 p.m. PT at Rio Tinto Stadium tonight (TSN1 and TSN 1040 Radio).
Here’s a look at Vancouver’s starting lineup.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted; 8.Fraser Aird, 4.Kendall Waston, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 17.Andrew Jacobson, 15.MatÃas Laba; 13.Cristian Techera, 11.Nicolás Mezquida, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 3.Sam Adekugbe, 7.Christian Bolaños, 9.Masato Kudo, 19.Erik Hurtado, 31.Russell Teibert, 44.Pa-Modou Kah
NOTES
WFC head coach Carl Robinson keeps the same back five but makes four changes to the front six. MatÃas Laba returns to the starting XI following his one-match suspension in place of Russell Teibert, Kekuta Manneh is in for Marco Bustos on the wing, while Nicolás Mezquida (right knee sprain) and Octavio Rivero (right hip flexor strain) are back from injury and replace Masato Kudo and Blaz Pérez (right hamstring tightness).
In total, seven different birth countries {Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, the Gambia, United States (x3), Uruguay (x3)} are represented in the starters.
Tonight is the sixth time Robinson has started the three Uruguayans in Techera, Mezquida, and Rivero with a record of 3-1-1. Last year on June 20 (2-1 win at New York Red Bulls), August 1 (3-0 win at Seattle Sounders FC), August 8 (4-0 win versus Real Salt Lake), and August 15 (4-3 defeat at Sporting Kansas City), as well as April 2 (0-0 draw with 10-men versus LA Galaxy).
_
Keeper David Ousted makes his 91st consecutive start in MLS play, including playoffs - 92nd with WFC including the Amway Canadian Championship. The 31-year-old native of Greve, Denmark, is second only to New York Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles (125 – not including today) in consecutive MLS matches. Ousted leads the league with 28 saves.
Right back Fraser Aird makes his sixth start with Whitecaps FC. After playing 90 minutes in the club’s season opener, the native of Scarborough, Ontario, played the second half in Kansas City and the full 90 the last four weeks. Aird is tied for sixth in the league in tackles with 22.
Kendall Waston and Tim Parker have been the starting centre backs in nine of the 'Caps last ten matches including last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs.
San José, Costa Rica native Waston is tied for second in the league in headed clearances with 17 (San Jose Victor Bernárdez is tops with 22), and third in blocks with six.
Hicksville, New York native Parker is fifth in the league in clearance with 30 and tied for 12th in headed clearances.
Left back Jordan Harvey makes his 120th regular season start tonight for WFC and 207th (221st appearance) in MLS regular season action. The native of Mission Viejo, California is the 'Caps all-time leader in MLS starts and has the most MLS experience on the 'Caps roster. Harvey and Ousted are the only two players to start and play every match to start the season.
Since the start of the 2013 season, no player has made more tackles in league play than midfielder MatÃas Laba with 394 - Portland’s Diego Chara is second with 381. Whitecaps FC record in MLS regular season play with the native of Villa Raffo, Argentina in the starting XI is 28-18-19 and 1-5-2 without.
Andrew Jacobson makes his third start for WFC and second consecutive at centre mid. Last year the Palo Alto, California resident led New York City FC with 33 MLS regular season starts. Jacobson is second only to Harvey in MLS experience on the 'Caps roster with 142 regular season starts and 178 appearances.
Winger and product of Paysandú, Uruguay, Cristian Techera has started all but one match this year.
Attacking midfielder Nicolás Mezquida returns to the XI after missing last week with a right knee sprain. Prior to the home match against LA Galaxy on April 2, Mezquida’s last start was August 15, 2016, at Sporting Kansas City. Last year, WFC MLS record with the native of Paysandú as a starter was 8W-2L-2D. Mezquida did start the CCL match at Seattle Sounders FC on September 23 before leaving in the second half after re-injuring his left hamstring.
Prior to last week, striker Octavio Rivero had played in every MLS match since joining the club. Last week was only the fifth time Rivero did not start for WFC in MLS play. The native of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay is tied for fifth in the league with nine shots on goal.
INJURY REPORT
Christian Dean (left foot fracture), Blas Pérez (right hamstring tightness) and Pedro Morales (left hip flexor strain) are 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
.
