VANCOUVER, BC - A high-octane brand of soccer is expected when Vancouver Whitecaps FC host perennial Western Conference power Real Salt Lake on Wednesday evening at BC Place. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Limited tickets are still available.
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. PT | TV: TSN1/3 | RADIO: TSN 1040
Here are three things to watch out for.
BARNBURNER AT BC PLACE
RSL enter the midweek fixture leading MLS in goals scored per road game (1.67), but have been porous on the other end, conceding 2.10 goals per match away from home, 17th in the league.
The numbers point to exciting back-and-forth action on the turf, which would favour 'Caps strikers Erik Hurtado and Masato Kudo, who was on the bench last weekend for the first time in months. The duo will look to exploit the absence of holding midfielder Kyle Beckerman, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Leading the Salt Lake attack are Yura Movsisyan and Juan Manuel Martinez, also known as Burrito, who have combined for 13 goals on the season.
THE GREAT DANE VS. THE WALL OF WASATCH
Tonight’s fixture showcases two of the premier goalkeepers in MLS, with 2015 MLS All-Stars David Ousted and Nick Rimando expected to man their respective nets.
Ousted leads MLS with 71 saves, along with three clean sheets and a 1.74 goals-against average while starting every match for the ‘Caps to compile a 7W-8L-4D record.
On the other end, Rimando has tallied 55 saves, two clean sheets, and a 1.60 goals-against average, starting 15 of RSL’s 18 matches for a 7W-3L-5D record.
Rimando now sits just one win away from matching former Dallas/LA/KC/NY ‘keeper Kevin Hartman’s MLS-record 180 career regular season wins.
EL BICHO VS. PLATITO
Each standing at 5-foot-2, Cristian Techera and Joao Plata (pictured on right versus Matias Laba) may be the shortest players in MLS, but each is a key ingredient to their respective teams.
Techera, nicknamed El Bicho or The Bug, opened his 2016 account last Saturday, earning himself a penalty kick when he drew a foul inside the box in the 87th minute to put the ‘Caps ahead momentarily in the 2-2 draw against Colorado Rapids. He also has two assists on the season.
Plata is tied for sixth in MLS in assists with six, in addition to his five goals, third best on RSL.
Buckle up, everyone. Fans are sure to be treated to some non-stop action for this one. Click here for tickets.
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.
