Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 4-2-3-1
1.David Ousted; 6.Jordan Smith, 4.Kendall Waston, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 15.Matías Laba, 28.Gershon Koffie; 13.Cristian Techera, 7.Mauro Rosales, 23.Kekuta Manneh; 11.Darren Mattocks
Substitutes
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 3.Sam Adekugbe, 29.Octavio Rivero, 31.Russell Teibert, 44.Pa-Modou Kah, 77.Pedro Morales, 88.Robert Earnshaw
NOTES:
WFC head coach Carl Robinson XI has three changes from last Saturday’s match against Seattle Sounders FC with centre back Tim Parker in for Pa-Modou Kah, midfielder Matías Laba for Russell Teibert, and striker Darren Mattocks for Octavio Rivero. Parker and Laba are the only two players that also started on Wednesday at Seattle.
The starters have an average age of 26-years, three-months - seven players 25 or under, one player in his late 20s, and three 30+ year old.
In total, eight different birth countries (Argentina (x2), Costa Rica (x2), Denmark, The Gambia, Ghana, Jamaica, United States (x2), Uruguay) are represented in the starters.
Keeper David Ousted makes his 78th consecutive MLS matches, including playoffs. The 30-year-old native of Greve, Denmark, is second only to New York Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles (110) in consecutive MLS matches. This season, Ousted is first in MLS wins (15), second in shutouts (11), third in goals-against average (1.07), tied for sixth in save percentage (71.1).
Right back Jordan Smith makes his fourth start with the club after making his MLS debut in Houston on August 29 and September 6 in CCL action against C.D. Olimpia. Smith was acquired on loan through the end of 2015 from Costa Rica’s Premera División side Deportivo Saprissa on August 7, just prior to the close of the secondary international transfer window. As a member of El Monstruo Morado, the 24-year-old native of San José, Costa Rica, scored nine goals in 105 appearance. Smith was teammates with Waston during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.
Centre back Kendall Waston is making his 40th start, including MLS Cup Playoffs and ACC, for Whitecaps FC. Outside of his suspensions for yellow card accumulation on October 18 at San Jose, June 27 at New England, August 15 at Kansas City, red card suspension on September 9 vs. Colorado, the first leg of the ACC against FC Edmonton, as well as international duty on July 18 at Portland and the CCL matches on August 5 and September 23 against Seattle, the 27-year-old defender has played the full 90 in every match since his first start for WFC on August 30, 2014, against Portland. The towering Costa Rican is fifth in the league in clearances with 177 (123 of them are headed clearances, which is second most in MLS), third in aerials won (108), tied for 13th in the league in duels won (163), and 16th in interceptions (92).
Rookie defender Tim Parker makes his 16th start of the season in all competitions (10 in MLS, four in ACC, two in CCL). 11 of those starts have been at centre back, while the other 5 at right back. Parker is sixth in rookie minutes played in MLS regular season play with 812. The 22-year-old native of Hicksville, New York, also started seven matches in USL with WFC2.
Left back Jordan Harvey is making his 21st start in MLS play this season. The 31-year old native of Mission Viejo, California, has made 109 MLS regular season start for WFC, second only to Koffie (113), and 196 in league play.
Midfielder Matías Laba is making his 29th start on the year and his 61st all-time with WFC – his first in MLS play since August 29 at Houston due to suspension. The 23-year-old from Villa Raffo, Argentina, leads MLS in tackles won (113) and ninth in duels won (168).
Midfielder Gershon Koffie makes his 113th start in MLS tonight. The recently turned 24-year-old native of Koforidua, Ghana, who is a permanent resident of Canada, joined the club in September 2010 and has made 150 first team appearances for WFC in all competitions.
The 23-year-old native of Quebracho, Uruguay, Cristian Techera, makes his 20th appearance in all competitions for WFC. “The Bug” has six goals and four assists on the season.
Mauro Rosales makes his fourth consecutive start at the attacking midfielder position and his 17th MLS start on the season. The 34-year old from Villa Marina, Argentina, has 116th start and 139th appearance in MLS.
Kekuta Manneh makes his 24 MLS regular season start on the season, which is more than his first two seasons combined. Manneh is tied with Techera for second on the team in goals scored with six and first in assists with six in MLS play. Manneh, a 20-year-old native of Bakau, The Gambia and current resident of Austin, Texas, is tenth in the league in shots (70) and tied for third in the league in completed dribbles (58).
Darren Mattocks is making his 14th start on the year, including ninth in MLS, three ACC and two in CCL. The 24-year-old native of Portmore, Jamaica, who turned 25 on September 2, last started in MLS on August 29 match at Houston. In international play, Mattocks has scored in each of Jamaica’s last four competitive matches.
