Vancouver Whitecaps vs. New York Red Bulls
2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals, 2nd Leg
BC Place - Vancouver, B.C.
Thursday, March 2 - 10 pm ET
WATCH: Univision Deportes Network in USA; Facebook
The Vancouver Whitecaps walked away from last week's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals first leg with a slight advantage over the New York Red Bulls. The Whitecaps picked up a road goal in the 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena, and now head back home to BC Place in Vancouver for Thursday's second leg (10 pm ET) looking to maintain that advantage and reach the CCL semifinals.
While the Red Bulls have to score at least one goal on the road for a shot at advancing, the Whitecaps must weigh their gameplan. Vancouver must also deal with the loss of Cristian Techera after he received a red card in the second half of last week's first leg, and they could give Fredy Montero and the recently-acquired Brek Shea their club debuts as the two MLS sides fight it out to move on to the next round.
All-Time Series
The all-time series record between these clubs moved to 3-1-4 in favor of the Whitecaps after last week's stalemate. Vancouver's lone loss to New York came recently at home, however, as they dropped an MLS match at BC Place back on Sept. 3, 2016.
NY-VAN All-Time Meetings (8 matches since May 28, 2011):
- at Red Bull Arena (4 meetings): Vancouver lead 2-0-2 (6-4 in goals)
- at BC Place in Vancouver (3 meetings): Series tied 1-1-1 (Vancouver lead 5-3 in goals)
- at Empire Field in Vancouver (1 meeting): 1-1 draw on May 28, 2011
New York Red Bulls
The Red Bulls came out in a rarely seen 4-2-2-2 formation last week and were unable to get many clean looks on goal. The club finished with just two shots on target, one being Bradley Wright-Phillips' second-half equalizer and the other Sacha Kljestan's saved penalty kick, and will likely need to generate more chances if it wishes to advance.
- Suspended: N/A
- Int’l Duty: MF Tyler Adams (US U-20s)
- Injury Report: DF Connor Lade (recovery from torn right ACL), DF Gideon Baah (recovery from broken right tibia)
Projected starting XI (4-2-2-2): Luis Robles — Sal Zizzo, Aurelien Collin, Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence — Felipe, Sean Davis — Sacha Kljestan, Daniel Royer — Bradley Wright-Phillips, Gonzalo Veron
Notes: Head coach Jesse Marsch went away from his tried-and-trusted 4-2-3-1 formation in order to use the new 4-2-2-2 setup he also attempted to run early last year, and he will have to assess which of those two looks gives his side the best shot at advancing.
Vancouver Whitecaps
The Whitecaps have the edge thanks to Kekuta Manneh's goal at Red Bull Arena, but know they will probably have to do better in possession if they want to avoid having to defend for 90-plus minutes. Vancouver conceded a whopping 67.8-percent possession in the first leg.
- Suspended: MF Cristian Techera (Red card in 1st leg vs. Red Bulls), MF Erik Hurtado (Yellow card accumulation)
- Int’l Duty: None
- Injury Report: MF Christian Bolaños (knee), DF David Edgar (right knee PCL, MCL and meniscus), MF Nicolas Mezquida (hip), FW Yordy Reyna (left foot metatarsal fracture on Feb. 15 and surgery Feb. 21)
Projected starting XI (4-2-3-1): David Ousted — Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey — Matias Laba, Russell Teibert — Alphonso Davies, Kekuta Manneh, Brek Shea — Fredy Montero
Notes: Head coach Carl Robinson will have to contemplate whether to give Fredy Montero and Brek Shea their Whitecaps debuts. Both players were only recently acquired, with the club signing Montero on loan on Feb. 15 and trading for Shea from Orlando City on Feb. 25.
