Vancouver Whitecaps vs. CD Olimpia
The Vancouver Whitecaps head into Wednesday’s home CONCACAF Champions League contest against Honduran champions CD Olimpia well rested, following a bye weekend and just one game in total played so far in September.
The Whitecaps are looking for their first ever Champions League win, and will have a great shot at taking control of Group F if they can pull out a victory.
A win would give Vancouver four points from their two CCL matches and would present the club with an opportunity to clinch a quarterfinal berth with a win, with one group game to spare, at Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders next week.
SELECTION CONUNDRUM: Vancouver face two massive matches in the space of four days, following up Wednesday’s contest against Olimpia when Seattle comes to town on Saturday for MLS action. The quick turnaround means Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson will once again need to practice his juggling act when it comes to selecting lineups.
Although the Supporters’ Shield is still very much on Vancouver’s mind, Champions League success would be a welcome bonus.
“It's an experience, and I want us to treat it as an experience,” Robinson said of the club’s first-ever CCL campaign. "It's a game we need to win, make no bones about it. We'll go out to try and win the game, but it's not going to be easy. But you don't want things to be easy.”
Key Vancouver defender Kendall Waston and midfielder Matias Laba will both be available for selection on Wednesday and Saturday after missing last Wednesday’s win against Colorado due to suspension. Their physicality and experience will be a big asset for the ‘Caps, especially with the club expected to field a young lineup elsewhere on the pitch, particularly in the backline.
LET’S NOT GET PHYSICAL: Olimpia will be looking to frustrate Vancouver at home and are likely to try to break up play as much as they can on Wednesday night. The Whitecaps successfully dealt with similar tactics last week against Colorado, but they can expect a much more physical outing this time.
Olimpia’s Aug. 20 visit to Seattle was a feisty affair to say the least, with the Honduran club earning five bookings – Seattle had two – in a very physical match. Robinson is fully aware of those numbers, and plans on addressing Olimpia’s physical game plan with his players.
"In any game, it's about keeping your emotions in check,” Robinson said. “Obviously we saw what the [Seattle] game was like. It was brilliant at the end of the game. We can't get caught up in that. If we do we lose focus. If we lose focus we don't play as well as we should and can."
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
DARREN MATTOCKS, VANCOUVER: With another two vital goals for Jamaica in their recent World Cup qualifying series against Nicaragua, the ‘Caps striker is expected to start and will be hoping to transfer some of his international form to the club level. Mattocks has been strong in big games this year and seems to thrive when playing against Central American defenses.
ALBERTH ELIS, OLIMPIA: Highlighted by Robinson as “a good player up front”, the 19-year-old already has two goals against Seattle in this year’s Champions League campaign, including the lone goal in their crucial home win at the end of last month. Elis is definitely the Olimpia striker that Vancouver need to take care of.
Vancouver Whitecaps hope extra homework pays off against Olimpia
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps usually don't have much trouble scouting their opposition, but they had to do some extra homework to get ready for Wednesday's CONCACAF Champions League game against Honduran side C.D. Olimpia.
Playing in Major League Soccer, the Whitecaps have ample access to video and scouting reports on most of their opponents and they can draw from their experiences in previous games. But limited video was available from Honduras.
"I'd be lying if I said that (it's easy scouting C.D. Olimpia)," said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson. "It's difficult. Obviously, we've seen them play against Seattle twice (in CONCACAF Champions League), and to have any contacts down in Honduras, which we do, is very helpful."
The Whitecaps hope the extra homework pays off with the maximum three points in their last Group F game at home before they head into hostile environments in Seattle next week and C.D. Olimpia's home of Tegucigalpa in October.
"We've watched them in-depth," said Robinson. "Daniel (Stenz, the club's head of analysis and scouting) does a great job in relation with that with (assistant coaches) Martin Pyrt and Gordon (Forrest). So we know what they're about - tough team, very physical, a very good team."
Only the top Group F team will advance to next year's CONCACAF Champions League knockout stage, which is part of qualifying for the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup. The Caps have one point thus far after earning a home draw with the Sounders (1-1-1), who sit first in the group with four points. Robinson wants his players to keep their emotions in check Wednesday after C.D. Olimpia and the Sounders got into an altercation at the end of their first game in Seattle, when the Sounder prevailed 2-1 on a late penalty-kick. Things got feisty again when the sides met in Tegucigalpa, where the hosts prevailed 1-0.
Whitecaps central defender Kendall Waston, a Costa Rican who has played against Honduran teams in the past, indicated he expects some diving — which he considers "part of the game" — from C.D. Olimpia. But he wants his squad to focus on its own play while preventing the Hondurans from playing their usual style of crossing the ball from the wing into the box.
"It's more patient than our game," said Waston. "It doesn't go so quickly forward. Sometimes, they like to play a lot (more) direct, to look (for) the central forward. Sometimes they mix it up, playing wide, because they have very quick players to the side. Sometimes they hold (the ball) for so long. Obviously, if you give them space and time, they[re going to do it. But we know what their strength is: Play wide with the quick players and try to look (for) crosses (to) the big (striker)."
Waston and his back line mates will be on the lookout for 19-year-old striker Alberth Elis, who scored in C.D. Olimpia's win over Seattle. Everton of the English Premier League and Football League Championship side Cardiff City have shown interest in acquiring Elis, who has made three appearances for the Honduran national team. Whitecaps backup goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi will get the nod to stop his shots as Robinson, with his team vying for first overall in MLS, gives starter David Ousted a rest.
"We know that it's a huge game for us, (the) last game we are gonna play at home in CONCACAF (group play), so we have to play for (three) points, for sure," said Tornaghi.
Canada to open next round of World Cup qualifying on turf in Vancouver
Vancouver turned out for Canada at the Women's World Cup this summer. Now the Canadian Soccer Association hopes it will do the same for the Canadian men in their bid to make soccer's showcase.
The Canadian Soccer Association confirmed Monday that Canada, one of 12 countries still in contention in the region, will open the next round of CONCACAF qualifying on Nov. 13 against No. 81 Honduras at B.C. Place Stadium. The Canadian men, currently ranked No. 102 in the world, will then play Nov. 17 on the road against No. 107 El Salvador.
There was no immediate word on the location of Canada's two other home matches in the fourth round, slated for March and September 2016.
Friday's announcement came 30 years to the day that Canada defeated Honduras 2-1 in St. John's, N.L., to qualify for the 1986 World Cup.
Canada has never been back to the tournament since.
The Canadian women drew sellouts of 53,855 and 54,027 at B.C. Place for World Cup knockout matches against Switzerland and England in June.
"It's time that the men's national team program takes centre stage," CSA general secretary Peter Montopoli told a Vancouver news conference.
Canadian international midfielder Russell Teibert, an Ontario native who plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps, said he was ecstatic to get the chance to play for his country in his club stadium.
"When I was younger I had a dream to play in front of my family," he said. "And my family's in Toronto. And I've lived that dream.
"But Vancouver has become my home now. And the fans, they're my family. So when I say it's a dream to play in front of my family, it's a dream to play in Vancouver and I couldn't be more excited."
Montopoli said B.C. Place will initially be restricted to the lower bowl for the men, although that could change depending on demand. Tickets, which go on sale Friday, will start at $25.
The plan is to have the roof open, he added.
Prior to the qualifying matches, Canada will play No. 27 Ghana in a friendly Oct. 13 in Washington, D.C.
Canada is in Group A with No. 26 Mexico, No. 81 Honduras and No. 107 El Salvador. Group B features No. 39 Costa Rica, No. 52 Jamaica, No. 59 Panama and No. 87 Haiti while Group C consists of the 28th-ranked Americans, No. 54 Trinidad and Tobago, No. 98 Guatemala and No. 116 St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Canada will face Mexico twice in March 2016 — at home on March 25 and in Mexico on March 29. Group play will wrap up in September with games Sept. 2 in Honduras and Sept. 6 at home against El Salvador.
The top two countries in each group will advance to the final six-team hexagon round, where teams will play each other home and away. The top three teams in the hexagon will qualify for the 2018 World Cup with the fourth-place team advancing to an intercontinental playoff against an Asian team.
The November match will be Canada's first men's international match at B.C. Place since the stadium was refurbished in 2012. The game will be played on artificial turf, something Canada did in World Cup qualifying in 2008 in Toronto before BMO Field got real grass.
The turf at B.C. Place was replaced earlier this year in advance of the Women's World Cup.
The Canadian men are 5-2-4 this season, having already disposed of No. 172 Dominica (6-0) and No. 128 Belize (4-1) in World Cup qualifying series.
Canada crashed out of contention in 2014 World Cup qualifying in an 8-1 humiliation at the hands of Honduras in San Pedro Sula in October 2012. The lopsided loss cost coach Stephen Hart his job.
Canada is 3-16-7 against Mexico, 6-10-5 against Honduras and 7-4-3 against El Salvador.
While Canadian coach Benito Floro conceded Mexico was a cut above, he said the other three teams in Group A will "have the same possibilities because the level is similar.''
"And we trust we're going to win," he added.
Canada has tied its last three home games with the Mexicans and is 1-1-3 in its last five meetings on Canadian soil. But it is 0-12-2 in Mexico where it has been outscored 43-4.
2015-2016 CCL Scores/Schedule - CONCACAF
Group A
| Club | G | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| Saprissa (CRC) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 6 |
| Santos Laguna (MEX) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 3 |
| W Connection (TRI) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 0 |
Group B
| Club | G | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| Tigres UANL (MEX) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Herediano (CRC) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Isidro Metapan (SLV) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
Group C
| Club | G | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| Queretaro (MEX) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| San Francisco (PAN) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| Verdes (BLZ) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Group D
| Club | G | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| LA Galaxy (USA) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
| Comunicaciones (GUA) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 3 |
| Central FC (TRI) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
Group E
| Club | G | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| Club América (MEX) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 6 |
| Walter Ferretti (NCA) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| Motagua (HON) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
Group F
| Club | G | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| Seattle Sounders (USA) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Olimpia (HON) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Group G
| Club | G | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| Real Salt Lake (USA) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Municipal (GUA) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Santa Tecla (SLV) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
Group H
| Club | G | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| D.C. United (USA) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 9 |
| Arabe Unido (PAN) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Montego Bay United (JAM) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
Group Stage
Round 1
| Date/Time | Home Team | Away Team | Location | Score | |
| Aug. 4 8 pm | Queretaro (MEX) | San Francisco (PAN) | Estadio Corregidora |
2-0
| |
| Aug. 4 10 pm | Santos Laguna (MEX) | W Connection (TRI) | Estadio Corona | 4-0 | |
| Aug. 4 10 pm | Municipal (GUA) | Real Salt Lake (USA) | Estadio Mateo Flores | 0-1 | |
| Aug. 5 8 pm | Arabe Unido (PAN) | Montego Bay United (JAM) | Estadio Maracana | 3-0 | |
| Aug. 5 10 pm | Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) | Seattle Sounders (USA) | BC Place | 1-1 | |
| Aug. 5 10 pm | Club America (MEX) | Motagua (HON) | Estadio Azteca |
4-0
| |
| Aug. 6 10 pm | LA Galaxy (USA) | Central FC (TRI) | StubHub Center | 5-1 | |
| Aug. 6 10 pm | Herediano (CRC) | Isidro Metapan (SLV) | Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero | 3-0 |
Round 2
| Date/Time | Home Team | Away Team | Location | Score | |
| Aug. 18 8 pm | Tigres UANL (MEX) | Isidro Metapan (SLV) | Estadio Universitario |
2-1
| |
| Aug. 18 10 pm | Verdes FC (BLZ) | Queretaro (MEX) | F.F.B. Football Field | 0-0 | |
| Aug. 18 10 pm | LA Galaxy (USA) | Communicaciones (GUA) | StubHub Center | ||
| Aug. 19 8 pm | Arabe Unido (PAN) | D.C. United (USA) | Estadio Maracana | 0-1 | |
| Aug. 19 10 pm | Seattle Sounders (USA) | Olimpia (HON) | CenturyLink Field | 2-1 | |
| Aug. 19 10 pm | Club América (MEX) | Walter Ferretti (NCA) | Estadio Azteca |
1-0
| |
| Aug. 20 10 pm | Saprissa (CRC) | W Connection (TRI) | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma | 4-0 | |
Aug. 20
10 pm | Santa Tecla (SLV) | Municipal (GUA) | Estadio Las Delicias | 1-1 |
Round 3
| Date/Time | Home Team | Away Team | Location | Score | |
| Aug. 25 8 pm | D.C. United (USA) | Montego Bay United (JAM) | RFK Stadium | 3-0 | |
| Aug. 25 10 pm | Saprissa (CRC) | Santos Laguna (MEX) | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma | 2-1 | |
| Aug. 25 10 pm | Club Municipal (GUA) | Santa Tecla (SLV) | Estadio Mateo Flores | 2-1 | |
| Aug. 26 8 pm | San Francisco (PAN) | Queretaro (MEX) | Estadio Maracana | 2-1 | |
| Aug. 26 10 pm | Olimpia (HON) | Seattle Sounders (USA) | Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino | 1-0 | |
| Aug. 26 10 pm | Herediano (CRC) | Tigres UANL (MEX) | Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero | 1-1 | |
| Aug. 27 10 pm | Comunicaciones (GUA) | Central FC (TRI) | Estadio Cementos Progreso | 1-0 | |
| Aug. 27 10 pm | Motagua (HON) | Walter Ferretti (NCA) | Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino | 2-0 |
Round 4
| Date/Time | Home Team | Away Team | Location | Score | |
| Sept. 15 8 pm | D.C. United (USA) | Arabe Unido (PAN) | RFK Stadium | 2-0 | |
| Sept. 15 10 pm | Santa Tecla (SLV) | Real Salt Lake (USA) | Estadio Las Delicias | 0-0 | |
| Sept. 16 8 pm | W Connection (TRI) | Saprissa (CRC) | Hasely Crawford Stadium | ||
| Sept. 16 10 pm | Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN) | Olimpia (HON) | BC Place | ||
| Sept. 16 10 pm | Walter Ferretti (NCA) | Club América (MEX) | Estadio Nacional de Futbol de Nicaragua | ||
| Sept. 17 8 pm | Central FC (TRI) | Comunicaciones (GUA) | Hasely Crawford Stadium | ||
| Sept. 17 10 pm | Queretaro (MEX) | Verdes FC (BLZ) | Estadio Corregidora | ||
| Sept. 17 10 pm | Isidro Metapan (SLV) | Herediano (CRC) | Estadio Jorge "Calero" Suarez |
Round 5
| Date/Time | Home Team | Away Team | Location | Score | |
| Sept. 22 8 pm | Montego Bay United (JAM) | D.C. United (USA) | Montego Bay Sports Complex | ||
| Sept. 22 8 pm | W Connection (TRI) | Santos Laguna (MEX) | Hasely Crawford Stadium | ||
| Sept. 22 10 pm | Verdes (BLZ) | San Francisco (PAN) | F.F.B. Football Field | ||
| Sept. 23 8 pm | Central FC (TRI) | LA Galaxy (USA) | Hasely Crawford Stadium | ||
| Sept. 23 10 pm | Seattle Sounders (USA) | Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) | CenturyLink Field | ||
| Sept. 24 8 pm | Walter Ferretti (NCA) | Motagua (HON) | Estadio Nacional de Futbol de Nicaragua | ||
| Sept. 24 10 pm | Real Salt Lake (USA) | Santa Tecla (SLV) | Rio Tinto Stadium | ||
| Sept. 24 10 pm | Isidro Metapan (SLV) | Tigres UANL (MEX) | Estadio Jorge "Calero" Suarez |
Round 6
| Date/Time | Home Team | Away Team | Location | Score | |
| Oct. 20 8 pm | Santos Laguna (MEX) | Saprissa (CRC) | Estadio Corona | ||
| Oct. 20 10 pm | Motagua (HON) | Club América (MEX) | Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino | ||
| Oct. 20 10 pm | Real Salt Lake (USA) | Municipal (GUA) | Rio Tinto Stadium | ||
| Oct. 21 8 pm | Tigres UANL (MEX) | Herediano (CRC) | Estadio Universitario | ||
| Oct. 21 10 pm | Comunicaciones (GUA) | LA Galaxy (USA) | Estadio Cementos Progreso | ||
| Oct. 22 8 pm | Montego Bay United (JAM) | Arabe Unido (PAN) | Montego Bay Sports Complex | ||
| Oct. 22 10 pm | Olimpia (HON) | Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) | Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino | ||
| Oct. 22 10 pm | San Francisco (PAN) | Verdes FC (BLZ) | Estadio Maracana |
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário