Match Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps vs FC Dallas *UPDATE*

Vancouver Whitecaps vs FC Dallas (17/06/17)

Kick Off: 7:00 pm

BC Place

TV: TSN1, TSN4

Radio: TSN 1040

The Whitecaps are back in action after a week off and taking on an FC Dallas side that started strong but is now in the midst of a rough patch. Dallas began the season with a nine game undefeated run but since then only have one win. Granted that win was a 6-2 thrashing of Real Salt Lake but Dallas have still been on a downward Trend as of late. You may be thinking to yourself that teams on a downward trend but still very capable of punishing teams is exactly the sort of game the Whitecaps always loose and I agree. This is going to be a hard fought game.

Dallas play a very old school 4-4-2 formation. Two strikers, usually some combination of Max Urutti, Cristian Colman and Tesho Akindele, play up front. Sometimes Urruti drops a little deeper to link up play between midfield and attack but this is not always the case as they often play with a very fluid front four. Roland Lamah and Michael Barrios usually play on the wings in very attacking roles. These attacking roles are facilitated by more defensive central midfielders Kellyn Acosta and Carlos Gruezo. Dallas are also very solid in the back with US international Matt Hedges, Former Wigan man and long shot specialist Mynor Figueroa, and newly minted US international Jesse Gonzalez in goal.

It will be important for the Whitecaps to clog the midfield. the 4-1-4-1 formation means they will have numerical superiority and it’s vital that they make the most of it. If the service to the strikers is not limited then the absence of Kendall Waston is sure to be felt. Laba, Jacobson and Tchani will be key. The other key will be how the replacements for injured players perform. As mentioned above Kendall Waston is out, injured on international duty. Amazingly Christian Bolanos was also injured on the same trip (damn you Panama, a gentleman goes around the horn). Brek Shea Probably slots right in for Bolanos but replacing Waston is a more difficult proposition. With the ill fated Christian Dean injured and David Edgar still recovering from a hit and run incident in preseason the only healthy centre backs are Tim Parker and Cole Seiler. Andrew Jacobson could also slot in as a centre back, which would open up a spot in the midfield for one of Tiebert, McKendry, or the more attacking Bustos. However the way I see it, Seiler was signed so he could develop and play as a centre back as needed and he should be given his chance to show he can do that.

Dallas did play midweek against Tulsa Roughnecks but heavily rotated with the only recognizable first team players being Matt Hedges, Cristian Colman, and Mauro Diaz (who hasn’t featured much this year due to a lengthy injury). As such we should see a pretty standard XI from them. That is unless Diaz makes the XI and they switch to a formation with a more traditional #10. The ‘Caps will almost certainly stick with a 4-1-4-1.

Injuries:

Vancouver Whitecaps:

OUT: D - Brett Levis (ACL tear)

OUT: M - Yordy Reyna (foot surgery 2/21, out until summer)

OUT: D - David Edgar (PCL, MCL tear)

OUT: F - Erik Hurtado (left foot contusion)

OUT: D - Christian Dean (foot injury)

OUT: M - Nicolas Mezquida (right high ankle sprain)

Out: M - Christian Bolanos (shoulder)

Out: D - Kendall Waston

Out: D - Sheanon Williams (arrested for assault on June 15th)

QUESTIONABLE: F - Bernie Ibini (right hamstring strain)

FC Dallas:

OUT: M - Paxton Pomykal (knee surgery 5/18, out 4-6 weeks)

OUT: D - Walker Zimmerman (left knee MCL strain 5/28, out 4-6 weeks)

Possible Line Ups:

VWFC: Ousted; Williams Nerwinski, Parker, Seiler, Harvey; Laba; Shea, Tchani, Jacobson, Techera; Montero

FCD: Gonzalez; Grana, Hedges, Figueroa, Holingshead; Lamah, Acosta, Gruezo, Barrios; Colman, Urutti

UPDATE:

Sheanon Williams has been arrested for assault. As such he will not be available for selection.