Match Preview: Caps vs NYCFC

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6-6-3)
vs
New York City FC (10-5-3)
BC Place Stadium - Vancouver, BC
Wednesday, July 5th - 7:00pm PT
TV: TSN1, TSN3, TSN4
Radio: TSN Radio

In the last matchup before the break before the Gold Cup Group Stage Break, Patrick Vieira leads his NYCFC side to the Pacific Northwest to take on Carl Robinson’s Vancouver Whitecaps.

The two teams seem to be on divergent paths. NYCFC have won 4 in a row, and one more win would see them set a new record. A win on Wednesday could see NYC move upwards of 13 points clear of 7th place. Yes, it’s early to talk about playoffs, but if there’s a time to show glimpses of a team putting it all together, now is it. However, all is not rosie for Vieira and his boys. Miguel Camargo, Sean Johnson and Rodney Wallace are away on Gold Cup duty while Khiry Shelton. Maxi Moralez and Ronald Matarrita are listed as injured. It was reported on Twitter that Moralez could play tomorrow night.

On the other side, the Caps come home after a thorough 4-0 dismanltling at the hands of the Chicago Fire. Even in this short week, there is news. Laba will be out this week because of the red card he picked up on Saturday. Waston could return, but Robinson hinted at saving him for the fixtures after the break (LA and Portland in a Wednesday-Sunday situation.

Sheanon Williams has returned to the team, and is also a possibility to start. However, having been away from the team, his fitness will be determined in the morning. Getting Mezquida back and finally getting Reyna on the pitch means the Caps could field their best 11 hopefully after the Gold Cup break, hopefully getting the Canadian 4 Horsemen (Davies, Teibert, deJong and Adekugbe) back too.

The Caps have lost both all-time meetings with NYCFC, with DP David Villa factoring large in each match. With no Laba, and possibly no Waston, a tough tasks is now officially dauting. We shall see how the Caps can handle this challenge.