Enemy Scouting Report - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
(image via Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
The Houston Dynamo looked good in both of their Texas matches, pocketing 4 out of the 6 points available. But Ben Olsen’s squad celebration of getting a comeback win against Austin FC was a short one, as the Dynamo have another midweek game. This one is one of the furthest trips, heading out to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Wednesday night will be the first match this season between the two Western Conference opponents. The Whitecaps, like the Dynamo, have had a very inconsistent regular season. Nothing makes this more apparent than looking up at the standings, having Vancouver currently in 8th place with 17 points and Houston sittingjust above with 18 points.
The Whitecaps have only lost one game at BC Place, that being the first game of the 2023 season against Real Salt Lake. Since their home opener defeat, Vancouver has a record at home of 4 wins and 2 draws. Their last home game was a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders. Head coach Vanni Sartini must be feeling good with almost half of the season in the books, and fully understands that his team needs to win every home game possible to make it back into the playoffs at the end of the season. The chance for winning silverware this year for the Whitecaps is around the corner as Vancouver has made the Canadian Championship, where they will take on CF Montreal. The winner will claim a ticket to the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League.
Here are some of the players that will keep Houston defenders on their toes. Strikers Simon Becher and Brian White are tied for leading scorer for the Whitecaps in all competitions this year, both having scored 7 goals each. Midfielder Julian Gressel has played in all 14 regular season matches for Vancouver this season. Gressel leads the team in assists with 5.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Season Record: 4W-5L-5D
Results in the last 30 days:
April 29 – Vancouver Whitecaps 0-0 Colorado Rapids
May 6 - Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2 Minnesota United
May 10 – York United 1-4 Vancouver Whitecaps (Canadian Championship)
May 13 – Portland Timbers 3-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
May 17 – FC Dallas 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
May 20 - Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 Seattle Sounders
May 24 - Pacific FC 0-3 Vancouver Whitecaps (Canadian Championship)
May 27 - St. Louis CITY SC 3-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Past Match Staring XI (from mlssoccer.com)
There will likely be some variation but look to see many of the players in the graphic starting.
2023 Active Roster
Goalkeepers: Thomas Hasal, Yohei Takaoka, Max Anchor, Isaac Boehmer
Defenders: Mathias Laborda, Ranko Veselinovic, Tristan Blackmon, Karifa Yao, Luis Martins, Julian Gressel, Javain Brown, Matteo Campagna
Midfielders: Alessandro Schopf, Sebastian Berhalter, Andres Cubas, Ali Ahmed, Ryan Gauld, JC Ngando, Ryan Raposo, Kamron Habibullah, Russel Teibert, Pedro Vite
Forwards: Franco Fragapane, Luis Amarilla, Tani Oluwaseyi, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Cameron Dunbar, Mender Garcia, Patrick Weah
Can the Houston Dynamo continue the positive streak and get points far away from home?
