The Vancouver Whitecaps will not look the same when they
take on Orlando City in Florida today.
“We’ll have different players playing in different positions
on the weekend,” said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson.
Robinson only made one lineup change for the Whitecaps’ last game –
an adversity-filled 1-1 comeback draw with Seattle – as he looked at a busy schedule and the season's "big picture." But this time he has no
choice but to make a number of moves. The Caps lost midfielder Tony Tchani to a
suspension after he took two yellow cards and an automatic red against the Sounders.
Robinson will also try to manage fatigue as his team plays
its third game in eight days after making a cross-continent flight.
The lengthy trip means that players, like midfielder Brek
Shea, who watched from the bench Wednesday will see action. Shea will likely
replace Tchani, while Jake Nerwinski appears likely to return to his right back
post after Sheanon Williams committed the foul that led to Seattle’s goal on a
penalty-kick.
It will be interesting to see how Robinson adjusts his
attackers. It would not be a surprise to see midfielder Yordy Reyna get a rest
for at least part of the game. Robinson will likely want to keep going with
striker Fredy Montero, who might be in need of a break but has five goals in
five games after scoring Vancouver’s lone goal against his former Sounders side
on Wednesday.
“It’s about concentration levels,” said Robinson. “When
balls come into the box, he becomes alive.”
Alphonso Davies, 16, who suffered an injury while with the
Canadian squad at the Gold Cup, could see more action after he came on as a
substitute and made a brilliant move to assist on Montero’s goal Wednesday. But
Robinson, who has limited Davies’ playing time, given his youth, recent injury
and inconsistency, was coy about the youngster’s status.
“I still don’t think that he’s 100 per cent,” said Robinson.
“Maybe we’ll get to see on Saturday whether he is. He needed a break – a mental
break, a physical break – and you’ve gotta remember how old the boy is. There’s
lots of things going on, but we support him. You’ll respect my decisions and
listen, because I know what’s going on with the boy.”
While Robinson uses a different lineup, the Whitecaps will
try to play with similar resolve that they displayed after Tchani was sent off
against Seattle.
“Forget the point, forget the game,” said Robinson. “The mentality and
character shown in this group (were) phenomenal (against Seattle), and they
deserve a lot of credit.”
“It is like a win,” added Montero. “We were playing one of
the best teams in the MLS with one man down. It was very tough for us. But at
the end of the day that (ejection) sparked us. We got that goal. We got one
point.”
Montero said the Whitecaps, who held the sixth and final
Western Conference playoff berth heading into the weekend, will try to make up
for losing two points against Seattle. However, it will be difficult to earn
points against an Orlando squad that has lost only one game at home while going
6-1-0.
The Whitecaps will need to hold off Canadian international Cyle Larin and some
other offensively gifted players, including Brazilian legend Kaka.
“They’re very good at home, especially their front four,”
said Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted.
“It’s (a) fantastic (group of) players, and we know the offensive threat they
pose. They’re gonna put us under a lot of pressure, but that if we approach
that game correctly, we can go in there and get points.”
But, naturally, Ousted, who was outstanding against Seattle,
is confident that the Whitecaps, who sport a 4-6-2 road record, can prevail far
from their B.C. Place Stadium den.
“We’re going in there to win. I’ll say it straight out,” said Ousted. “We’ve
been good at going away from home and taking those games head-on.”
