Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Olimpia
2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League
September 16 | 10 pm ET | BC Place, Vancouver, BC
TV: Sportsnet One, Sportsnet World
The Vancouver Whitecaps head into Wednesday’s home CONCACAF Champions League contest against Honduran champions 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 Champions League win and will have a great shot at taking control of Group F if they get it.
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 critical matches in the space of four days, with Seattle coming 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 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 Matías Laba will both be available for selection 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 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.
