INTERVIEWS: Jermain Defoe | Doneil Henry | Ryan Nelsen
RELATED: Six In 60: Toronto v. Vancouver
A pair of young Canadians will get their chance to shine when Vancouver visits BMO Field on Wednesday night.
Whitecaps residency stars Bryce Alderson and Marco Carducci will feature in Carl Robinson’s starting lineup for the first leg of their Amway Canadian Championship semi-final against Toronto FC.
Robinson is planning on fielding a very young lineup, which features Alderson (20), Carducci (17) and Russell Teibert (21).
Three-fourths of Vancouver’s veteran backline are expected to be rested, but Robinson insists he’s coming into Toronto looking for a result. That said, he’s excited to get a look at his younger players and see how they adapt to playing in front of a hostile environment.
"One thing I said is that I will give young players opportunities … and it's down to them,” Robinson told The Vancouver Sun’s Gary Kingston. “ I can't take their chance, they need to take their chance."
Carducci replaces No. 1 goalkeeper David Ousted in net.
"I'm just going to try to treat it like any other game and not make too much of it," said the teenager. "Of course, at the same time I know I'm going to be very excited and anxious, which is natural.”
No pressure, kid.
Expected changes for Toronto FC
Joe Bendik will get his first start of the season, but aside from that change it appears Ryan Nelsen will field a lineup similar to the one that took the field on Saturday.
“We don’t have a game this weekend so obviously that does help,” Nelsen told reporters on Tuesday.
Jeremy Hall is out, Bradley Orr is nursing a calf injury and Jonathan Osorio continues to deal with a dead leg.
Toronto’s three designated players, Michael Bradley, Jermain Defoe and Gilberto, are expected to feature on Wednesday.
“They all want to play, they’re all desperate to play,” Nelsen remarked. “Michael’s just still getting back from injury. We’re starting to see what Gilberto’s about. I thought he was really lively against New England and all that performance needed was a goal. Same with Jermain just coming back. They all need games.”
This fixture, days after a tough defeat comes at a perfect time according to TFC’s head coach.
“After any loss you want to get back on the field as soon as possible.”
Osorio’s fighting words
The Canadian Championships mean a lot to Jonathan Osorio.
Osorio wants to play in the Champions League next year, but more importantly, it’s about pride. A number of Toronto FC’s players grew up in the GTA and Osorio is one of them.
“We’re going to do our best to make sure Vancouver will have to keep dreaming of winning this championship,” he told MLSSoccer.com
Yes, that’s correct. The Whitecaps have yet to lift the The Voyageurs Cup in six attempts. Toronto FC is coming off a down year themselves, losing to Montreal in the semi-finals.
“As a Canadian myself and for the other Canadians on this time, it’s important to us,” Osorio continued. “It’s the Canada cup. There’s a lot of pride on the line. Last year, unfortunately, we didn’t do so well, so this year is a chance for us to redeem ourselves.”
Important Travel Notices
Exhibition Streetcar Loop will be closed.
- During the closure, route 511 BATHURST streetcars will be turned back east at Fleet Loop. A 511 BATHURST replacement bus will provide service between Fleet Loop and Exhibition Place.
- 509 HARBOURFRONT, 511 BATHURST replacement buses, and 310 BATHURST all-night buses will all follow the same routing diversion, within Exhibition Place running west on Fleet Street, south on Canada Boulevard, west on Princes’ Boulevard, north and west on Nunavut Road, north on Nova Scotia Avenue, east on Manitoba Drive and east on Fleet Street.
TTC riders must transfer to and from 511 BATHURST streetcars at Fleet Loop.
