CONCACAF Champions League Preview: Red Bulls vs. Whitecaps
By Gareth Wolff
The New York Red Bulls and Vancouver Whitecaps FC return to action Wednesday evening. Previewing the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Red Bull Arena.
It’s been four months coming, but the CONCACAF Champions League is finally back. Having successfully navigated the group stages, the New York Red Bulls and the Vancouver Whitecaps will face off in the only all-MLS quarterfinal match-up.
The two-legged, home-and-away series kicks off Wednesday evening at Red Bull Arena. The second leg will take place Thursday, March 2nd at BC Place, just one day before the new MLS season gets going.
The winner of this match-up will face either Pumas or Tigres, both Mexican giants, in the semifinal.
Match Info
- Who: New York Red Bulls vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- When: Wednesday, February 22nd, 8 pm ET (5 pm PT)
- Where: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ
- How to Watch: Univision Deportes Network (U.S. only); Facebook Live (online)
How Did They Get Here?
The Whitecaps and the Red Bulls took very different routes to the knockout round. Vancouver swept through the group stage, winning all four matches against Sporting Kansas City and Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago to seal the top seed for the quarterfinals with 10 goals scored and only two conceded. The ‘Caps’ performances in the CCL last year were a far cry from their MLS struggles.
The Red Bulls, meanwhile, entered the quarterfinals as the final seed. They beat both Alianza of El Salvador and Antigua of Guatemala at home, and drew both their away matches.
Inconvenient Timing
MLS clubs have been guilty in the past of not prioritizing the CCL. Both coaches have been talking the talk, however. Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch referred to this match as “one of our biggest matches, if not our biggest match, of the entire season”.
Meanwhile, Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said in a radio interview last month that the CCL is “a competition that we’re going to try to win”.
The timing, however, is far from ideal. The MLS 2017 season is still a week and a half away from its first kick, and both teams are in full preseason mode. In fact, the Red Bulls are playing a preseason match the same day. Presumably most of the USL team will be getting minutes in the first match. Both sides will struggle with the lack of competitive action.
The Whitecaps, meanwhile, will be missing several key players. New signing Fredy Montero is not up to match fitness and will not be involved, although he is lined up to debut for the ‘Caps in the return leg. Meanwhile, fellow newcomer Yordy Reyna (foot injury), and attacking midfielders Christian Bolaños (knee) and Nicolas Mezquida (hip) will also miss out.
Given his absences in the attacking third, Robinson may be tempted to set up his team to defend in the first leg and finish the tie off at home. At the same time, he knows the importance of an away goal.
Marsch, on the other hand, will likely be looking to Bradley Wright-Phillips to do what he does best and give the Red Bulls a cushion to take to Vancouver. Playmaker Sacha Kljestan has been handed the captain’s armband after the club traded away Dax McCarty. NY has been fairly quiet on the transaction front, signing a few academy or RB2 players, as well as a few smaller team defenders.
Next: San Jose Earthquakes: 2017 Season Preview
Will the Red Bulls or Whitecaps prevail? Leave your match predictions in the comment box below.