Match Thread: CONCACAF Champions League - Round of 16 - Leg 2: Real Espana (Honduras) v Vancouver Whitecaps - March 15, 2023

[narduch]

Match is at 3pm PT (6pm ET) on One Soccer and Fubo.

Whitecaps won the 1st leg 5-0.

The winner will take on either LAFC or Alajuelense. LAFC won the first leg 3-0 in Costa Rica.

[dyslexic nam]

Hopefully we get the chance to see some young Canucks tonight given the 1st leg lead Vancouver are carrying into this one.   

[Watchmen]

3 hours ago, dyslexic nam said:

Hopefully we get the chance to see some young Canucks tonight given the 1st leg lead Vancouver are carrying into this one.   

Feel like it can't be all young Canadians either though. Tough place to play. So maybe one of Yao or Ahmed (but not both) and Hasal in net.

[BearcatSA]

1 hour ago, Watchmen said:

Feel like it can't be all young Canadians either though. Tough place to play. So maybe one of Yao or Ahmed (but not both) and Hasal in net.

I doubt Yao because they need to get new signing Laborda the minutes beside the incumbent Blackmon with Veselinović remaining home.  But with T-Shirt Man, you never know.  Ahmed might get a look in a more advanced role with Raposo staying at LB.

With Cubas, Gressel, and Schöpf also left at home, tonight's starting midfield three looks pretty lean (Teibert, Berhalter, and ?, Vite?).

[Watchmen]

1 hour ago, BearcatSA said:

I doubt Yao because they need to get new signing Laborda the minutes beside the incumbent Blackmon with Veselinović remaining home.  But with T-Shirt Man, you never know.  Ahmed might get a look in a more advanced role with Raposo staying at LB.

With Cubas, Gressel, and Schöpf also left at home, tonight's starting midfield three looks pretty lean (Teibert, Berhalter, and ?, Vite?).

I'd probably rather go Ahmed in his natural position and Raposo more advanced.

[Watchmen]

No Gauld either.

 

[narduch]

Damb Sartini really tempting fate here

[Watchmen]

1 hour ago, narduch said:

Damb Sartini really tempting fate here

I can understand not starting all of them, and even leaving a few of them behind. But leaving all of them...if they blow this, fire him tomorrow. 

[BearcatSA]

2 hours ago, Watchmen said:

I'd probably rather go Ahmed in his natural position and Raposo more advanced.

They're still training Raposo to be a LB, so is they're committed to his being there, give him the minutes there.

 

[Watchmen]

4 minutes ago, BearcatSA said:

They're still training Raposo to be a LB, so is they're committed to his being there, give him the minutes there.

 

I get that as well, but I'm unsure of how much training you get from this kind of game and they're giving themselves so little upfront as is that they may want him further up the pitch.

[RS]

[Watchmen]

Not gonna lie: no Teibert stuns me. I thought for sure they'd go with him in this game.

Edit: Reading the details, he's dressed but injured and unlikely to play.

Edited March 15, 2023 by Watchmen

[dyslexic nam]

33 minutes ago, RS said:

The old Christmas tree formation.  

[dyslexic nam]

San Pedro Sula.  Bleh.  

[Watchmen]

Now that's a small crowd. CCL should maybe consider switching to a bus league.

[dyslexic nam]

So CanCon is Hasal, Yao, Raposo, and Ahmed.    And on the bench we have Campagna, Rusty, Habibullah, and Johnson.  

[dyslexic nam]

1 minute ago, Watchmen said:

Now that's a small crowd. CCL should maybe consider switching to a bus league.

I get that this is probably considered a lost cause but you would think that the chance to see a visiting team (from a richer league) would at least draw a crowd in the triple digits.  

[dyslexic nam]

Great save by Hasal to make sure Espana don’t get a lot of momentum early.  

[narduch]

They aren't playing in their home stadium. Although it is the same city I think

[dyslexic nam]

13 minutes ago, narduch said:

They aren't playing in their home stadium. Although it is the same city I think

Fair enough.  But holy shit - there’s literally like 40 people in the stands.  
 

EDIT: looks like a bunch more now.  Still ridiculously low but at least a couple hundred.   

Edited March 15, 2023 by dyslexic nam

[dyslexic nam]

Oof…

[Watchmen]

Feel like the Whitecaps need 1. Been close but finishing continues to be a concern. (5-0 last week notwithstanding).

[dyslexic nam]

So far Hasal has made some good saves. 

Was hoping Yao would be a bright light but he has been mixed so far - and was centrally involved in two of Espana’s better chances.   
 

 

Edited March 15, 2023 by dyslexic nam

[narduch]

32 minutes ago, dyslexic nam said:

Fair enough.  But holy shit - there’s literally like 40 people in the stands.  
 

EDIT: looks like a bunch more now.  Still ridiculously low but at least a couple hundred.   

Also 4pm local kick off 

[narduch]

Hasal doing great