<b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
ATTACKING
After scoring a goal and picking up his fifth yellow card of season, earning him a suspension, <b>Darren Mattocks</b> will return to the lineup to take over for the suspended Eric Hassli. In the two previous meetings in the Voyageurs Cup, the striker played a total of 24 minutes and was just finding his form. TFC will now have to face a different Mattocks, and against the makeshift backline, the rookie should be able to cause some trouble.
Since the switch to the 4-4-2 formation under Mariner, <b>Torsten Frings</b> is playing better as he bosses the midfield more frequently. The former Bundesliga star is usually in the right place at the right time and makes the right decisions with his accurate passing and dangerous set pieces. He was also nursing some minor knocks, which he seems to have gotten over, so the Caps can expect a better Frings.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
DEFENCE
After recently being named to the MLS all-star game, and being named the best defender in MLS for the first half of the season by ESPN, <b>Jay DeMerit</b> has proven that last year was a blip on the screen. In addition to the team, he is the leader of a backline that leads MLS with nine cleansheets, and ten in all competitions. Against TFC he will be matched up against Danny Koevermans, who is one of the hottest strikers in MLS at the moment, scoring nine goals so far this season.
While he doesn’t lead the league in shots against or saves it seems like week in and week out <b>Milos Kocic</b> is asked to make a number of spectacular saves for TFC. He has been especially busy in the last few matches, with the central defence pairing being Eckersley and Emery. In addition to his saves Kocic commands the box well and is a major factor in organizing the line.
<b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
Last season the young <b>Gershon Koffie</b> would normally have a couple of good games but then have a stinker where he would consistently turn over the ball and play poorly in the midfield. It has been different for the Ghanaian this season where he has been very solid in the middle and has been able to make his decisions quickly without panicking when pressured by the opposition.
There are some questions as to whether <b>Danny Koevermans</b> is fit enough to start against the Whitecaps on Wednesday. It would be a blow to TFC as the Dutch striker is arguably the hottest striker in MLS, having scored six goals in his last five starts before the match against Philadelphia on the weekend. He is a load for the opposing defenders to deal with when holding up the ball and makes great runs to the net.
<b>2012 RECORD :</b>
Vancouver:
8W-6D-4L
4th in Western Conference
Last Match: 0-0 Draw at Chivas USA
Toronto:
2W-4D-11L
9th in Eastern Conference
Last Match: 3-0 Loss at Philadelphia Union
<b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>
<b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
Vancouver:
Out: GK Brian Sylvestre (knee), FW Atiba Harris (knee), FW Omar Salgado (foot)
Doubtful: MF John Thorrington (quad), MF Matt Watson (ankle)
Suspended: FW Eric Hassli
Toronto:
Out: GK Stefan Frei (leg)
Questionable: FW Nicholas Lindsay (knee), DF Ty Harden (adductor), DF Adrian Cann (knee)
<b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
The Whitecaps continue their road trip, after a quick stopover in Vancouver, in the Eastern Time zone as they face their Canadian rivals TFC. While it is a chance to pick up more points on the road against the worst team in the MLS, the Caps will also want to make up for the loss earlier in the year when they gave away the Voyageurs Cup.
Once again there is no doubt that Joe Cannon will start in goal for the Caps as, he looks for his ninth cleansheet of the season. Helping him will be MLS all-star Jay DeMerit and Martin Bonjour, with Lee Young Pyo and Jordan Havey on the wings. Marshaling the central midfield for a third straight time will be the pairing of Gershon Koffie and Alain Rochat.
Aside from where Rochat plays, the biggest question is whether Barry Robson starts for the third game in a week or does Michael Nanchoff see his first start of the season. On the other side will be either Davide Chiumiento or Camilo while Sebastien Le Toux will play behind the returning Darren Mattocks.
Since Mariner has come aboard to coach the club, TFC plays a straight forward 4-4-2 with Frings and Koevermans being the main benefactors of the change. Expect once again for the Whitecaps to avoid chasing the ball and concentrate on keeping their shape against Toronto. The one thing that gave Vancouver fits whenever they faced TFC was the pace of Plata, but luckily for them the Ecuadorian has returned home on a loan.
From the start of the match the Caps will most likely try to test the pace of the questionable backline of TFC and they will try to spring Mattocks. Even if it is unsuccessful, the attempts by Mattocks will at least force TFC to play a deep line which will give the Caps more space in the midfield to work the ball towards the net. Another thing to look for is if Le Toux will be able to find his touch around the net, with it being his second start in the middle of the pitch.
A chance to redeem their earlier loss to TFC has to be a big motivating factor for the Whitecaps players and normally would be possible against the lowest ranked club in MLS. However, there seems to be something that is consistently hanging over the Caps when they play in Toronto. If they can shake that and get a win, the pain from losing the match in the Canadian Championship final will sting a little less.
<b>AFTN Editor's Prediction: Toronto 1 Vancouver Whitecaps 2</b>
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